If you turn off scores...

[lovecraft68]

It seems a bit vindictive of anyone to do such a thing. More than that, obsessive is the right word. They are making sure it doesn't get swept away. Who did you piss off that badly to make them want to hurt your work like that?

They write in NH, its one of those tribal categories where fans of favs there attack other authors.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I don't remember if I've ever put any of my Horror stories in that category. Probably all of mine have been in EH and not the other. I do tag it as non-human at times.

 

[RejectReality]

SF&F and NH have always been dog-eat-dog. The lower vote totals contributed to that.

Holy fuck the collapsing of chaptered stories into a single entry on the toplist cannot happen soon enough. LOL I haven't extensively scrolled through those lists for a while. Damn... There is zero room for anybody else. NH has 4 pages of 4.87 scores. That's insane.

 

[Imakewetspots]

I’m certain there are some who deliberately piss on certain works or certain authors without taking the time to read it.

Lately, I’ve tried to painstakingly watch for the very moment one of my stories gets published. I have seen, more than once, a story of mine getting a couple (or more) ‘one star’ votes right out of the gate. I’m talking about within the first ten minutes of being published. I typically write 30k word stories and they take a long time to read. There’s no way someone can finish a 30k word story and vote on it inside of ten minutes.

And even if it were possible, it seems highly suspect that the first five people who read it would utterly hate it so much to vote it a one when the hundred votes that comes in the following days are all fives. I have grown used to watching my newly published stories start out at 1 and slowly claw their way to a 4.5 or better over time.

I can’t help but wonder what my actual ratings would be if this strange phenomenon didn’t consistently happen.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Even a speed reader would take three-quarters of an hour or more to read thirty thousand words in printed form. I don't think you can read any faster on a monitor (perhaps slower). So, no, they didn't read it. I always believed there was a governor of some kind that checked how long you took to read before it counted the vote. My guess is... I'm wrong.

I’m certain there are some who deliberately piss on certain works or certain authors without taking the time to read it.

Lately, I’ve tried to painstakingly watch for the very moment one of my stories gets published. I have seen, more than once, a story of mine getting a couple (or more) ‘one star’ votes right out of the gate. I’m talking about within the first ten minutes of being published. I typically write 30k word stories and they take a long time to read. There’s no way someone can finish a 30k word story and vote on it inside of ten minutes.

And even if it were possible, it seems highly suspect that the first five people who read it would utterly hate it so much to vote it a one when the hundred votes that comes in the following days are all fives. I have grown used to watching my newly published stories start out at 1 and slowly claw their way to a 4.5 or better over time.

I can’t help but wonder what my actual ratings would be if this strange phenomenon didn’t consistently happen.

 

[Imakewetspots]

Even a speed reader would take three-quarters of an hour or more to read thirty thousand words in printed form. I don't think you can read any faster on a monitor (perhaps slower). So, no, they didn't read it. I always believed there was a governor of some kind that checked how long you took to read before it counted the vote. My guess is... I'm wrong.

What they really need is some sort of rule built into their software (or governor or whatever) whereby members who consistently give one votes get further scrutiny. And if it appears they are doing that, ban them, taking note of their IP address to make it more difficult to sign up for another acct.

As a writer, it’s demoralizing to see that your work can never be accurately assessed when these kind of behaviors go unchecked. I make nothing from writing. I just enjoy seeing comments, suggestions and it’s nice to get a story in the ‘hot’ zone. If there were more of these people, they could drag any story into the mud, ratings wise since most readers don’t vote anyway.

 

[MillieDynamite]

But they don't downvote as a member. They use a second browser and a VPN to change the location, then change it every time they come to the site, 1 after, 1 after, 1 after, and so on. But more deviously, they just give you a 2, 3, or 4, and drops you and doesn't look out of the ordinary so doesn't get swept away. Everything that isn't a 5 brings your score down.

What they really need is some sort of rule built into their software (or governor or whatever) whereby members who consistently give one votes get further scrutiny. And if it appears they are doing that, ban them, taking note of their IP address to make it more difficult to sign up for another acct.

As a writer, it’s demoralizing to see that your work can never be accurately assessed when these kind of behaviors go unchecked. I make nothing from writing. I just enjoy seeing comments, suggestions and it’s nice to get a story in the ‘hot’ zone. If there were more of these people, they could drag any story into the mud, ratings wise since most readers don’t vote anyway.

 

[lovecraft68]

I found the new AH anthem. Just replace the word spam with score

 

[lovecraft68]

SF&F and NH have always been dog-eat-dog. The lower vote totals contributed to that.

Holy fuck the collapsing of chaptered stories into a single entry on the toplist cannot happen soon enough. LOL I haven't extensively scrolled through those lists for a while. Damn... There is zero room for anybody else. NH has 4 pages of 4.87 scores. That's insane.

I will be popping the cork with you, if it ever happens. Its past disgusting. I'm tired of seeing chapter 105 with 40 votes ahead of a standalone with thousands of votes.

 

[Imakewetspots]

But they don't downvote as a member. They use a second browser and a VPN to change the location, then change it every time they come to the site, 1 after, 1 after, 1 after, and so on. But more deviously, they just give you a 2, 3, or 4, and drops you and doesn't look out of the ordinary so doesn't get swept away. Everything that isn't a 5 brings your score down.

Ok, well that sucks!

 

[MillieDynamite]

Yes, it does!

Ok, well that sucks!

 

[AwkwardlySet]

SF&F and NH have always been dog-eat-dog. The lower vote totals contributed to that.

Holy fuck the collapsing of chaptered stories into a single entry on the toplist cannot happen soon enough. LOL I haven't extensively scrolled through those lists for a while. Damn... There is zero room for anybody else. NH has 4 pages of 4.87 scores. That's insane.

I write chaptered stories but I couldn't agree more. I also think that Lit's word count rules have contributed greatly to this overcrowding. Just today I saw chapter 40 of a story series where each chapter is somewhere between 1k and 1.5k words. Why the hell would you need to split a story into so many tiny chapters? I think some people are obsessed with padding their story file or something.

 

[RejectReality]

I will be popping the cork with you, if it ever happens. Its past disgusting. I'm tired of seeing chapter 105 with 40 votes ahead of a standalone with thousands of votes.

Well, that's not really the case here. These are genuinely some of the most popular stories in the category. They have thousands of votes, which is no minor thing in those categories.

They're still taking up all the real estate, preventing anyone new from getting any exposure, and an exception rather than the rule.

It's coming. Not fast enough for anyone's taste, but it is coming, and it will be a boon for both authors and readers when it does.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

It's coming. Not fast enough for anyone's taste, but it is coming, and it will be a boon for both authors and readers when it does.

You sound like a politician when you say it.

 

[lovecraft68]

It's coming

I have the feeling its going to get here around the time George double whopper Martin finishes his next book.

But if it does....will it include removing them from qualifying for the monthlies (providing they come back) and excluding them from annual awards because they're not a finished story?

 

[ElectricBlue]

I can’t help but wonder what my actual ratings would be if this strange phenomenon didn’t consistently happen.

Keep in mind that one-bombing happens to just about every new story, and gets dealt with the same way (through the sweep mechanism), so in a way, the score in the end is reflective of where that story sits. The problem you have is worrying about it in the first week, which is when all the shenanigans go on.

What I suggest, is not worry so much first off, but accept that your score after thirty days is what it is, after it's settled down (and most likely, been swept at least once). The score games happen across the board and all stories are scrubbed the same way, so in the end, that's the score. You just have to get there!

 

[RejectReality]

You sound like a politician when you say it.

I don't know what to tell you if you can't see the building blocks being put into place. The new series coding was a major step. The new story cards available in several places are part of it. The new works page puts several elements into place. It's all being implemented and run through its paces.

 

[lovecraft68]

I don't know what to tell you if you can't see the building blocks being put into place. The new series coding was a major step. The new story cards available in several places are part of it. The new works page puts several elements into place. It's all being implemented and run through its paces.

None of that means it's what they want to do.

That's always been the issue here: Can't and won't are very different things.

 

[Diamondknight87]

They write in NH, its one of those tribal categories where fans of favs there attack other authors.

You're not wrong about it being tribal. The same author has probably 2/3 of the Hall of Fame slots from the same series!

How on earth part 102 has thousands of votes, much less at a 4.9 rating is just beyond ridiculous!

 

[alohadave]

Keep in mind that one-bombing happens to just about every new story,

If it helps, it doesn't just happen here. Authors on SOL complain about exact same thing.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Down and upvoting happens here and everywhere. It is just how things are. I suspect at SOL, it is people with many accounts since you must be a member to vote. I think you have to be a member (not a paying one) even to read.

If it helps, it doesn't just happen here. Authors on SOL complain about exact same thing.

 

[lovecraft68]

You're not wrong about it being tribal. The same author has probably 2/3 of the Hall of Fame slots from the same series!

How on earth part 102 has thousands of votes, much less at a 4.9 rating is just beyond ridiculous!

Yeah, and with just about the same tag line over and over along with a 'plot' that makes seventies porn look like it made an effort.

The followers of series like that are the issue, not really the author. Although it would be interesting if there were some form of rules here limiting a number of chapters. Many right now use their never endng stories as a way to get people to sign up to patreon so there is no chance they will ever finish it.

I give credit to authors who have a lot of ideas....not the same idea soap opera style.

 

[lovecraft68]

Down and upvoting happens here and everywhere. It is just how things are. I suspect at SOL, it is people with many accounts since you must be a member to vote. I think you have to be a member (not a paying one) even to read.

It happens everywhere that is free. That's what happens when anyone can join, vote, etc. If for the sake of argument Lit, or SOL decided to become a paid member site. Example $5.99 you can read unlimited stories, comment, vote, use the forums, etc.. that would cause a big drop in numbers, but also eradicate a lot of this BS with nasty comments, trolling, sniping, etc.

Would come down to you want to live in the ghetto and deal with any dreg who comes your way, or live in a nice secure neighborhood? I imagine most here are so caught up in the number of votes and comments they'd say to stay with let anyone in, but continue to whine over the bad element.

BTW in my hypothetical situation the authors don't pay for member ship because we provide content.

 

[RejectReality]

Down and upvoting happens here and everywhere. It is just how things are. I suspect at SOL, it is people with many accounts since you must be a member to vote. I think you have to be a member (not a paying one) even to read.

Yep. You can only get a small sample if you don't sign up for at least a free account.

I'm sure they try, but the voodoo math SOL does to your score probably makes it all but pointless. One of my recent ones there got two 1s straight out of the gate, which I know because it had registered two votes with a score of 1, and it's scoring pretty much the same as everything else despite that. That being said, the score displayed has almost nothing to do with the value of the votes cast. LOL It's designed to artificially spread the scores out to make them more "useful" for reader selection.

Score is all but irrelevant there anyway, because it only matters during the first week or so. If you get 50 votes with sufficient score to make the top 50 toplist, you get read more. ( or download list ) Otherwise, everyone selects by tags there. That and making the all-time toplists, which is a rarity.

If you're not on the toplist, it doesn't make a lick of difference whether your score is 5.0, or 7.0, or 9.5 with 49 votes.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I don't know what to tell you if you can't see the building blocks being put into place. The new series coding was a major step. The new story cards available in several places are part of it. The new works page puts several elements into place. It's all being implemented and run through its paces.

Well, I don't see it. That feature could or could not be connected to the top lists. I've seen so many empty words coming from the website and I see no clear direction in their actions. If it were as you say, wouldn't the story series card show the aggregate score already? It's been so long since those were introduced and seriously, putting the aggregate score on the series card is something that takes 5 minutes, literally. I could code it in 5 minutes myself. It takes basic scripting and some simple math.

I already told you that you sound like a politician exactly because you speak some hopeful words that sound more like platitudes to me. Why?

1. Because no one else has this information except you. If you are an official spokesperson for Lit, please let us know so I can adjust my replies.

2. On the other hand, if you aren't in the innermost circle of Laurel and Manu, then you are making these conclusions from the actions of the website that are visible to all of us. In that case, I can only tell you that the confidence you are projecting sounds ridiculous, especially in light of everything we have seen in Lit's long history.
People might see me as the constant and annoying critic here, and that's fine, but even those who've never spoken a word of criticism towards Lit know that this place doesn't change. There are promises from Laurel and Manu going back years and years, without any actions so far.

So please, clarify your position and let us know where you are pulling this amazing confidence and positivity from.