Some comments about comments

[lovecraft68]

I'd held off posting this because I figure end of the day its a waste of breath because we have people here who literally refuse to admit there is anything amiss here, even when the evidence is right there...but a noticed something today that made me decide to post it.

My story Home is Where the Heart is just received its 500th comment. That's a pretty good milestone and my second best story. But it made me think....just like in sports there are some records that may never be broken because the sport has changed (Cy Young 511 wins is untouchable for example)

Well, now that comments are becoming fewer and fewer could anyone see that number again? It took me 9 years on a story that's been in the Mature all time top ten for most of that time, and during the 'salad years" of comments and its a popular category and I'm a popular author and it still took that, and not a lot of stories ever hit that number.

Could a story coming out now, ever get there? Seems unlikely unless we think the sites got another 20 years left in it or things change which is doubtful because the site gives zero fucks about the authors lack of comments or anything else for that matter.

This is part of an e-mail a reader(Ravey19) sent me through my website two weeks ago...

Loved your latest story on Literotica but unable to send any direct message as for some reason Literitica regards me as a spammer and despite 3 emails I'm not further forward...

There's your answer to decreased comments, lits brilliant spam filter is blocking legit comments...and of course we all know you can't contact them because they think its funny to run a business with a contact us button that doesn't work...hehahahahha so cool! I mean why care about customers?

Couple days later he sent this

I've just found out that using the right VPN I can get round the spammer block.

But here's the issue, thsi guy really made an effort. We can all agree that based on the sad number of votes per view and even lower comments even before this BS that lit seems to have a minimal effort readership...now it was just made it harder, very few are gong to push the way this reader did,

Worth noting though that somehow the trolls have seen no drop in comments....guess the assholes try harder than the good voters..***** lesson right there, seems the asshats are always more tenacious.

So..lit has once again made a change that cost authors, and once again don't care and why should they when they have putzes here who tell everyone else here we're wrong...I mean hey, we make the site money why should we expect to be considered? Meanwhile we all know who the favorite forum and group is here don't we?

But going further the toadies here are famous for the famous "if you don't like it leave" this is the biggest show in town, the most eyes etc...

Is it? Comments down, votes down, the cesspool of LW has reached flat out hate speech status to the point people are starting numerous threads about where else they can put stories as far as category, a few asking about other sites.

More people coming here complaining about stories booted for under age that never was underaged more people bitching okay, maybe it could be seen that way, but what about the 10k stories just like it...more discussion about the sites BS, lies and issues

The AH mod who has been very quiet for years all of a sudden closing threads again, and not because they were devolving into attacks, but the discussion was not looking good for lit, so as always the answer is to shut it down.

People are looking elsewhere, I'm sure not in a big enough number to matter...yet, but I think the downward spiral in comments, the increase in raw hatred of one category that the site seems to encourage and think is hilarious(while decent comments are blocked) and other factors may continue the trend.

So maybe the attitude here for 'management' and the suck ups might need to change a little, and be a little less apathetic in the case of the former, and belligerent in the latter.

I've posted maybe 6 stories here in the last 5 years or so, I have no stakes here anymore other than occasionally dropping something for the fans, but many here are still cutting their teeth or into the numbers or this is the extent they want to take their work and want the site to be as big as possible. Those are the people that should take this as something other than the trolling the moles will try to say it is.

Because end of the day although parts of this sound harsh, that's just my nature, the reality is I feel bad, its a shame there is so little effort made here for the people that built this place.

 

[jaF0]

No comment.

 

[RejectReality]

Where are they being driven to, exactly?

Some simultaneous releases of mine.

Unsealed
Lit: 10.6k views, 94 votes, 2 comments
Sol: 1379 DLs, 62 votes, 1 comment
Lus: 1678 views, 8 votes, 3 comments

Innocent Blood
Lit: 10.2k views, 120 votes, 4 comments
Sol: 1174 DLs, 35 votes, 2 comments
Lus: 3551 views, 23 votes, 18 comments ( Contest )

Harper's Fairy
Lit: 7.8k views, 106 votes, 5 comments
Sol: 3828 DLs, 150 votes, 2 comments
Lus: 3258 views, 20 votes, 15 comments ( Contest )

You Serious?
Lit: 77k views, 1.2k votes, 17 comments
Sol: 3828 DLs, 185 votes, 2 comments
Lus: 18k views, 62 votes, 27 comments

Silence is Goldwyn
Lit: 40.2k views, 1.1k votes, 19 comments
Sol: 3945 DLs, 161 votes, 3 comments
Lus: 7.1k views, 46 votes, 15 comments

Lit's numbers are still immensely higher than the competition. Someone upset by the drop in numbers isn't likely to find much solace in taking a drastic cut by leaving. Lush has a nice comment ratio, but that's largely driven by the RVC culture that Lit lost long ago, ( thanks to people screaming it was an incestuous plot by AH cliques ) but still thrives there.

SOL is 100% members only, so there's value there for someone bothered by nasty comments and anonymous scoring, but as to raw numbers? No competition, ( with the exception of some genres ) even taking into account that DLs and views are two very different animals.

If anyone knows of another prominent erotica site where there are more than a trickle of comments, good for you. ( PM Me LOL ) I look around at top ranked sites once a year or so, and there's little to nothing in the way of comments that I see, even on the most popular offerings. That's why I haven't expanded my venues in years. I have the range I need for whatever I might wish to write, so feedback is the only thing that could make me expand at this point, and I simply don't see it.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Where are they being driven to, exactly?

SOL is 100% members only, so there's value there for someone bothered by nasty comments and anonymous scoring, but as to raw numbers? No competition, ( with the exception of some genres ) even taking into account that DLs and views are two very different animals.

The complaint I have on SOL is the voting system is screwed up, designed to pull all scoring toward the middle. Comments are few and far between. I get a lot of site mail from fans, because they don't like posting comments for people to see. I suspect if they email they don't vote.

 

[RejectReality]

The complaint I have on SOL is the voting system is screwed up, designed to pull all scoring toward the middle. Comments are few and far between. I get a lot of site mail from fans, because they don't like posting comments for people to see. I suspect if they email they don't vote.

The scoring system is utterly unfathomable there. LOL I typically end up making both the scoring and download toplist with any new releases, so I just shrug and accept it for what it is. I think most of the paid memberships are exclusively readers, and it was tailored to their desires, not those of authors. ( Not that SOL doesn't offer a solid list of other author features that are highly beneficial )

Comments are a brand new feature there, and turned off by default. Authors have to actively turn on public comments for each and every story, and purposely deviate from the standard submission progression to do so as well. Most of the readership is used to sending private feedback instead, so they continue to do that. With a large percentage of the stories not even offering the public comment option, there's no push for the readership to change their habits.

SOL's value to me lies in the different rules and readerships available, and the same applies to Lush.

Neither can remotely compete with Lit when a story falls within the boundaries of all three sites.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Far more readers here, free is part of that, but still I enjoy posting at SOL. I get frustrated with scoring. Admittedly, some of stories there, especially the early ones, don't have good scores. Looking at the scores shows you the spread, but is impossible to tell how many vote for an specific rank. Though, you can guesstimate each section. The frustration grows when you have only one vote under a 7, most are 9s and 10s by a wide margin and your score is 6.8.

 

[RejectReality]

Far more readers here, free is part of that, but still I enjoy posting at SOL. I get frustrated with scoring. Admittedly, some of stories there, especially the early ones, don't have good scores. Looking at the scores shows you the spread, but is impossible to tell how many vote for an specific rank. Though, you can guesstimate each section. The frustration grows when you have only one vote under a 7, most are 9s and 10s by a wide margin and your score is 6.8.

Originally, when the new scoring system was introduced, they also listed the raw score, without any of the filters applied. They removed it because it was even easier to point at that and say, "How the hell is my raw score 9.56 and my display score is 7.83?"

The math can't even be displayed in any way you could calculate if you had all your own raw votes, because it would require gathering all the scores of every story within the date range that applies to the story in question.

It's pure mathematical voodoo that spreads the scores farther across the 10 point scale than they would be if the raw score was displayed.

 

[KyleR215]

are comments all that important?

 

[oggbashan]

An Anon has commented on my latest that despite its rating it should not be 'Hot' because it isn't erotic enough. It is Romance which doesn't need to be steamy sex, but anon disagrees with the voters. Sad.

 

[MillieDynamite]

n Anon has commented on my latest that despite its rating it should not be 'Hot' because it isn't erotic enough. It is Romance which doesn't need to be steamy sex, but anon disagrees with the voters. Sad.

Apparently, hot is in the pants of this reader! I guess his pants didn't feel the love.

 

[TadOverdon]

I can't help reading SOL as "Satellite of Love."

 

[Darkniciad]

I can't help reading SOL as "Satellite of Love."

Despite what the avas might indicate ( Les uses Crow ) I just as often read it as Shit Outta Luck.

Same thing every time I see the logo for the company that apparently makes the cash registers used at the local small town supermarket. How they can possibly not understand that Point Of Sale and Piece Of Shit share an acronym is beyond me. I silently giggle every time I see that manufacturer's plate.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Comments are like Ass's, some are lovely, some are nice, some not some nice, some just ugly, and other smell horrid.

 

[lovecraft68]

One more....so I've been hearing lack of comments for awhile and lack of votes going back to a thread Lex Ruthless started and was bullied for having the nerve to say he was losing votes and complaining about it.

But I hadn't posted in awhile so I had no first hand experience with what was going on. Then Nude Day came along and I posted a story

Now let's look at the pros...everything this story had going for it.

1-Contest entry-extra eyes and everything, right?
2- Got the story in second day of the contest so full exposure.
3-category was mature, a fairly popular category in itself
4-I personally have had some epic stories in Mature and have a good track record.
5-Me....for this example I'm going to put self deprecating aside...I'm closing in on 16k fav pages, been here 12 years, long successful history here, especially in mature.

Seems to me I have the makings of a pretty good set of numbers.

The Next Milf Porn Star
Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures.
06/18/2021 in Mature Stories
Published
HOT
67
38.2k
4.86 / 384
26



Score? 4.86 better than I thought, hell, may not have missed placing by much, but score isn't the issue here.

Votes, 384 as of now, weeks after the contest, forgot what it closed at. That's pretty weak, but a 14 page story could account for some of that.

67 favorites-A joke.

26 comments currently, 24 when the contest ended.


24 comments with 1-5 all factoring in.

That is a fucking joke plain and simple and if someone here wants to look like a fool and try to spin that the other way, good luck because at this point you're being a stubborn obtuse fool. Those of us who have been here a long time know their work, their base, and the site its why people come here asking for category and other advice because we know how to max our views.

And this is just a sad total compared to going back only a couple years ago.

The new normal is less and less.

The site has done a lot to improve visibility and navigation for the readers, given it more eye appeal, honestly did a good job with it.

But fucked the authors over and over again and the only response is no response from above and the same mole running in here like a broken record saying everything else here is wrong, except them.

It is what it is, nothing to be done about it, just too bad the authors who are the draw here lose out. If something happened to the GB or politics board the site would be on it like white on rice to get it fixed. Only business I ever saw where the money makers are the second class citizens.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Only business I ever saw where the money makers are the second class citizens.

Okay, I understood most of your stuff, until the money makers comment. WTF?

 

[gordo12]

Congrats on the 500 threshold. That's quite an accomplishment. It's a pity comments come so slowly after the initial excitement of publication.

I've posted several times over the last two years about the deprecation of the comment function here. A rough guestimate seems to give me around 40% less.

Maybe if you get a couple of comments per story, you don't notice. But when the comment count is in the 50's-100, a 40% drop is serious.

I've mentioned it here and on the support threads—all without response.

The commenter getting blocked can occur for many outside reasons—things the site can't control. I've had it happen to me before (not here), and it can be a long road to clearing it up.

But it all pales in the fact I believe that Lit has made a "Titanic sailing into an iceberg" kind of mistake. I hope they survive the coming years, but I wonder.

 

[NotWise]

Congrats on the 500 threshold. That's quite an accomplishment. It's a pity comments come so slowly after the initial excitement of publication.

I've posted several times over the last two years about the deprecation of the comment function here. A rough guestimate seems to give me around 40% less.

Maybe if you get a couple of comments per story, you don't notice. But when the comment count is in the 50's-100, a 40% drop is serious.

I've mentioned it here and on the support threads—all without response.

The commenter getting blocked can occur for many outside reasons—things the site can't control. I've had it happen to me before (not here), and it can be a long road to clearing it up.

But it all pales in the fact I believe that Lit has made a "Titanic sailing into an iceberg" kind of mistake. I hope they survive the coming years, but I wonder.

I think possible commenters are put off by the way the site holds comments to review them for spam.

Also, the last time I left a comment I found it less than obvious what button I had to push to get the comment posted. Maybe I'm not the only one.

 

[gordo12]

I think possible commenters are put off by the way the site holds comments to review them for spam.

Also, the last time I left a comment I found it less than obvious what button I had to push to get the comment posted. Maybe I'm not the only one.

Yeah, that's where it all began. A step I didn't understand because the underlying software allows them to select accounts to watch. Ie new accounts for 90 days could be monitored but I've been here twenty years. Why monitor me? Or others like me.

And who wants to have to go back and track comments a day later? I can't be bothered. My commenting is probably down by 90% or more.

Nothing but silence when I brought it up.

 

[LAHomedog]

First, what is "SOL?" What is "Lush?" I assume other sites. Are they?

Next, what is "RVC Culture?"

(BTW: I have a friend from here who I co-wrote a couple of stories with who came over here from Nifty because the comments were so nasty, personal and mean spirited over there.)

Then, my thoughts on LC's post: I have come to the belief that only members who have signed in should be allowed to vote and comment. I know folks are going to balk and scream over that, but it's what I think.

When I read a story, if I'm not signed in and I want to make a comment I PM the author. I only make a comment when I'm signed in.

Also, I believe the current internet culture on all sites of any type or subject is now highly driven to be unfiltered flaming. People feel that on the web or in email they can say anything they want without manners or social filtering. Lit is not immune to that and sex brings up heated emotions and feelings that exacerbates the problems.

I do think management/ownership has some problems. I have always assumed it was from overwork, and too much to do, victims of their own success...

 

[RejectReality]

http://www.darkniciad.com/hotlink_pics/valentines_2012_y.htm

Home is Where the Heart Is finished the contest with 4.82, 488 votes ( 236 observed swept ), 25,417 views, 28 favorites, and 72 comments. Entered about mid contest. 7 Lit pages.

It's had a ( deservedly ) meteoric rise since, but it started at humble beginnings that aren't all that far off from this one in any statistic, despite a less eye-catching title/tagline combo, double the page length, and long stretches between new releases here.

It was your first story in the category, so there's that to pop in the equation on the other side.

The almost exactly transposed favorite/comment numbers are exactly what I keep saying about the relationship between those two statistics.

Just some historical perspective.

The Next Milf Porn Star
Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures.
06/18/2021 in Mature Stories
Published
HOT
67
38.2k
4.86 / 384
26


Score? 4.86 better than I thought, hell, may not have missed placing by much, but score isn't the issue here.

Votes, 384 as of now, weeks after the contest, forgot what it closed at. That's pretty weak, but a 14 page story could account for some of that.

67 favorites-A joke.

26 comments currently, 24 when the contest ended.


24 comments with 1-5 all factoring in.

 

[gordo12]

Then, my thoughts on LC's post: I have come to the belief that only members who have signed in should be allowed to vote and comment. I know folks are going to balk and scream over that, but it's what I think.

.

You can already set your stories to only accept signed-in comments. It's in your control panel and also a question when you submit a story. You can also change it anytime.

 

[LAHomedog]

You can already set your stories to only accept signed-in comments. It's in your control panel

You are always so helpful. Thank you.

OK, I have looked for that in the past and could not find it. I have only been able to find "turn votes on/off" and "turn comments on/off" never where I could designate what kind of comments were acceptable.

 

[TadOverdon]

Okay, I understood most of your stuff, until the money makers comment. WTF?

Just a guess, but I'd take it to mean that the authors generate the content that brings eyeballs to the site so that the site owners can make some money.

 

[RejectReality]

You can already set your stories to only accept signed-in comments. It's in your control panel and also a question when you submit a story. You can also change it anytime.

You can only shut off all comments when submitting a story. The option to disable anonymous comments for all stories is only found on your member options page. You can also universally disable all feedback from the options page.

https://literotica.com/my/#/user/options

 

[gordo12]

You are always so helpful. Thank you.

OK, I have looked for that in the past and could not find it. I have only been able to find "turn votes on/off" and "turn comments on/off" never where I could designate what kind of comments were acceptable.

No such function here on acceptable. On or off, only choice.

You can only shut off all comments when submitting a story. The option to disable anonymous comments for all stories is only found on your member options page. You can also universally disable all feedback from the options page.

https://literotica.com/my/#/user/options

Not sure if we're talking the same thing? You can shut your comments and voting off on any story, any time on your home page. Under Works, the list of your stories, little wheel to the right beside the comment balloon. On or off. You can do it anytime. Is that what you're talking about? You can also do it during submission.

Once off, it can take the server a few hours to restore the function should you change your mind.