Bummed by Troll

[MMisterEE]

The first section of my first submission to Literotica appeared today ("Dreams To Come"), the first third of a novel length mind-control story. It says right at the beginning in an author's note that it's a novel length story, as a courtesy to stroke seekers to look elsewhere. So my very first public comment — the story is too long and not worth bothering to read because it's long, so it gets a zero vote after four 5's.

What a greeting. While no story can appeal to all tastes, mine is highly erotic, carefully edited and complete. It's been enjoyed elsewhere with many fans. I'm tempted to just pull the story here without ever posting the second and third sections. It's all about sharing, not being abused.

Have others had similar experiences here?

 

[tanru]

If you spend any time at all on this board, you'll find that the personalities run the complete gamut, from sophisticated and intelligent down to complete and utter plonkers. You've encountered one of the latter, I should think.

If you're going to put your stuff out, you'll need a grow a bit of a thick skin, and learn to ignore the twats. You certainly can't give up after five reviews. That's like giving up on your great novel after the first rejection slip.

 

[sr71plt]

Ah, that would be just a Zap Troll in Passing. Pretty tame in comparison to the Dedicated Zap Trolls we have. I have at least two who check at 10:00 my time every morning to see if I've posted a new story and then zap it (although they don't leave a comment)--and have faithfully done so for two years with just a few vacations. (I'd be happy if their next vacation was to the moon.) Over time, you learn to ignore it and pay more attention to the number of reads you're getting--and, with luck, the nicer comments.

 

[MMisterEE]

I guess I had no idea that anyone would make an effort to torpedo a story as a game. It seems that a zero vote is a powerful tool to keep a story from actually being read — I usually look at the top lists when I browse here, mostly reading what a consensus of others think is good. One zero early on just seems like it dooms a story from ever being noticed by someone like me.

 

[michchick98]

I guess I had no idea that anyone would make an effort to torpedo a story as a game. It seems that a zero vote is a powerful tool to keep a story from actually being read — I usually look at the top lists when I browse here, mostly reading what a consensus of others think is good. One zero early on just seems like it dooms a story from ever being noticed by someone like me.

While no one knows how it works, but the votes are swept periodically so the zero or one votes may be eliminated and that'll bring your score back up. Although I don't think the sweeps happen as often if there's not a contest going on.

Some have said that your higher score (a 4.5 earns you a red H) is a combination of the stars (1-5) and the thermometer (0-100). I don't know if this is true or not, but chances are if the person commenting gave you a zero on the thermometer, he/she also gave you a 1 on the stars.

If your story is good enough to the regular readers of the category, then you shouldn't have any problem with your score eventually going back up.

And as someone else said, pay no attention to the trolls, they do it for their own twisted thrills.

Welcome to Lit.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Ah, that would be just a Zap Troll in Passing. Pretty tame in comparison to the Dedicated Zap Trolls we have. I have at least two who check at 10:00 my time every morning to see if I've posted a new story and then zap it (although they don't leave a comment)--and have faithfully done so for two years with just a few vacations. (I'd be happy if their next vacation was to the moon.) Over time, you learn to ignore it and pay more attention to the number of reads you're getting--and, with luck, the nicer comments.

I have the same kind of problems with trolls; probably most of us do. There's nothing to be done about it. It comes with the territory.

Mind Control is a category that gets more than its share of trolling. There are those who equate it with rape, not without some justification. As tanru says, if you are going to be posting stories here regularly, you need to develop a hide that is either thick or oily, so negative comments slide right off.

 

[sr71plt]

I have the same kind of problems with trolls; probably most of us do. There's nothing to be done about it. It comes with the territory.

Yep, yep, and yep. I figure the best revenge is not to let it bother me. I gauge the quality of my work in other ways.

 

[MMisterEE]

Thanks for the responses/perspective.

I have to say that at this moment, I'm very undecided. It's not so much about gauging the quality of the story — it's not perfect of course, but not bad either. It's been read/critiqued elsewhere and I placed the first third here, essentially to share it with a wider audience.

I've been trying to think of a good analogy to how this feels, and the best I can come up with is that it's like someone making three quilts (not for money, just the love of the craft), to be shared at a state fair somewhere. The first quilt is ready for display and it's presented, but the quilter still has to prepare the other two quilts for display. The first quilt is a fairly fine piece and it gets a couple of oooh's and aaah's, and others pass it by respectfully, even if it doesn't grab them. Then a kid strolls in and throws an egg at it, never looking at it, just for kicks (or general hatred of quilts?). Is the quilter going to feel like readying the other two quilts, or are they going to wonder if this is the right venue to show the work in the first place?

It feels like a tough call.

 

[TxRad]

Thanks for the responses/perspective.

I have to say that at this moment, I'm very undecided. It's not so much about gauging the quality of the story — it's not perfect of course, but not bad either. It's been read/critiqued elsewhere and I placed the first third here, essentially to share it with a wider audience.

I've been trying to think of a good analogy to how this feels, and the best I can come up with is that it's like someone making three quilts (not for money, just the love of the craft), to be shared at a state fair somewhere. The first quilt is ready for display and it's presented, but the quilter still has to prepare the other two quilts for display. The first quilt is a fairly fine piece and it gets a couple of oooh's and aaah's, and others pass it by respectfully, even if it doesn't grab them. Then a kid strolls in and throws an egg at it, never looking at it, just for kicks (or general hatred of quilts?). Is the quilter going to feel like readying the other two quilts, or are they going to wonder if this is the right venue to show the work in the first place?

It feels like a tough call.

Luckily, you didn't post to Loving Wives. There you get enough eggs to make a very large omelet. Do not feed the troll and like several have said, develop a thick slippery skin. Use the majority of the comments as your guide more so than the top or in this case the bottom of the pile.

Happy writing and welcome to the club.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Luckily, you didn't post to Loving Wives. There you get enough eggs to make a very large omelet. Do not feed the troll and like several have said, develop a thick slippery skin. Use the majority of the comments as your guide more so than the top or in this case the bottom of the pile.

Happy writing and welcome to the club.

The last story I posted to LW, I deliberately tried to get it trolled. Not only was it about a slutty wife who was cheating on her husband, she wanted to get fucked in the ass. I figure if I give the trolls a feast like that, it might take their minds off other stories of mine and other authors.

 

[CloudsSip]

You need a thick skin but you CAN disable the ability of Annonymous postings on your stories; that can reduce some trolling.

If you need the feeding of praise (and who doesn't), the only way I know of to get 100% positive is to post on your own site and censor all the opinions which aren't 100% praise. But as a serious writer, I doubt you want that. Yes, they dissed your baby, and maybe offered nothing helpful. They Don't Get It. My advice is, ignore the TDGI critics. Only listen to *I* Don't Get IT from those who have already earned your respect for their opinions.

 

[Jaymal]

CloudsSip is Right

Trolls are generally a cowardly bunch. Only once have I had a detractor leave a contact detail. They throw mud and run, like malicious kids at Hallowe'en. Why spend time reading work you hate? I'd ask them if they let me. It's a more than a little twisted. Ignore, enjoy the praise you do get, and dialogue with people whose criticism is well-intentioned and constructive.

 

[Dragonstaff]

As a reader not a writer, if I don't like the direction a story is going or it does nothing for me, I just click back out and go and find something else. I would hate to discourage someone from doing something they enjoy and are good at just because I don't like the theme. I don't read mind control stories as a rule, but if you write in several catergories I might well enjoy something else of yours. If I am working my way through a catergory and spot something I may enjoy, I always click on the authors link to see what else they have done, and often find things that I would never otherwise have found. If the first one is good, I may well read the rest, even if the catergory doesn't hold any immediate appeal to me, just because the writer is good at their craft.

Remember, it is hard to fly like an eagle when you are surrounded by turkeys, but it is not impossible (even if they are trying to beat you right back down).

Jaymal, if I really hate something I read here and absolutly have to let the author know about it (hasn't happened yet and I have been reading here for about four years), I will always try to be positive anyway, and if I can't, I will leave contact info.

 

[Guest]

Some have said that your higher score (a 4.5 earns you a red H) is a combination of the stars (1-5) and the thermometer (0-100). I don't know if this is true or not, but chances are if the person commenting gave you a zero on the thermometer, he/she also gave you a 1 on the stars.

Umm, not quite. The story's score is a combination of those votes but not from a single voter.

From the FAQ:

"You must give a rating to the story to leave a comment. If you have voted on the submission previously, then the vote you leave with the comment will not count toward the submission's total."

So, either the star vote or the thermometer vote from a reader is counted (whichever comes first--no pun intended) but not both.

 

[MMisterEE]

I've decided to continue to share the rest of the story here, but it would be nice to avoid a repeat of an anonymous ass-fuck. So how do you turn off Anonymous feedback?

I have no issue with someone not liking the story if that's their reaction, but it seems like an invitation to adolescent idiots to allow them to throw a fire bomb and scamper off without a trace. If disabling anonymous feedback means the story can't win an award or something, I can't say I care about that.

So... What button do I push?

 

[FallingToFly]

I would suggest, just from the standpoint of someone who has done this forever (it feels like, at least)- leave the Anonymous comment up (because even if they don't comment they can still one-bomb you) and start promoting your story as much as possible.

Hop into the mutual feedback threads- authors can always help other authors. Link it from a blog or personal space elsewhere. Ask friends and family (if you're comfortable with doing so) to read it and review it- and ask them to leave public feedback.

Also- put a link to your stories in your signature.

[ url= linktostory ]Hey! Read this![/ url ] Just take out the spaces and put the real page link into the place I put linktostory.

Anonymous is a cowardly little thing,and the more positive you get to outweigh that one negative shows that you can take the heat. Also, some people will leave nasty comments on any story that has nothing but positive feedback in the comments.

 

[sr71plt]

I've decided to continue to share the rest of the story here, but it would be nice to avoid a repeat of an anonymous ass-fuck. So how do you turn off Anonymous feedback?

I have no issue with someone not liking the story if that's their reaction, but it seems like an invitation to adolescent idiots to allow them to throw a fire bomb and scamper off without a trace. If disabling anonymous feedback means the story can't win an award or something, I can't say I care about that.

So... What button do I push?

I have no idea, but if you can track down Michick, who posts here, she can give you directions on that.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Quote:
Originally Posted by MMisterEE
I've decided to continue to share the rest of the story here, but it would be nice to avoid a repeat of an anonymous ass-fuck. So how do you turn off Anonymous feedback?

I have no issue with someone not liking the story if that's their reaction, but it seems like an invitation to adolescent idiots to allow them to throw a fire bomb and scamper off without a trace. If disabling anonymous feedback means the story can't win an award or something, I can't say I care about that.

So... What button do I push?

I have no idea, but if you can track down Michick, who posts here, she can give you directions on that.

Go to your index page. That's the one you need a password to reach. Click on "PROFILE" and click on "OPTIONS" and that will take you to the place where you can refuse anon comments.

 

[emap]

Boy some of the old farts are showing their age.

The only way to avoid the one or zero voters is to turn off voting period, which means your stories cannot be entered into any contests and won't be on the top lists ever no matter how good they are. Which isn't what you want.

These one voters aren't as bad as the posters, those are the ones that are annoying. They one vote and leave a scathing comment about how bad of a person you are, ignoring the story and just say how horrible a person you are. Those got off big to your story and are then feeling guilty and looking for someone to blame for their descent to hell or whatever and well it's your fault for writing and posting it.

Course that's skipping the most annoying of posters, they aren't trolls really, they are just not liking you story because of something. Why they feel the need to one vote and post that they didn't like your story because it's not true to life or whatever is beyond me. Though at least they usually use proper english and spelling.

Course not all of the feedback you get will be bad, some will love your stories and tell you so, some will think you need an editor or that you misspelled parts and tell you so, and some will take offense with your story in a funny way. As an example, I wrote a non consent story a while back, and got feedback of the last variety, to paraphrase 'and they all died of AIDS the end.'

 

[MMisterEE]

I'd like to thank everyone for giving me your perspective on this.

I posted my story at mcstories and it got praise and thoughtful crits — even if somebody had issues with some particular plot point, or found the occasional spellcheck gremlin that I missed, the tone was always helpful/respectful. I guess it was just the shock of it, that some twit with the ability to throw a vote-turd would actually bother to do that here.

Anyway, I'll post the rest of the story, unprotected, and that will be that. If I end up concluding that the waters are too shark infested at this site for my tastes, I can always remove the whole thing after sharing.


p.s. - at present the score is 4.77 with that zero thrown in, which I suppose means it's time for another vote-turd to zing my way, lol.

 

[michchick98]

I'd like to thank everyone for giving me your perspective on this.

I posted my story at mcstories and it got praise and thoughtful crits — even if somebody had issues with some particular plot point, or found the occasional spellcheck gremlin that I missed, the tone was always helpful/respectful. I guess it was just the shock of it, that some twit with the ability to throw a vote-turd would actually bother to do that here.

Anyway, I'll post the rest of the story, unprotected, and that will be that. If I end up concluding that the waters are too shark infested at this site for my tastes, I can always remove the whole thing after sharing.


p.s. - at present the score is 4.77 with that zero thrown in, which I suppose means it's time for another vote-turd to zing my way, lol.

I'm happy with anything above a 4 these days, so a 4.77 is very good. Gets your little red H at least.

For future reference, to turn off anonymous feedback:

Go to your member page (where you'd submit your stories) [http://www.literotica.com/members/main.php]
Click on Options under Main on the left hand side.
Where it reads "Accept Anonymous Feedback" click the circle (radio button) beside No.
Click Save Changes.

Now, anyone wanting to comment or send you email must include a username/email address.

 

[MALIBUMAN666]

Seriously MMisterEE, just ignore it. When i first got bad trolling it pissed me off, now I just find it funny. In fact I look forward to it. Have a look at the feedback on my stories (particularly 'Owned'), that'll give you a laugh. I write Femdom stories and the trolls love that genre....oh yes.