Poll: Do you prefer 2nd or 3rd person stories?

[porneia]

Hello Chyooians,

I am curious, do you prefer to read stories in the 2nd person ("You stripped off your shirt.") or in the 3rd person ("He/she stripped off his/her shirt.")?

Does gender effect your preference? Especially with regards to the protagonist being of the opposite sex (e.x. If you're a guy does it bother you to read stories in the 2nd person if the main character is a woman.)

Thank you, this looks like a fun site.

 

[gizmo69]

I personally prefer second person, present tense because I find it more immersive, but I guess it depends on the story. I can't say that gender particularly affects my preference, but now that I think of it I suppose I probably read more stories where the protagonist is a man.

 

[lordxorph]

.

 

[Torg]

I prefer first or third person if the protagonist is a real person, like a celebrity or well-known character. If it's just a generic person, I slightly prefer second person.

 

[Noah_Peal]

2nd, always, I want to be the character. That's the appeal for me in interactive stories, and in video games. I'm someone else, somewhere else, living a new or impossible life.

 

[madmaniac]

2nd for me as well.

 

[Trugbild]

I have been against 2nd person for a long time, but getting curious about since a while.
Therefore I actually have no favourite POV.

Especially with regards to the protagonist being of the opposite sex (e.x. If you're a guy does it bother you to read stories in the 2nd person if the main character is a woman.)

I don't mind reading stories where the main character is female.
I think, it can be really interesting to "see behind the curtain" of opposite sex.
But with the addition, that the story should be more detailed to compensate the missing auto-fill of emotions and typical behaviour a reader with matching sex would have.

 

[RicoLouis]

As a writer I prefer third person. Writing in first person and using the word I you risk putting yourself into the shoes of the person you or writing about and you tend to think what would I do not what would they do, and I have trouble relating to a character in second person calling them you all the time.

 

[FallenSaint]

I personally enjoy third person more because I like telling the story of the character, and not putting myself in their shoes. If I'm writing in first or second person, I always feel like I'm forcing my personal preferences instead of what the character may or may not like. I have recently stepped out of that comfort zone a bit (In more ways than one...) to start writing in second person for Cantalope's new story. Still prefer third person, but it is an interesting experiment with something I don't normally do.

 

[Lisa]

Reading: Third person omniscient or first person, if female and written well. I don't mind the gender in non-erotic stories.

I often find second person point of view tiring. To me it reads too much as if someone is giving me directions to get to my destination. While it suits short bits of text (thinking of Adventure games like Zork), it somehow loses its strength and possible immersion for me when the text is longer.

As for writing it's not much different. I love getting into my character and tell her story, which flows easier in first person. I have no problems getting her into situations that might be uncomfortable to me, while she enjoys it. I've done enough text roleplaying (in third person mostly) that I can dissociate most of myself to 'play' my character. Obviously some of my own personality seeps through, but I don't think it hindered anything I've written so far.

I can also immerse myself into one of the characters while writing in third person, but the result feels less immersive, because some of the emotions and thoughts have to be left out (unless a mind-reader is involved). It does stand a little in contrast with the joys of interactive text roleplaying, but there the immersion arises from the direct interaction with the other person.

When I write in second person I have to watch out for exchanging the counter character for first person. I don't feel connected to the second person's view character at all. It's more like I'm telling something to a person who did whatever I'm describing, while I turn into the character experiencing the actions. I can't really immerse into the (opposite) character most of the time, when I have to be aware of the trap of first person's point of view slipping in. Sometimes I just indulge myself, then edit the text later to change the point of view of "my character" to third person. But in the end, second person is something I write for others, whereas first or third person is something I do mostly for myself and my own enjoyment and I'm happy to share that.

Lastly, writing first person male is something I have to be in the mood for, which doesn't happen often. It is a bit of a mind twister as I often empathise with the female counterpart during a sex scene. When it's non-erotic, it doesn't really matter much.

 

[techtactic]

For the stories on Chyoo, I honestly prefer second or first person, as choose your own adventures seem inclined towards it. However, other fiction I often can't stand first person, and prefer third.

 

[Raiga]

I'd say it entirely depends on what the story is about and what the mood is. If the main character is more of a blank slate Joe/Jane anybody, then Second person is best. It makes perfect sense since you're trying to let the reader impose their self on the story. If the main character is established, developed, and has particular quirks about them, then Third person is best. It wouldn't make any sense to put a story written that way in second person, it would just feel strange and awkward. First person is a comfortable middle ground between the two if you can't decide or want something in-between.

 

[Trugbild]

First person is a comfortable middle ground between the two if you can't decide or want something in-between.

I don't think, that 1st person is sth. inbetween.
It's completely different and more like a biography or like sharing experience with others.
And within 1st person, you can do funny things like false memories. (e.g. "Her eye were blue. No, wait. They were brown. I'm not sure. Maybe I haven't seen her eyes at all.")

I think, that POV should be always seen together with tense.

2nd person will normally be present. It usually would sound strange, if it would be past. (I could only imagine 2nd person past, if someone else tells you stories from the time before your accident with memory loss) - in 2nd person present noone knows, what happens next and everything depends on your decisions.

1st person should work best with past. And 1st person doesn't tell your story. It tells the story of the storyteller. If it would be present, the storyteller would tell you things, that actually happen. Therefore I think, that present doesn't work well for that. - 1st person concentrate on the storyteller, his opinions and emotions

3rd person can be past or present. I think, past is more familiar and present kind of fresh. - 3rd person past shows the whole scene and concentrates on the things, the storyteller likes. If the storyteller don't like something, he can comment it with just some words and go to the next scene. The storyteller knows everything and can tell you about the emotions, thoughts, etc. of anyone. In 3rd person past the storyteller can tell about things, that don't happen actually and give some sneak peek of coming details to have the full attention of his audience/readers (e.g. "It was the first time, that she touched the boobs of another girl. She had a strange feeling and removed her hand instantly, but it wasn't the last time, that she felt that.") In 3rd person present the reader should the storyteller and see the whole scenes. There should be not that much opinions in the story and preferences should be balanced.

 

[Lisa]

(...)The storyteller knows everything and can tell you about the emotions, thoughts, etc. of anyone. In 3rd person past the storyteller can tell about things, that don't happen actually and give some sneak peek of coming details to have the full attention of his audience/readers (e.g. "It was the first time, that she touched the boobs of another girl. She had a strange feeling and removed her hand instantly, but it wasn't the last time, that she felt that.") In 3rd person present the reader should the storyteller and see the whole scenes. There should be not that much opinions in the story and preferences should be balanced.

There is actually a lot more to it. There is third person limited narrative (which is showing) and third person omniscient narrative (which is telling). The first doesn't describe the inner workings of the characters. Thoughts and emotions are only "seen" through (or shown to) the eyes of the reader, much like a regular film. It wouldn't say "She was sad" but instead would use "A tear rolled from her eye" leaving the actual emotion to the imagination of the reader rather than dictating it. Omniscient writing is easier, you don't have to think about what an emotion looks like, you simply tell it, along with thoughts and other events.
Whether to use past or present depends on taste. (Hi)story is by definition a tale of something that has already happened. I wouldn't pick the present tense for a story, contrary to writing something like this (a reply) or a blog or perhaps a piece of news 'while it happens'. I haven't encountered a story (anywhere) in the present tense that appealed to me.

2nd person will normally be present. It usually would sound strange, if it would be past. (I could only imagine 2nd person past, if someone else tells you stories from the time before your accident with memory loss) - in 2nd person present noone knows, what happens next and everything depends on your decisions.

I can't quite agree on the tense for second person point of view. I know that present tense is popular in adventure games and CHYOA books, although I have seen those in past tense as well as mixed tense (which made more sense). Mixed tense describes what you've encountered thus far in the past tense, then tells something about the current situation in the present tense and gives you options in the future tense, followed by the consequences again described in the past tense.

"You made your way through the dark hallway, feeling a doorknob to your right as you passed it. Then you bump against what feels like another door."
Q: Which door will you open?
A: The one on the right
"You opened the door and a bright light blinded you. Still seeing mostly spots, you hear a voice whisper in the distance."
Q: What next?

There is no right or wrong. Each person has their own preferences for points of view, tenses and styles. If we all liked the same, the world would be rather boring (although we probably wouldn't even notice it).

 

[Trugbild]

Whether to use past or present depends on taste.

The tense also affects the outcome of the story. Like stated above, you can't do everything in both tense.
I think, that a good story with false POV/tense could be a great story with the "right" one.

Mixed tense describes what you've encountered thus far in the past tense

With your example I can imagine of some ways using mixed tense. Thinking of a story, where each chapter gives you an overview of a time period and then involving you into the story.
Your example sounds weird to me. Maybe it is, because I'm not a native speaker.

Each person has their own preferences for points of view, tenses and styles.

I would agree, that there is no ultimate POV/tense.

 

[Raiga]

Tense can be used with any point of view. However the point of view you choose ultimately directs the 'feel' of the story. First person is very flexible in what you can make it feel like, but second and third person always convey a very particular feel. Second person almost always has a 'blank slate' main character that one can project themselves onto whereas third person is pretty much the opposite. They don't usually work if you try and change that. I hope that clears up what I'm saying.

 

[Patzo]

You are the sort of weirdo who loves second-person in most forms of writing, not just games or choose-your-own-adventures. You suppose it makes things feel lived in, like these people, these places, had a history before you turned to the first page. In this way, you think second-person pushes the reader to engage with the world of the story through the viewpoint character, who plays the role of guide more than avatar. You get to become a part of that world, and even if you don't become that character, the way they interpret the world for you shows how they function within it and why they act as they do.

At least, you figure that's a more helpful explanation of its appeal than, "You are the main character!"

 

[DatAssDoe]

I like to read it all in a second person perspective. I mean, choosing a third person one means you are losing out on some great sex, even if it is just a story, it makes it so much better.

I'm a straight guy, and I like both perspectives, the girl's its nice to see and read what it's like, while with the guy its relatable and a lot sexier

 

[MrCaliban2]

It depend on the kind of background or story that the writer is proposing us.

On Third Person, you have the choice of become in the main or in the side character of the story. So, you can read more comfortable the story even some of the events related on it don´t like you completely.

But on Second Person, You have no choice of that. The reader becomes in the main character liked or not. Somehow, if the reader are sure that the events proposed by the writer likes him/her, the 2nd person is the best option.

A rhetorical question. Would you like to be the main character (2nd person) of my current story, accepting my own preferences (that could be the same or quite different as yours) or be a viewer of the event, deciding in any moment if you want to be any of the characters of it (3th person) (which don´t force you to 'feel' the events on you unless you want).

So, though I am straigh and I like to read stories where the main character is a woman (I have also many threads in this way), I admit I wouldn´t be comfortable reading a story where the main character is a woman written in second person.

 

[2p1k3]

I guess that trait is left neutral, for any particular weave I taste. I mean to say that as a reader, I am kind of ambivalent towards either. I have gotten equally immersed in stories written in either point of view.

Thinking off the top of my head; I guess you could rationalize it towards a first/third-person videogame. such as Doom, Wolfenstein, Duke Nukem, et cetera versus Baldur's Gate, Dragon Age, World of Warcraft, et cetera.

From that perspective, the difficulty in maintaining an interesting and compelling protagonist would be greater for a second-person point of view, I believe. This is erotica and fiction, however what is the purpose of deliberately handicapping a story towards its audience?

So as a writer I feel I would stick with third-person... I think third-person is what publishers prefer any way.

Most of the members who maintain control over active stories on the 'site prefer contributions that maintain the pre-existing point of view, I feel. That makes logical and reasonable sense I believe. Super-majority of my posts are contributions to other stories, thus my choice is to write-submit an idea as a contribution, or move on to other activities.

As I said I think I am ambivalent towards either p.o.v. So, I feel that trait in a story is neutral in the decisions I have made. However, this is the first time I have ever really thought about it to this length. Memory often plays tricks.