An announcement about my future publishing on Literotica

[RejectReality]

The silence is simple to answer. No matter what they say, 75% of the people complaining about any issue will call the answer bullshit and then spend another month generating ever-wilder conspiracy theories. This was proven to them often enough years ago that they rarely try anymore except to message individuals who seem more or less rational on the particular subject, once in a blue moon. Otherwise, if it's a problem that needs solving, they just do it quietly in the background. If it's just something people don't like... *shrug* Explaining why it is the way it is just generate endless "yeah, but".

I believe the current AI "solution" is a farce that's obviously driving authors away. I've personally fielded at least a dozen PMs inquiring about other places to go myself. That being said, it's patently obvious the queue is overloaded. The number of stories being published has exploded since I started years ago. It was rare air for a story to end up on page 2 of the new story list for many, many years. People would scream bloody murder if the contest stories pushed them onto page 2. Now they're dropping sometimes hundreds of new submissions per day. It wasn't very long ago at all ( maybe last year ) that I had a discussion with Laurel, and she said she was still doing the work herself after all these years. 8+ hours a day working the queue. That doesn't count the bug reports, sweep requests, forum reports, yadda, yadda, yadda. There's nothing automated in the queue beyond whatever they're doing about AI. If they're determined to stick with this AI filtering thing, that's what I would automate. Create that whimsical whitelist everyone keeps talking about for real, and just automatically reject anything above a certain percentage generated by the hallucinating clanker. Just watch the complaints about long wait times vanish if they do that, and the screeches about false AI rejections explode again. At least it would take some of the load off Laurel in the process. There's no winning here, so may as well get something useful out of it.

All this whining and moaning ( including my own about the AI detector ) accomplishes exactly jack shit. Taking your ball and going somewhere else means nothing. The #1 author has done that more than once, and it had exactly zero effect in the grand scheme of things. Huge swaths of people left during the political hell the place had become several years ago, which represented a decent number of top 100 authors. Fart in a whirlwind. All it does is push the two people who've been holding this place up on their shoulders for 25 years now — and have to be in some stage of burnout — toward Lit's inevitable end.

If there was someone they trusted enough to take the place over, they'd already be on board helping and learning the ropes. That means the place will either slowly fade away when they stop accepting new content until the server contracts run out, vanish abruptly because they just can't take it anymore, or get sold off to some porn conglomerate that want it for the content and the traffic it can drive to the sites they care about. If it was me, listening to the ingrates playing martyr around here year after year after year, I'd sell it off just to come back every once in a while to giggle at folks learning what having the people in charge actually not give a shit looks like.

Oh, and the "buggy changes that nobody asked for" to the activity feed? Dime to a donut, shunting stuff off to an archive was a necessity, not a feature. The system we had was put in place before lists took off ( and that's only going to ramp up as more people discover them. Trust me ) and the volume of data that was blasting through it had to be causing issues behind the scenes. Database restructuring with a goal is why that change was made. I can pretty much guarantee that once the bugs are ironed out of what they've put up now, the archive items will expire and get dumped after a certain amount of time. That's the logical reason for making that change.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

There are things I agree with in your post, but this martyrdom angle you're trying to sell is pure BS.

Everything they've ever done is because they chose to do so. They never asked us for opinions, help or understanding. So you trying to paint practically everyone here as a bickering, ungrateful child is your own bitter bias.

Lit is their baby, and they can do anything they want with it. Nobody has ever disputed that. But whatever fate awaits it, it will always be a result of their choices and decisions.

The complaints we air here have zero bearing on that. If it's still Laurel doing all the work, then it's because she chose to do it. If Lit slowly closes, it will be because they chose to close it rather than pass it on. And if it bounces back and continues to thrive, then it will also be their doing.

Everything that happens on Lit, including this thread, is a result of their choices, not ours.

 

[jsmiam]

The silence is simple to answer. No matter what they say, 75% of the people complaining about any issue will call the answer bullshit and then spend another month generating ever-wilder conspiracy theories. This was proven to them often enough years ago that they rarely try anymore except to message individuals who seem more or less rational on the particular subject, once in a blue moon. Otherwise, if it's a problem that needs solving, they just do it quietly in the background. If it's just something people don't like... *shrug* Explaining why it is the way it is just generate endless "yeah, but".

I believe the current AI "solution" is a farce that's obviously driving authors away. I've personally fielded at least a dozen PMs inquiring about other places to go myself. That being said, it's patently obvious the queue is overloaded. The number of stories being published has exploded since I started years ago. It was rare air for a story to end up on page 2 of the new story list for many, many years. People would scream bloody murder if the contest stories pushed them onto page 2. Now they're dropping sometimes hundreds of new submissions per day. It wasn't very long ago at all ( maybe last year ) that I had a discussion with Laurel, and she said she was still doing the work herself after all these years. 8+ hours a day working the queue. That doesn't count the bug reports, sweep requests, forum reports, yadda, yadda, yadda. There's nothing automated in the queue beyond whatever they're doing about AI. If they're determined to stick with this AI filtering thing, that's what I would automate. Create that whimsical whitelist everyone keeps talking about for real, and just automatically reject anything above a certain percentage generated by the hallucinating clanker. Just watch the complaints about long wait times vanish if they do that, and the screeches about false AI rejections explode again. At least it would take some of the load off Laurel in the process. There's no winning here, so may as well get something useful out of it.

All this whining and moaning ( including my own about the AI detector ) accomplishes exactly jack shit. Taking your ball and going somewhere else means nothing. The #1 author has done that more than once, and it had exactly zero effect in the grand scheme of things. Huge swaths of people left during the political hell the place had become several years ago, which represented a decent number of top 100 authors. Fart in a whirlwind. All it does is push the two people who've been holding this place up on their shoulders for 25 years now — and have to be in some stage of burnout — toward Lit's inevitable end.

If there was someone they trusted enough to take the place over, they'd already be on board helping and learning the ropes. That means the place will either slowly fade away when they stop accepting new content until the server contracts run out, vanish abruptly because they just can't take it anymore, or get sold off to some porn conglomerate that want it for the content and the traffic it can drive to the sites they care about. If it was me, listening to the ingrates playing martyr around here year after year after year, I'd sell it off just to come back every once in a while to giggle at folks learning what having the people in charge actually not give a shit looks like.

Oh, and the "buggy changes that nobody asked for" to the activity feed? Dime to a donut, shunting stuff off to an archive was a necessity, not a feature. The system we had was put in place before lists took off ( and that's only going to ramp up as more people discover them. Trust me ) and the volume of data that was blasting through it had to be causing issues behind the scenes. Database restructuring with a goal is why that change was made. I can pretty much guarantee that once the bugs are ironed out of what they've put up now, the archive items will expire and get dumped after a certain amount of time. That's the logical reason for making that change.

Speaking through chosen ones is an unacceptable way of running a site.

And cmon. As a “chosen one”, you’re not qualified to critique the other 99.999999 percent of Literotica who hears nothing.

Your post is tone deaf. Pretend that instead of apparently being president of the Literotica defenders and chosen ones society, you’re a regular schmuck who only gets hearsay news from chosen ones? Would you feel the same?

 

[EmilyMiller]

Your post is tone deaf.

 

[nice90sguy]

Making money is always less fun than spending it.

Yeah, I pity findommes, they're always getting the raw end of the deal

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Speaking through chosen ones is an unacceptable way of running a site.

And cmon. As a “chosen one”, you’re not qualified to critique the other 99.999999 percent of Literotica who hears nothing.

Your post is tone deaf. Pretend that instead of apparently being president of the Literotica defenders and chosen ones society, you’re a regular schmuck who only gets hearsay news from chosen ones? Would you feel the same?

Lit's most outspoken critic was claiming to be a "chosen one" not so long ago... funny how that goes.



They've been running this site that way for decades, and been wildly successful doing it, so I'd say it is an acceptable way to run a site.

And I'm just some schmuck like 99.9999% of you, just one of the 99.7% whose ego isn't wrapped up in this place.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

There are things I agree with in your post, but this martyrdom angle you're trying to sell is pure BS.

Everything they've ever done is because they chose to do so. They never asked us for opinions, help or understanding. So you trying to paint practically everyone here as a bickering, ungrateful child is your own bitter bias.

Lit is their baby, and they can do anything they want with it. Nobody has ever disputed that. But whatever fate awaits it, it will always be a result of their choices and decisions.

The complaints we air here have zero bearing on that. If it's still Laurel doing all the work, then it's because she chose to do it. If Lit slowly closes, it will be because they chose to close it rather than pass it on. And if it bounces back and continues to thrive, then it will also be their doing.

Everything that happens on Lit, including this thread, is a result of their choices, not ours.

That martyrdom thing cuts both ways. If you are here, if you are a "victim" of poor treatment from Lit, it's the result of your own choices. You can walk away. Nothing is stopping you. For Laurel and Manu it's their livelihood, they are invested, you aren't.

They didn't ask you for understanding? That is something that has to be asked for now?

Ask for your opinions? Why would they need to ask, people are sharing those on the AH all the time.
The whole "What I wrote and why" thing was them taking feedback from the AH and implementing it.
You all said thank you, didn't you? Or did you just go right on bitching they don't listen to you?


Sure, they could have hired more help. Are you a small business owner? Do you know what that entails?
How profitable is Lit really? Adding a W2 employee to an existing LLC can be a very expensive venture, and it isn't just salary for whomever they hire, they are on the hook for all kinds of payroll taxes. Bringing one person on board and paying them peanuts would likely cost them over $100k. Does lit have the revenue to support that?
Then think about the privacy issues. Right now the only people who know who Laurel and Manu are are their lawyer and their accountant. And their accountant might not even know what the site actually does.

Now you need to hire someone, put out a job posting... interview people... most of us write under pseudonyms for a reason. For all we know Laurel is President of the Junior League and Manu is Grand PooBahh at the local Elk Lodge. Getting outed in their community could be horrific.
Then that person quits, they have to hire someone else...

But sure, "it's just a choice." It's easy to say that when you have no skin in the game.


ETA:
I forgot about this, here is Laurel asking for our opinions. The very first response is you attacking her.
Gee, I wonder why she would stop asking for opinions.

https://forum.literotica.com/thread...each-category-new-page.1636634/post-101225474

 

[MillieDynamite]

Well, perhaps, findoms and femdoms are the exceptions to the rule.

Yeah, I pity findommes, they're always getting the raw end of the deal

 

[OldDog_NewTricks]

I don't have a dog in this fight and haven't been around nearly as long as most of the folks here in the AH, but I guess my default has always been seeing a positive rather than a negative.

I can see there are a lot of questions about what is happening here at Lit and with the lack of response from the owners speculation and conjecture have taken over. Has anyone thought about it from the other side? The owner's side?

Look at publishing delays. We don't know what the reasons are, but we see the delays. Folks sit on the forums and complain that a story is stuck for too long, but has anyone attempted to contact L or M with anything constructive rather than accusatory? Has anyone offered to help with the backlog? We seem to have folks who will take the time with offers of proofreading and editing. They would have some insight into a story breaking any rules. I would bet that the majority of stories submitted would pass inspection, but maybe I'm just naive. With maybe (just guessing here) 80% of the actual words not triggering a rejection but still needing the time to be read, being pre-read by some of the more experienced authors (or the "mythical" white list authors) might help lighten the load? If something looks like it's bending the rules too much, a PM could be sent to the owners saying something like "This story looks good except for the section about "xyz" on page #2. It might violate the "abc" rule." Even if 25% could be pre-read, that would be maybe a 20% increase in publishing the backlog. Many hand make light work. And if some of the load can be taken off the owner's shoulders, then there may be more time and energy to tackle some of the other things that are seen as problems?

I guess what I'm getting at is, if an olive branch is offered rather than a club, maybe some headway could be made with what is seen as the "shortcomings" of the site. But if folks keep browbeating the owners and the realities of real life (age, burnout, health, legal mattes, etc.) are in play, then it make the decision much easier for the owners to just say enough, and pull the plug. Maybe the olive branch would be rejected, or maybe there isn't anything that can be done anyhow and the end is inevitable, but why should our actions hasten it towards something none of us want?

Just my .02

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I don't have a dog in this fight and haven't been around nearly as long as most of the folks here in the AH, but I guess my default has always been seeing a positive rather than a negative.

I can see there are a lot of questions about what is happening here at Lit and with the lack of response from the owners speculation and conjecture have taken over. Has anyone thought about it from the other side? The owner's side?

Look at publishing delays. We don't know what the reasons are, but we see the delays. Folks sit on the forums and complain that a story is stuck for too long, but has anyone attempted to contact L or M with anything constructive rather than accusatory? Has anyone offered to help with the backlog? We seem to have folks who will take the time with offers of proofreading and editing. They would have some insight into a story breaking any rules. I would bet that the majority of stories submitted would pass inspection, but maybe I'm just naive. With maybe (just guessing here) 80% of the actual words not triggering a rejection but still needing the time to be read, being pre-read by some of the more experienced authors (or the "mythical" white list authors) might help lighten the load? If something looks like it's bending the rules too much, a PM could be sent to the owners saying something like "This story looks good except for the section about "xyz" on page #2. It might violate the "abc" rule." Even if 25% could be pre-read, that would be maybe a 20% increase in publishing the backlog. Many hand make light work. And if some of the load can be taken off the owner's shoulders, then there may be more time and energy to tackle some of the other things that are seen as problems?

I guess what I'm getting at is, if an olive branch is offered rather than a club, maybe some headway could be made with what is seen as the "shortcomings" of the site. But if folks keep browbeating the owners and the realities of real life (age, burnout, health, legal mattes, etc.) are in play, then it make the decision much easier for the owners to just say enough, and pull the plug. Maybe the olive branch would be rejected, or maybe there isn't anything that can be done anyhow and the end is inevitable, but why should our actions hasten it towards something none of us want?

Just my .02

Crowdsourcing some sort of help sounds like a great idea. My fear would be that the implementation could get very difficult very quickly.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I've never attacked in my communications with Laurel. Respectful or not, I've also never given them suggestions about how to run their website; it seems presumptuous to me.

I don't have a dog in this fight and haven't been around nearly as long as most of the folks here in the AH, but I guess my default has always been seeing a positive rather than a negative.

I can see there are a lot of questions about what is happening here at Lit and with the lack of response from the owners speculation and conjecture have taken over. Has anyone thought about it from the other side? The owner's side?

Look at publishing delays. We don't know what the reasons are, but we see the delays. Folks sit on the forums and complain that a story is stuck for too long, but has anyone attempted to contact L or M with anything constructive rather than accusatory? Has anyone offered to help with the backlog? We seem to have folks who will take the time with offers of proofreading and editing. They would have some insight into a story breaking any rules. I would bet that the majority of stories submitted would pass inspection, but maybe I'm just naive. With maybe (just guessing here) 80% of the actual words not triggering a rejection but still needing the time to be read, being pre-read by some of the more experienced authors (or the "mythical" white list authors) might help lighten the load? If something looks like it's bending the rules too much, a PM could be sent to the owners saying something like "This story looks good except for the section about "xyz" on page #2. It might violate the "abc" rule." Even if 25% could be pre-read, that would be maybe a 20% increase in publishing the backlog. Many hand make light work. And if some of the load can be taken off the owner's shoulders, then there may be more time and energy to tackle some of the other things that are seen as problems?

I guess what I'm getting at is, if an olive branch is offered rather than a club, maybe some headway could be made with what is seen as the "shortcomings" of the site. But if folks keep browbeating the owners and the realities of real life (age, burnout, health, legal mattes, etc.) are in play, then it make the decision much easier for the owners to just say enough, and pull the plug. Maybe the olive branch would be rejected, or maybe there isn't anything that can be done anyhow and the end is inevitable, but why should our actions hasten it towards something none of us want?

Just my .02

 

[OldDog_NewTricks]

I can see where Crowdsourcing could be problematic and I have no clue as to how any offer of help could be implemented. I can see the can of worms that would be opened if anyone found out who was helping, but if the offer was made, it might go a long way in the communication department with the owners.

I don't see it as presumptuous to offer help. If it were proffered as "Maybe you should let us help you run your site." then yes, that would be presumptuous. But to say something like "If there is something we can do to help, we're here for you." I don't see as presumptuous, but rather a gesture of goodwill.

Again, maybe I'm just naive.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I can see where Crowdsourcing could be problematic and I have no clue as to how any offer of help could be implemented. I can see the can of worms that would be opened if anyone found out who was helping, but if the offer was made, it might go a long way in the communication department with the owners.

I don't see it as presumptuous to offer help. If it were proffered as "Maybe you should let us help you run your site." then yes, that would be presumptuous. But to say something like "If there is something we can do to help, we're here for you." I don't see as presumptuous, but rather a gesture of goodwill.

Again, maybe I'm just naive.

I think we are in agreement in spirit, the devil is in the details.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Well, since you don't own the site, the only way you can find out is to send them your suggestions.

I can see where Crowdsourcing could be problematic and I have no clue as to how any offer of help could be implemented. I can see the can of worms that would be opened if anyone found out who was helping, but if the offer was made, it might go a long way in the communication department with the owners.

I don't see it as presumptuous to offer help. If it were proffered as "Maybe you should let us help you run your site." then yes, that would be presumptuous. But to say something like "If there is something we can do to help, we're here for you." I don't see as presumptuous, but rather a gesture of goodwill.

Again, maybe I'm just naive.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I

I can see where Crowdsourcing could be problematic and I have no clue as to how any offer of help could be implemented. I can see the can of worms that would be opened if anyone found out who was helping, but if the offer was made, it might go a long way in the communication department with the owners.

I don't see it as presumptuous to offer help. If it were proffered as "Maybe you should let us help you run your site." then yes, that would be presumptuous. But to say something like "If there is something we can do to help, we're here for you." I don't see as presumptuous, but rather a gesture of goodwill.

Again, maybe I'm just naive.

I know of more than a few instances where that offer has been made without receiving a response.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I don't have a dog in this fight and haven't been around nearly as long as most of the folks here in the AH, but I guess my default has always been seeing a positive rather than a negative.

I can see there are a lot of questions about what is happening here at Lit and with the lack of response from the owners speculation and conjecture have taken over. Has anyone thought about it from the other side? The owner's side?

Look at publishing delays. We don't know what the reasons are, but we see the delays. Folks sit on the forums and complain that a story is stuck for too long, but has anyone attempted to contact L or M with anything constructive rather than accusatory? Has anyone offered to help with the backlog? We seem to have folks who will take the time with offers of proofreading and editing. They would have some insight into a story breaking any rules. I would bet that the majority of stories submitted would pass inspection, but maybe I'm just naive. With maybe (just guessing here) 80% of the actual words not triggering a rejection but still needing the time to be read, being pre-read by some of the more experienced authors (or the "mythical" white list authors) might help lighten the load? If something looks like it's bending the rules too much, a PM could be sent to the owners saying something like "This story looks good except for the section about "xyz" on page #2. It might violate the "abc" rule." Even if 25% could be pre-read, that would be maybe a 20% increase in publishing the backlog. Many hand make light work. And if some of the load can be taken off the owner's shoulders, then there may be more time and energy to tackle some of the other things that are seen as problems?

I guess what I'm getting at is, if an olive branch is offered rather than a club, maybe some headway could be made with what is seen as the "shortcomings" of the site. But if folks keep browbeating the owners and the realities of real life (age, burnout, health, legal mattes, etc.) are in play, then it make the decision much easier for the owners to just say enough, and pull the plug. Maybe the olive branch would be rejected, or maybe there isn't anything that can be done anyhow and the end is inevitable, but why should our actions hasten it towards something none of us want?

Just my .02

I’ve PMed the site owners offering to help more than once. No reply.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I

I know of more than a few instances where that offer has been made without receiving a response.

It's probably still worth doing. I think we all appreciate an offer of help, even if we can't accept it. Supposedly the number one reason people quit jobs and end relationships is they don't feel appreciated. A little appreciation can go a long way.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I've never offered to help them. I'm a writer; I publish stories here, which brings them readers. This site isn't hurting for readers, nor is there a shortage of income because of their side deals (advertising). I also make money from my writing, so when would I have the time to help them for free? This is a business for them, okay, fine, but our job in this is to give them stories, not assistance in operating the site.

 

[Britva415]

here is Laurel asking for our opinions. The very first response is you attacking her.

Was that link right? I don't see the attack or any post at all from @EmilyMiller

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Was that link right? I don't see the attack or any post at all from @EmilyMiller

I wasn't responding to Emily Miller.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

I’ve PMed the site owners offering to help more than once. No reply.

Outside of maybe looking to replace a retiring, or quiting mod, they don't want our help for anything but stories written—which they could probably take or leave, anyway. There are quite a few folks that could be possibly beneficial, this way or that.

 

[Pete_from_aus01]

Good afternoon Em. I concur with your observations and points re this site, and I have noticed a rapid decline in the quality of work on Literotica as the good authors stop writing and adding stories here. Loving wives has become the “cuck” page with very few decent stories published (one writer published 2 or 3 stories a day).
The abuse called “reviews” that some “anonymous” people write is disgraceful.
This site has gone to the dogs. I have read stories here for 20 odd years but the last couple of years has seen the quality of stories and the good authors abandon this site.
Such a shame really. Good luck with your next path in life.
Take care Pete.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Good afternoon Em. I concur with your observations and points re this site, and I have noticed a rapid decline in the quality of work on Literotica as the good authors stop writing and adding stories here. Loving wives has become the “cuck” page with very few decent stories published (one writer published 2 or 3 stories a day).
The abuse called “reviews” that some “anonymous” people write is disgraceful.
This site has gone to the dogs. I have read stories here for 20 odd years but the last couple of years has seen the quality of stories and the good authors abandon this site.
Such a shame really. Good luck with your next path in life.
Take care Pete.

I can’t comment on the quality of LW stories. What I do know is that quite a few well-regarded authors (not necessarily AH regulars - this place is really not for everyone) have given up. They’ve either moved on or are pausing publishing until things improve.

The site will no doubt go on regardless. There are plenty more people who are willing to be the product that Literotica sells. But it saddens me when distinctive voices go silent. Maybe it’s normal attrition, maybe it’s more than that. Only time will tell.

 

[AlexIce]

I'm kind of with you there. Between the delays in publishing and how other authors are seemingly getting the shaft, I've lost all motivation to even write for this site

I'm seriously considering taking my chances on Substack at this point.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I'm kind of with you there. Between the delays in publishing and how other authors are seemingly getting the shaft, I've lost all motivation to even write for this site

I'm seriously considering taking my chances on Substack at this point.

The received wisdom is that the site is bigger than any number of its authors, all of whom are replaceable. But… I’ve seen new people ask whether it’s worth publishing here, as they have heard that there are problems.

I imagine the site feels pretty secure. Even if 10% of authors left and even if they were the top 10% (by some non-existent metric) there would still be new people filling their shoes. But, complacency can be its own downfall. Reputational damage can take a while to be apparent. Who knows what happens next .