Comment from Carol Clark2

Excellent

You make a good point, Jim. Most of us likely have been taught by our parents to respond when people pay a compliment. That can be difficult on FS, particularly if we don't know the person who reviewed our work. I like your idea of letting the other person have the final word, and I've been doing that this week, just because I'm backlogged on the reviews and comments. Have a blessed week. Carol

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2025

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reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025

Yes, that's the thing. Many of us get backlogged with reviews and replies, and the simple "You're welcomes," at least for me, I find a bit annoying.

Comment from Cecilia A Heiskary

Excellent

Jim,

This is a great post. I guess I am one of those people, because when I respond to there message I alway say you're welcome. Is it not necessary?

Well done

Cecilia

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2025

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reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025

Thanks, Cecilia. In my opinion, it isn't necessary. I would never think less of a person who doesn't reply with a "You're welcome."

Of course, I'm really only talking about these written communications like texts, emails, chats, and what we do here on FanStory. It's still very appropriate in verbal communications because it doesn't require any extra effort on the part of the recipient.

reply by Cecilia A Heiskary on 11-Mar-2025

OK I will keep that in mind

reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025

Yep, and it will save you a lot of time as well.

reply by Cecilia A Heiskary on 11-Mar-2025

True story

reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025

Getting the last word in can be a hard habit to break! (No response necessary.)

:-)

Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell

Excellent

I'd never thought of this before, but you're right. It happens a lot. I'm sure if I was to go through my reviews and replies I'd find loads of that happening. Sometimes it's down to me. I loved the example of the written word, letter, stamp, post. We just wouldn't do that! I thought this piece truly was thought provoking, and I will keep in in mind next time I review or reply. Well done, Jim. :)) Sandra xxx

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2025

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reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025

Thanks so much, Sandra. I appreciate that. It's kind of a pet peeve I've had for a long time, especially when talking with the bots!

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

Thank you for sharing this with us. I hope I'm not one of those people who wrote about. I was brought up to always be polite and I've tried very hard to do that. LOL I do hope I understand when to stop. I enjoyed reading, but it worried me.

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2025

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reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025

No, you are not one of those, Barbara. Nothing to worry about. There have been plenty of times you've left me with the last word. I think we're pretty equal that way in our communications together.

Comment from lancellot

Excellent

Very interesting. I don't know. Yes, logically you are correct, but I think the main issue is one of emotion and the desire to be heard or right. So, when emotions get higher, the lips move faster, and sometimes they don't want to stop, until victory is achieved.

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 Comment Written 11-Mar-2025

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reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025

Absolutely right, Lance. No argument there. It's often fruitless, though, as when arguing politics. Often the best you can do when you've given them a great argument is a "Well, I don't know about that," but very seldom will they admit you're right.

Comment from Tim Margetts

Excellent

I have had many interesting conversations with AI's as I watch their development.
In some ways, I think they are awesome tools with the potential to change our future, on another I think they are a risk to creativity. I see AI art, hear AI songs, read things like this with AI created writing. What comes next? Will humanity lose the ability to be creative?
Tim

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 Comment Written 11-Mar-2025

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reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025

I share your concern here, Tim. I love the bots for the research I do for my stories and for specific questions I have about things because they generally cut right to the chase. You can spend hours trying to get answers to very specific questions on Google and go down many false paths in the process, but the bots are able to compile the necessary information very quickly for you.

If I were a real researcher, though, I wouldn't rely on them but would prefer to go to original sources and make my own interpretations, but they work great for me as an amateur novelist.

I can definitely see, though, how they could stifle a person's creativity if they come to rely on them for their ideas at the expense of their own. My last three novels have required a lot of research for inventions I have conceived of for my characters to invent in the novels, and I will ask the bots if the invention and the methods for making them work are at all feasible because I want the stories to be at least semi-plausible rather than fantasies. They will tell me either yes or no and why or why not.

When I mention I'm asking because I'm writing a novel, they will often, after answering my questions, suggest additional plot considerations. I generally don't heed these unless I had thought of it or something similar myself because that feels like cheating to me, and I don't want to become reliant on it. I would never ask it specifically what do you think I should do in the plot with this idea or invention?

But that's just me, and I fear many people will come to rely on the bots for most of their ideas, which, as you also fear will stifle creativity.