"Please read, enjoy, heart, tip. Thanks."

In 10 months I have published 83 stories on Vocal.

I belong to 23 Facebook groups for Vocal writers. One of them (The Vocal Creators Support Group) I started in April. I am active on about half of the groups, even the one that actually copied the 'About' section of my group and started their own, because I guess imitation is it's own form of a complement.

I've participated in fiction challenges, pet challenges, who I am challenges, poetry challenges, and learned how to write a sonnet: all on the official Vocal platform.

I've created fiction stories due to the leadership of the admins of the Facebook pages, leading me to write more fiction that I would have without the time and diligence they put into their communities.

This month my group has TWO teams of 10 each, with both groups creating a series of interlocking stories on the theme of 'Winter'. I have used the 'Guides' feature in my Facebook group, and created a Guide for just this challenge. So far Group 2 has three entries live on Facebook and Group 1 just posted their first. We have until the end of December to complete the series and even though the prompt is the same the stories couldn't be more different. Here's the link to the Guides should you want to follow along.

I've interacted with Vocal writers on Facebook, through texts, phone calls, Messenger, and Zoom calls. I've celebrated their achievements both Vocal and in non-Vocal real life. I've sent them encouraging comments, hearts, and tips. And I've mourned with them when we lost one of the best and brightest of us, too.

I am telling you all of this to show that I am not a fly-by-night, just-dropping-in, casual Vocal-er. Because I am in it all the way. I learn from everyone, I respect all equally. I help the newbies and rejoice when they gain confidence and thrive. I struggle (and mostly succeed) to move past the slights and petty criticisms that occur wherever large groups congregate.

I said 'mostly' because there is a group of Vocal creators that set my teeth on edge. I sincerely hope it is not you, the reader. I think it probably is NOT you, the reader, because I am not sure these folks read anything they haven't written themselves.

I am referring to the two distinct (yet surely related!) group: the Link-Bombers and the Instructors. I. Just. Can't. Even. I'm so over it.

Link-Bombers

Link-Bombers appear in many Facebook groups. They don't add anything to the community, just post their link on a post someone else has made. No note, no comments. In fact, the link is usually about a subject totally unrelated to the OP (Original Post).

I've noticed that lately the titles are 'Great Holiday Buys on Apple Products!', or "10 Days to Financial Freedom!", or "Choosing Clickbait Titles to Dupe the Masses". Okay, I think I may have made up that last title, but you get the drift, right?

It may be that link-bombing actually get them reads, but it won't work for me. I make it a point to ignore the content. If it is made on a thread in The Vocal Creators Support Group Facebook page I may post a note asking them to give feedback before sharing. I sometimes tell them that a repeat is grounds for being blocked from the group. However, mercifully, they go away eventually and drop those bombs someplace else.

Instructors

Instructors, though; they take it to the next level. The title of this article came directly from a post I saw today. "Please read, enjoy, heart, tip. Thanks."

This. This is actually ground for being blocked from the group and the surest way to guarantee that I won't read whatever article you have posted. And I don't care that you included 'please', it is just rude.

Don't tell me what to do. Don't tell me to read. Don't tell me to enjoy (for goodness sake!). Don't tell me to 'heart'. Don't- and the utter gall to do it!- don't tell me to tip you! Adding 'thanks' does not seem sincere to me, either. Not at all.

I have been in groups where people have been badgered about tipping, hearting, and even sharing. In fact, I did block a founding member of Vocal from the group because he badgered members: "if you liked it why didn't you share it on your Facebook page? I looked and it wasn't there." Dude, she never said she would share it. She did comment that she 'liked it and (hearted) it', but that wasn't enough for you? There is no place in our informal community-family for boorishness such as this.

In conclusion

Vocal and the Facebook communities that have appeared in order to share posts, gain reads, give and receive support, swap tips, and boost creativity are an amazing example of symbiosis; each benefits from the other and the Vocal Creators are the better for them. I hope the Facebook groups continue once/if Vocal adds the ability to give and receive feedback directly on posts.

There is not room, however, in this semi-polite society for the tactics of the Link-Bombers and the Instructors. I am so over it.

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If this story spoke to you please click on the heart below so I know it clicked with you.

You can read more on Vocal here.

You can find me here on Medium.