I've had enough

[Writer61]

Literotica needs NEW content for click-bait!

It's not your story ratings that are valuable to LitE. It's the number of VIEWS which gives them the stats to sell ad space and actually make money to support the site.

Upsetting authors is a funny way to encourage the creation of new content.

You might enjoy posting crap stories, but others prefer good ratings.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I was, lol. I had the temerity, as a very new writer, to remind a longtime poster in the AH that they were not the Most Important Person In The World. Lo and behold, my stories got pulled about two hours later.

Gee. That's a tough mystery to solve...

Well, I suppose that does qualify as doing something wrong, from a particular point of view.

 

[Lifestyle66]

Upsetting authors is a funny way to encourage the creation of new content.

You might enjoy posting crap stories, but others prefer good ratings.

There are and will always be new people aspiring to publish their "genius, work of art, which they KNOW everyone will LOVE and rate it a 5!" Then the disappointment of the real-world sets in.

I try to write good stories. But I'm a realist, and I KNOW that not everyone enjoys the same kinks!!! One person's 5 is another person's 1, and vice versa. So, I just learned to write what I like to write, and occasionally, deliberately poke at those I know will hate the story.

If you like good ratings, post to the niche categories where you'll find a more, smaller, receptive audience who enjoys your same kink. You'll get some views, and plenty of 5s.

But if you want a more realistic feel for how the general population views your story, then be prepared for the haters to weigh in. And they are LOUD!

EDIT: Try reading some of my stories and tell me if you think they're all crap. Try something like:
Aftermath, or "I Can't Go for That" (32K views but rated 3.1 with 780 votes)
or...
What Were You Thinking? (123k views, rated 3.37 with 1,519 votes.)

 

[MelissaBaby]

I'm not sure about that. Most people who read here do so in order to get off. That's not a difficult thing to make someone do using words; it most definitely does NOT require "good content," as I would define it. But that definition is slippery, remember: one person's "good" is another person's "great" and still another's "meh."

They're not peddling good stories here. They're peddling orgasms. That's something animals have routinely done for free for all of eternity. Laurel and Manu are just two of many who have figured out how to monetize it.

The views will continue as long as there are people who want to masturbate. In other words, sustainability is assured. As for "growth?" They're posting more stories each day than any one person can possibly read, and very few of them are what I'd call "good." They're still driving views, and those views are still driving dollars.

One could make the same basic comments about streaming channels, and yet, those channels find room for The Wire and Bridgerton and Succession, etc. Even if the more "literary offerings" only account for 10% of views, no enterprise wants to see a 10% decline in its business.

 

[intim8]

One of my stories has shot into the top of the E&V Hall of Fame three times now. Each time it was bombed within hours.

That appears to have happened to me in Romance, though the sample size is too small to be sure.

 

[Voboy]

One could make the same basic comments about streaming channels, and yet, those channels find room for The Wire and Bridgerton and Succession, etc. Even if the more "literary offerings" only account for 10% of views, no enterprise wants to see a 10% decline in its business.

No, I know, and Lit is very happy to have higher-quality offerings like what most of us in the AH seek to provide. I've always felt supported here by the site.

But if we leave, the site hardly collapses. And, though it can be difficult to admit, if I left here tomorrow? Next week or next month, along would come someone else to fill whatever niche I left. In the meantime, the site would churn out dozens of strokers generating hundreds of thousands of views.

 

[AG31]

I'd be interested to know exactly what was said when your stories were rejected.

I suspect we're only getting half of the story. Like others, I'm curious as to the reasons for the take-down.

Me too. @themightyxloph, could you give specifics?

The bombs get swept,

I've been meaning to ask: What does "sweep" mean?

 

[Comshaw]

No, I know, and Lit is very happy to have higher-quality offerings like what most of us in the AH seek to provide. I've always felt supported here by the site.

But if we leave, the site hardly collapses. And, though it can be difficult to admit, if I left here tomorrow? Next week or next month, along would come someone else to fill whatever niche I left. In the meantime, the site would churn out dozens of strokers generating hundreds of thousands of views.

We can bitch and moan and belly ache to our hearts content, but will it make any difference? If it will, then it's worth the effort. If it won't, I ain't gunna' spend my time lamenting what could be.

As far as leaving the site a long time ago a shop owner a buddy worked for put it into perspective for me. My buddy was going to accept a new job but felt bad about leaving the one he had because he liked the guy who owned the business. That guy took my buddy over to a bucket of water and told him to stick his hand into the water. He did, then the guy told him to pull it out as fast as he could. Again my friend followed his instructions.
The guy said, "Did you see the hole that was left when you pulled your hand out and did you see the water fill in that hole? No? Well, that's how quickly you will be replaced."

That's how much anyone of us will be missed if we leave here.

Comshaw

 

[ElectricBlue]

Me too. @themightyxloph, could you give specifics?

They're leaving the site. I can't imagine they'll give any specifics.

I've been meaning to ask: What does "sweep" mean?

The site runs an algorithm on a regular basis, more frequently towards the end of Contests, which removes (sweeps) what the site considers are spurious votes - trolling one-bombs usually disappear, but so too can any other vote. Generally, stories lose votes and the overall score rises. Don't ask or speculate how it works.

 

[Plathfan]

That guy took my buddy over to a bucket of water and told him to stick his hand into the water. He did, then the guy told him to pull it out as fast as he could. Again my friend followed his instructions.
The guy said, "Did you see the hole that was left when you pulled your hand out and did you see the water fill in that hole? No? Well, that's how quickly you will be replaced."

Borrowed.

 

[Noor]

I have decided to stop publishing on Literotica, effective immediately.

This was not an easy decision, especially since it means that a squel in series I started now won't appear here. But I've had enough.

I am sick and tired of the way Literotica treats its authors, which over the years has gone from firm-but-reasonable to arrogant to downright Kafkaesque.

I have been publishing here for more than twelve years. I've submitted 34 stories, one of which has a 4.6 star rating, the rest all 4.7. and 4.8+. During that time I've had only one story being rejected upon publication, for reasons that were made clear at the time, and the corrected version was accepted upon resubmission. However, in recent years I've had stories being taken down several times, months or even years after they had been accepted and published. In all cases the cited reason was a generic violation of Lit's publication policies causing the story to be 'sent back'.

It appears that whenever anyone (literally anyone) clicks the 'report submission' option, that story is automatically taken down. Just like that. The author isn't notified; he/she has to stumble across the problem by accident, or by checking on a weekly basis to see if all submitted stories are still online! The reasons given for the rejections (if any reasons are given at all) are so brief as to be useless; an author has to go through the story, guess at what might be the offending plot element / passage / sentence / word (any is possible), make changes, and hope for the best.

Then the revised story has to be entered as a new submission, which typically takes 5-10 days to be processed. All ratings, comments etc. associated with the previously published version are gone. Meanwhile Literotica staff will not respond to questions, requests for clarification or other enquiries, nor will they provide any insight as to what the problem is this time.

I understand Lit has to have policies on goes and what does not. It's their website; they get to decide. That's fine. And legally, the buck stops with them, so they have to cover their asses. I get that. I also understand that sometimes policies have to be updated. That's life. Even the fact that this happens without any notice and that authors have to check for themselves every time there's a day in the week is something I could live with.

But here's the thing. The owners/operators run Literotica for a living. They derive revenue from it. They need good content to do that, and authors provide that content free of charge, for no other reward than the satisfaction of sharing their stories with others. That's cool, but when people work for a pat on the back, don't repeatedly kick them in the nuts instead.

Writing good stories can be hard work, and Literotica makes good money off their authors' submissions. Yet they treat their authors as if they're a nuisance, and they act as if publishing on Lit is a privilege that gives them the right to slap down everyone who doesn't toe the line, even when that line changes without any notice, warning or feedback.

There have to be rules. I get that. But if you want to continue to make a living off free submissions, at least treat your authors like they mean something and don't be a PITA when they try to give you the free content that is your bread and butter.

So I'm calling it a day. Too bad. It's been fun. Or rather, it used to be.

Totally understand. Where will you be publishing?

I’m pretty sure Lit makes money on the videos not the stories though.

 

[AwkwardMD]

Aaaand drink

 

[SkyBubble]

I don't know if there's even an alternative place to share erotica, but you're definitely right about Lit depending on authors for free bread and butter. I haven't dealt with anything being randomly deleted or rejected after being published myself, probably because I've only posted a few stories.

I'd be interested to know exactly what was said when your stories were rejected. If the rejection messages were vague and not helpful, I'd still be interested in knowing. Cause from the looks of it, you're writing sci fi, so it's hard to imagine what could possibly be wrong with your stories if you're not covering edgy and taboo stuff.

There are, but Lit is the big one, and I think it's against the rules to mention those other sites publicly. I know of a few; I've contributed to some. A couple of which are no longer operating.

 

[Writer61]

EDIT: Try reading some of my stories and tell me if you think they're all crap.

I have no view on whether any of your stories are crap, I was simply quoting you.

I have almost 1.5 MILLION views in just over four years of stories, some of which are real crap! (But I had fun writing them.)

 

[Celand]

I agree with the OP, I am a writer ( BUT not here) and see the decline in acceptance of material and and the censorship of the written word.... Can somebody explain to me why this place always caters to the lowest common determinator ===== pablum !! .....and who is in endangered by a written word? This is worse then USSR , 3rd Reich, and most current Islamic states....and all these whiners who agree with this crap ! Good riddance !!

 

[StillStunned]

This is worse then USSR , 3rd Reich, and most current Islamic states....

Fortunately there's no ban on hyperbole yet.

 

[lovecraft68]

I agree with the OP, I am a writer ( BUT not here) and see the decline in acceptance of material and and the censorship of the written word.... Can somebody explain to me why this place always caters to the lowest common determinator ===== pablum !! .....and who is in endangered by a written word? This is worse then USSR , 3rd Reich, and most current Islamic states....and all these whiners who agree with this crap ! Good riddance !!

Mouthbreathers are clicks and clicks are traffic and how the site makes money.

Having said that, I can tell you from long experience that this site has always catered to trolls, the awful factions of readerships, rule breaking stories as long as they're popular or they like the author, and its a shame so few here can remember when the owner used to post in the General board and who they attacked and who they defended as well as what they allowed here years ago including the legendarily awful 'dead baby' thread. That couldn't happen now that there's a mod so its gotten better in this forum, but we've also seen here how some of the mods fall right in with encouraging trolls because that's what some of them are.

It's their site so they can do as they choose, and we can choose to stay or leave, but I do find myself wondering how they reconcile keeping and encouraging the worst element but by doing so turning off other people enough to leave. Are the trash the majority to that degree, or is it simply just letting people do what they want and having a wild west circus?
Only they know, and we're all adults who can decide what our limit is for putting up with it.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I agree with the OP, I am a writer ( BUT not here)

What do you write? Ransom notes?

 

[Voboy]

This is worse then USSR , 3rd Reich, and most current Islamic states....

Well! There's clearly nothing wrong with your sense of outrage, your historical awareness, or your critical thinking.

Perspective: it helps.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Well! There's clearly nothing wrong with your sense of outrage, your historical awareness, or your critical thinking.

Perspective: it helps.

This is worse than the slow ice machines at Burger King! Worse than locally made furniture store commercials! Worse than the Amazon guy leaving packages in front of the garage door, so you have to get out and move them before you can pull the fucking car into the garage!

 

[Voboy]

This is worse than the slow ice machines at Burger King! Worse than locally made furniture store commercials! Worse than the Amazon guy leaving packages in front of the garage door, so you have to get out and move them before you can pull the fucking car into the garage!

When the trash can guys leave my empty barrels in front of the driveway? So I have to get out and move them to get my car out of the street?

Worse than the Killing Fields, man.

/s

 

[AwkwardlySet]

...worse than getting a 4* rating.

Beat that, if you can!

 

[MelissaBaby]

...worse than getting a 4* rating.

Beat that, if you can!

I wouldnt' know.



<--back atcha'

 

[lovecraft68]

I wouldnt' know.



<--back atcha'

I think some here will see that as a challenge.

Then you can start a one bomb thread.

 

[TheLobster]

Then you can start a one bomb thread.

Perfect! That’s the last one I need for my AH Bingo Card for this week.