Quoted from dogglebe Without all this, we might as well just comment, "This script rocks!" Phil

People always complain but they know they love those posts when it bumps up a script they wrote. We'll keep that a secret though.

Quoted from Shelton Not sure how many people have heard this one before, but there are readers (professional ones, if you're looking to work in the industry) that will stop reading immediately if the script opens with a person getting out of bed and hitting their alarm clock.  No shit.  It's literally been done so often that it will make someone stop reading after the first paragraph.

These same readers will stop reading if you introduce the villain to the script while he's either killing a puppy or raping a woman.  The subject is that if you can't be more subtle than raping a killed puppy (or something like that), then you suck as a writer.  An early version of
The Burnout actually had a rape scene in it.  I took it out before the script was posted here just for this reason.

Quoted from Shelton My say?  Brutal Honesty or Soft Touch makes no difference as long as it's constructive and the end justifies the means.

Amen!  As long as you back up what you say, it should be okay.  Of course, it's hard to support your stance that a comedy script isn't funny....



Phil

Quoted from dogglebe Of course, it's hard to support your stance that a comedy script isn't funny....

It is the hardest genre after all.

I see more often than not that it's attributed to not being someone's type of comedy.  

It's true there's stuff that's just flat out not funny, and tries way to hard to be, but a lot of times it's just a matter of somebody not liking subtle or intellectual comedy, but loving dick and fart jokes or vice versa.

Quoted from Shelton It's true there's stuff that's just flat out not funny, and tries way to hard to be, but a lot of times it's just a matter of somebody not liking subtle or intellectual comedy, but loving dick and fart jokes or vice versa.

Tries way to hard  That's hitting the nail on the head.  If the jokes don't flow out of you easily (like a fart), then you shouldn't be writing comedy.


Phil

Okay, so, I'm coming in on this WAY late.  But here are my two cents in regards to the OP and the review presented therein:

He made it personal.  It's one thing to say, "I was turned off by the script early on because of the murder on page 6, and decided I didn't want to read anymore."  That in itself is fine and dandy; perfectly understandable.  The person reading didn't like the subject matter, or its execution, or what have you.  His/her prerogative.

But the reviewer then insulted the writer.  He made it personal.  That's where he crossed the line, basically insinuating the writer him/herself was without morals.

The script in my sig starts off with the murders of two children.  But I love kids.  Have one of my own.  Wouldn't hurt a kid if you put a gun to my head.  Yet I have the distinct feeling that if the reviewer quoted in the OP had read my script, he'd have insinuated I, too, was morally bankrupt.  

It is possible to tell someone their script is really, really bad -- yet still be courteous and respectful to them as a person.  The reviewer quoted in the OP obviously does not share that sentiment.

In regards to the opening post, it seemed perfectly ok with me, I wasn't offend at all. I thought he presented a fair criticism which wasn't completely unfounded.

On the subject of brutal honesty versus soft touch I completely agree with Shelton, both can be worthless (I personally lean towards, in general, soft touch being more useless more of the time. I feel like a lot of things get said just to make people feels better, without it being constructive at all, more often then the harsh comments)

On the subject of bullying, I feel that people have the right to be a lot of things including being bullies, so I think it should be allowed. If it becomes a large problem said bully will get his come up ins in the end, in the form of not being read or whatever. Said bullies comment can be ignored and what not. I also don't mind profanity at all, if used in excess it can be annoying( I still don't feel it should be censored), but most of the time I think it makes language more flavorful, like Tabasco sauce.  I personally only think comments should be removed if its just plain clutter. I realize many people don't share my sensibilities, I respect that. I just feel that people, in general, don't utilize their power to ignore enough; that they should have a thicker skin.    

Also, on a side note, harsh comments are usually more entertaining then nice comments. Hurting peoples feelings is funny. Isn't that reason enough for them to have their place on the SS boards?

Transmission Complete.

Quoted from Soap Hands Hurting peoples feelings is funny. Isn't that reason enough for them to have their place on the SS boards?

Oh ya, Taunting people until they blow their brains out, or bring a gun to school and shoot thirty kids is a lot of fun

Bullies have no place anywhere other than rotting in hell where they belong, they are along side with rapists and pederasts as the lowest forms of life.

It's not rocket science. Point out what didn't work, for you, and say how it could be better. If you can.

Honest feedback is fine. Cheap shots aren't.  

I don't have a problem with the review. I would have balanced the harsh criticism with something constructive.

It's always good to focus on what is right as well as what is wrong with a particular work.

Just to clarify, when I said “bullying” I wasn’t advocating torturing someone to the point where they want to commit suicide or homicide.  I would classify something like that as “severe harassment”. My understanding of the words might be highly skewed and if they are I retract my statement.

Quoted from The boy who could fly Oh ya, Taunting people until they blow their brains out, or bring a gun to school and shoot thirty kids is a lot of fun Bullies have no place anywhere other than rotting in hell where they belong, they are along side with rapists and pederasts as the lowest forms of life.

I would strongly disagree with your statement that bullies are morally equivalent to rapists or pederasts (My definition of the word “bully” and, although they would be way closer to morally equivalent, also your apparent definition of the word “bully”.)

I’m just saying that I would prefer it if people would more often ignore potentially offensive comments made by some people, in this case, jackasses on the internet that have little to no effect on ones life.

And also, that in general, bullying comments are more entertaining then nice comments. I exaggerated this into the sarcastic comment that, “Hurting peoples feelings is funny”, but I wouldn’t actually encourage people to go out of their way on a regular basis to do this(So my sarcasm isn't misinterpreted in the future I’ll label it). Especially to the point where they felt they had to kill themselves or other people. I don’t think any joke could be so funny it would be worth a human life… you know, unless its really fucking funny. Like, I’m talkin’ poly shore caliber laughs here. Then maybe its worth a human life or two… and maybe a puppy. (sarcasm)

  

Quoted from Soap Hands ...Like, I�m talkin� Pauly Shore caliber laughs here.

You're setting the bar WAY too high.  

Quoted from Takeshi Honest feedback is fine. Cheap shots aren't.

I've actually been attacked for my criticism here.  And the attacks are worse than the original criticism.

Some people have issues.... I do, too, but they only come out in front of my family during the holidays.



Phil

All criticism is usefull. I'd don't like being told that the job is horrible, client hated it etc, but it is helpful to find out  why...(Wasn't what they were looking for, didn't like the style, or for what ever reason sometimes they simply didn't like it) Can't please everyone, and they have a right to thier opinion. A sour this "sucks worst thing" ever is still better feedback to me than nothing at all. Perhaps it DOES suck and it IS the worst thing ever. That just means back to the drawing board and work at not sucking so badly. That's my two cents.

Quoted from Blakkwolfe All criticism is usefull. I'd don't like being told that the job is horrible, client hated it etc, but it is helpful to find out  why...(Wasn't what they were looking for, didn't like the style, or for what ever reason sometimes they simply didn't like it) Can't please everyone, and they have a right to thier opinion. A sour this "sucks worst thing" ever is still better feedback to me than nothing at all. Perhaps it DOES suck and it IS the worst thing ever. That just means back to the drawing board and work at not sucking so badly. That's my two cents.

I disagree very much with that. Being told that your script "sucks" and nothing else equals nothing at all because what are you going to do when you get back to the drawing board if you don't know WHAT is wrong with your script?

That's the difference between an opinion and criticism. The latter entails some sort of structured cohesive response and not just a blunt statement.

We're not debating whether or not everyone has a "right" to their opinion, but whether or not this (private) forum should tolerate all opinons even the hateful or inelaborate ones, when reviewing a script.

We've talked a lot about the responsibilities of the reviewers, but what the responsibility of the person receiving the review?

I get a bit jacked off when I review someone's script and they don't even bother to acknowledge my review. This is understandable when it's a script that's been submitted by some stranger who, for whatever reason, has decided not to revisit the site. But when it's people who are here on a regular basis, I find it pretty rude that they can't acknowledge that you've taken time out of your day to read their script and post a review. Thankfully most of us aren't this ignorant, but unfortunately some amongst us are. Remember people, respect is a two way street.