Lowballers on Literotica . . . anyone else noticed?

[Candlelight062]

I don't come here in the community much, but lately, when I post a new story or chapter, the voting scores begin great (for the first 1500) but then the numbers take a hard nose-dive. A week or so later, when the habitual 1's are - thankfully! - removed, the scores climb again and I regain the "H" although sometimes it takes a little longer. Almost all my submissions have an H, btw.

Some writers are so discouraged by this "low-balling" that they don't post anymore or they take their accounts down and post elsewhere. I've known two so far, and they were popular writers here.

I won't lie. It's becoming increasingly difficult for me to subject my stories to that here when I know they deserve better. In the past (some two years ago) this was never a problem. The only time I had that problem was when I posted "Her Brother's Yuletide Surprise" for a Christmas entry. I know there's money involved so that's to be expected, but not when I post a story for free and for entertainment purposes only.

My latest romance series, Only You, started off this morning at a score of 4.71. That's after 1570+ downloads. Now, as of this writing, it's at 4330 downloads, and it has a sad 4.42. This is very frustrating for me and it's not encouraging. The only solace I have is when the webmasters come in and remove all the low-ball scores and my stories get to finally breathe.

Anyway . . . anyone else having that problem?

 

[Derroreaper]

Yep,

I just put in a request for removal of my stories. I feel just like you do. My stories do great, until they make the top lists. After that, they get hammered with one star votes. Sure they come back up, but never to where they were.

I have better things to do with my work than watch the trolls here play their games, lol.

 

[sr71plt]

Yes, lowballing others to try to take the fun out of posting is a favorite game here. If you post to the forum regularly, the game really gets intense. (You can usually tell who is doing what to others, because they like to post on the forum how their ratings are better than the X they are harassing at the moment.)

And if you actually note on the forum that your stories usually run hot . . .

 

[lance gt]

I've noticed more ! bombers around than usual. Every chapter I put out, gets lots of 4 and 5 votes and generally stays around 4.70 - 4.80, until the 1 bombs hit. I don't care for the most part, as you say, the sweeps clear the shit away and leaves the truer scoring of the story.

The latest chapter was at 4.92 after 25 votes and 2000 reads, then bam, 4.81. Oh well, hope they're happy. I like the comments and faves and that, the trolls can't fuck with.

 

[Candlelight062]

Derroreaper . . . I hope you won't let them chase you away :-(

Yep,

I just put in a request for removal of my stories. I feel just like you do. My stories do great, until they make the top lists. After that, they get hammered with one star votes. Sure they come back up, but never to where they were.

I have better things to do with my work than watch the trolls here play their games, lol.

That would mean they had won. I hope the webmasters here will watch for the abusers. I don't know what sick people think it's a good idea to put writers down. I don't see the reward in that.

 

[Candlelight062]

That's true! Thank GOD for the wonderful feedback

I've noticed more ! bombers around than usual. Every chapter I put out, gets lots of 4 and 5 votes and generally stays around 4.70 - 4.80, until the 1 bombs hit. I don't care for the most part, as you say, the sweeps clear the shit away and leaves the truer scoring of the story.

The latest chapter was at 4.92 after 25 votes and 2000 reads, then bam, 4.81. Oh well, hope they're happy. I like the comments and faves and that, the trolls can't fuck with.

. . . I get for my stories and for the encouragement I get from people who write me to ask where the next installment is. But you have to admit, it's discouraging to see your scores drop like that. I wish there were something this site can do to stop this. It seems as if it's getting worse every year!

I'm surprised that I had received three responses about this. It's pretty clear this is an epidemic and Lit should find some way to stop it.

 

[_Lynn_]

. . . I get for my stories and for the encouragement I get from people who write me to ask where the next installment is. But you have to admit, it's discouraging to see your scores drop like that. I wish there were something this site can do to stop this. It seems as if it's getting worse every year!

I'm surprised that I had received three responses about this. It's pretty clear this is an epidemic and Lit should find some way to stop it.

Stop checking your scores. Then it won't bother you at all.

 

[sr71plt]

The best revenge is to publish them to the market. When you cash your royalty checks you can give an Italian salute to the numbskulls who are lowballing you on Lit. to try to bring you down to their level.

The website does do sweeps, though, so they're trying to address the issue. They also give you the option of freezing your scores when they reach the high point you like. You lose out on contests and lists, but you have permanent scores that suit you.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Stop checking your scores. Then it won't bother you at all.

NO SHIT!!!!

(GREATEST answer!!!!)

 

[Darkniciad]

Just keep writing. You'll build a larger reader base with every new story, and that will offset the 1-bombers between when they hit you and Lit sweeps them.

Any time you reach a high point on the toplist, you'll be a target, but without specific personal trolls, your scores will steadily improve.

Unless you write a lot in Loving Wives. All bets are off then

 

[carlieplum]

4.42 is a totally respectable rating, by the way. I write stuff that makes me feel like I like what I wrote. I have a few about 4.5. Most fall between 4.12 and 4.40. Doesn't mean it's not decent stuff that people enjoy.

Personally, I value the comments over the scores. If people took the time to write, that's better than clicking a star.

 

[sr71plt]

Keep an eye on the "favoriting"--both of the stories and of you as an author. That's one building stat (along with the editor's green E) that the trolls cannot take away from you.

 

[estragon]

Candlelight, I posted on this point in the support thread early on in the contest. The scores did seem low, compared to those in previous contests. Posting a contest entry does draw the trolls like flies to honey. And the bastards are maybe starting to outfox the Hoover.

 

[sr71plt]

The Hoover hasn't even gotten started on this contest. We cover this each time, it seems. The big sweep won't be until the voting closes. Don't hyperventilate until then.

 

[Candlelight062]

Easier said than done, MistressLynn

Stop checking your scores. Then it won't bother you at all.

Especially when you spend hours and hours to get your grammar, syntax, and plot written to the best of your ability. It had gotten so bad I lost all inspiration to continue to post my NonHuman "Earth Angel". What bothers me is, I've been here posting stories since August 2007, and I've never seen this kind of vindictive low-balling up until two years ago (or a little more than two years).

But thanks.

 

[Candlelight062]

I already have published them, sr71plt

The best revenge is to publish them to the market. When you cash your royalty checks you can give an Italian salute to the numbskulls who are lowballing you on Lit. to try to bring you down to their level.

The website does do sweeps, though, so they're trying to address the issue. They also give you the option of freezing your scores when they reach the high point you like. You lose out on contests and lists, but you have permanent scores that suit you.

And I make decent enough money off of my self-published e-books and paperbacks. I even get high scores (5 stars) at B&N and Goodreads for the Loving Siblings series that sell like hotcakes on B&N via SW. I was surprised, really, since bro-sis romances aren't really my preferred genre.

I'm happy to read that Lit is doing sweeps. I know they have been although it takes some time and by then your scores never really come back. But I never knew you could freeze your scores.

Anyway, weeks or months later, the scores climb back up once the haters move on to their next victim so there's no point for me to freeze the scores just yet.

 

[Candlelight062]

I guess I got spoiled.

4.42 is a totally respectable rating, by the way. I write stuff that makes me feel like I like what I wrote. I have a few about 4.5. Most fall between 4.12 and 4.40. Doesn't mean it's not decent stuff that people enjoy.

Personally, I value the comments over the scores. If people took the time to write, that's better than clicking a star.

My scores are usually around the 4.70 on average (some much higher, some barely making the 4.50), and that's how it's always been . . . up until little over two yeas ago when my NonHuman, Cursed and Coveted, won the "W" and second place in a contest - and I didn't even know I was entered! lol I just saw the "W" one day and thought, what's that?

But you're correct. I shouldn't complain since I've never had any scores under 4.00 even when the trolls descend on my account. I do have loyal readers and I deeply appreciate them. They're the ones who actually inspire and encourage me to continue writing here.

 

[Candlelight062]

Estragon . . . there's a contest?

Candlelight, I posted on this point in the support thread early on in the contest. The scores did seem low, compared to those in previous contests. Posting a contest entry does draw the trolls like flies to honey. And the bastards are maybe starting to outfox the Hoover.

Jesus. I really need to connect with Lit more. :caning:

 

[sr71plt]

Jesus. I really need to connect with Lit more. :caning:

Actually, I think that if you want to fly under the lowballer radar, you'd be best to connect with elements of Lit. other than the story file less. And usually the frequent posting to the forum that your normal scores hover around 4.70 will pretty much guarantee that will stop too.

 

[Candlelight062]

Too late for that now.

Actually, I think that if you want to fly under the lowballer radar, you'd be best to connect with elements of Lit. other than the story file less. And usually the frequent posting to the forum that your normal scores hover around 4.70 will pretty much guarantee that will stop too.

The low-ballers have me in their crosshairs and have had me there since I won that one, single "W" some years ago. Ever since then, the moment I post anything, they slap it down.

But thanks for all your advice, sr7plt.

 

[Derroreaper]

Hi!

First, I want to let you know that you have every right to remove your stories from the site at any time for any reason.

For security purposes and to make sure you (as the author) are the one making the removal request, you must follow this procedure: log into your account and create a story titled "REMOVE". In the body of the story, put the names of the submissions you wish removed along with (optionally) the reason for their removal. If you want all of your work removed, you can put that rather than listing every submission. Story removals are usually done within 4-7 days.

For future reference, do know that we have a script that tags fraudulent votes (fraud votes being anytime someone tries to vote for a story more than once by trying to get around our system). If you see a story - yours or anothers - that has suspicious-looking voting patterns, please do use the REPORT THIS STORY feature to bring it to our attention and we will run a manual check as well. In the OTHER field, tell us to check the voting. When you report suspicious voting this way, the system will send us a direct link to the story and make it much easier for us to check.

Thanks for your support, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Laurel

Hello.

I'd like all my stories removed please

http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1318724&page=submissions

Reason is the 1 bombers.

Derro.

I sent a PM to Laurel, as well as doing it through the submission page. This is the response I received from her. Obviously they make every effort to deal with the problem, I just think the ways around their security is too simple now days.

Derro-

 

[sr71plt]

Wish they'd put that in the FAQs, as it seems to be the answer to delete single or multiple stories.

 

[_Lynn_]

Especially when you spend hours and hours to get your grammar, syntax, and plot written to the best of your ability. It had gotten so bad I lost all inspiration to continue to post my NonHuman "Earth Angel". What bothers me is, I've been here posting stories since August 2007, and I've never seen this kind of vindictive low-balling up until two years ago (or a little more than two years).

But thanks.

The feedback and comments mean more to me than the scores. Clicking a star to vote takes a second or two. Composing feedback and/or comments takes much longer. Voting doesn't mean they even read the story, but the comments tell you they did.

Also, I wonder if some of the differences you noticed in scoring is from the change in the voting system. Although I don't know when the star system took effect, others here will. I believe it was easier to get higher scores with the old system.

 

[mynameisben]

I'm having scrotal uplift and reinforcement surgery in May. So everybody just get off my back till then.

 

[Candlelight062]

I'm having scrotal uplift and reinforcement surgery in May. So everybody just get off my back till then.

Sowwy.