Have you ever one-bombed anyone?

[Stella_Omega]

Jimmy claims that his stories got one-bombed by his mean ol' Lit pals, and that's why he's turned voting off. I totally admit it-- back in my first years here, I voted a one on someone's story just because the writer had annoyed me so much. The story actually rated maybe a two or three, though, it still wasn't that great...

But I was wondering, how many people actually care, are passionate enough to go to someone's submissions page and methodically rate down a lit of stories?

Poll is anonymous

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Yes, once. It was so poorly written. I doubt English was their primary language, but beyond that the story was terrible, the action poorly described, characters changed names, descriptions went back and forth for the same person. It was a mess through and through. If I were to read that story again, I am sure I would still vote it a 1.

 

[NaokoSmith]

LOL, I regard 1s as compliments. If my story got so far up someone's nose that they gave it 1, then I think that might be because it was a strong story. I get worried if I'm getting lots of 3s.

Ditto me. If I annoyed someone so much that they bombed my story, at least I'm doing something, not passing through the world whispering 'excuse me' when men surreptitiously grope me (thanks for that cartoon, again, Stella! ).

I did really well out of my 1 scores and furious slamming comments on Amazon, especially the one who said my writing was 'depraved filth'. Man, the downloads went through the roof after that!

 

[Bramblethorn]

Yes, once. It was so poorly written. I doubt English was their primary language, but beyond that the story was terrible, the action poorly described, characters changed names, descriptions went back and forth for the same person. It was a mess through and through. If I were to read that story again, I am sure I would still vote it a 1.

I don't think it counts as a one-bomb if you genuinely thought it was an atrocious story, does it?

 

[Tio_Narratore]

When I do find a story that merits a "1," I've generally stopped reading before the end and don't bother rating it at all. I wouldn't award a "1" out of spite anyway.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

When I do find a story that merits a "1," I've generally stopped reading before the end and don't bother rating it at all. I wouldn't award a "1" out of spite anyway.

Agreed. I think I have only two bombed a story once, and that was when a story headed for a three took a terribly wrong turn in the final paragraphs. I left a comment explaining my disgust and disappointment, but it was gone by the end of the day. But otherwise, nothing below a three.

 

[R. Richard]

When I find a story that probably merits a 1, I have stopped reading the trash before the end and I don't rate it at all. I don't award a 1 because I don't like the author.

 

[RuzieD]

When I find a story that probably merits a 1, I have stopped reading the trash before the end and I don't rate it at all. I don't award a 1 because I don't like the author.

I think that's the best of sentiments really. If something is so bad that it's worth a "1" why bother finishing it? Move on to a good story.

I've never done it. A story would have to legitimately offend me before I'd one-bomb it.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

no.

..

 

[MatthewVett]

If something deserves a 1, I give it a 1. I think votes are for more than just the author, they're for the reader, too, and I want to help guide them to better stories.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

If something deserves a 1, I give it a 1. I think votes are for more than just the author, they're for the reader, too, and I want to help guide them to better stories.

scores do not qualify quality.

 

[3113]

I have found stories bad enough to one-bomb. If I can't finish reading them, then they don't even rate that. A "one" means, to me, that at least I could read it start to finish even if it was otherwise awful.

 

[lovecraft68]

Only once and it was not only because it was the absolute worst thong I had ever read but was so poorly written the word thats was just like that; no apostophe and many times.

I can't believe it was posted. But what really made me bomb it was the score was over 4.7 which told me There was a little scouries like action going on so I gave it a one.

That is the only time. Otherwise I have not gone below a 3

Edited to fix all the typos my clumsy fingers make on this damn phone

 

[oggbashan]

When I find a story that probably merits a 1, I have stopped reading the trash before the end and I don't rate it at all. I don't award a 1 because I don't like the author.

I agree.

The lowest vote I have ever given is a 3.

 

[mynameisben]

I take story rating very seriously, because I like to think people assess my stories in kind. To that end, I have a guideline which I follow when rating Lit stories. And here it is:

5 – There are no significant plot holes, characters are consistent and distinct, spelling and grammar errors are minimal, and the author has a clear and engaging story to tell with no loose ends.

4 – Has all the qualities of a 5, but one or two of the above components (structure, characters, editorial, clarity, engaging, completeness) are clearly lacking.

3 – Has all of the qualities of a 5, except three of the above components are clearly lacking.

2 – Has at least one of the six qualities of a 5 and can hold my attention to the end of the story.

1 – The story is so lacking in qualities that I cannot force myself to finish reading it.

I think it's pointless to have a 1 to 5 rating scale if 1's are never given out, for then it is truly a 1 to 4 scale and guideline adjustments should be made accordingly. So, I will and have awarded a 1 to those occasional stories that are honestly unreadable trash. Even with my train wreck mentality of wanting to see just how bad a story will get, there's always some persistently talentless author who can write below my generous level of tolerance.

 

[Handley_Page]

When I do find a story that merits a "1," I've generally stopped reading before the end and don't bother rating it at all. I wouldn't award a "1" out of spite anyway.

Here Here

When I find a story that probably merits a 1, I have stopped reading the trash before the end and I don't rate it at all. I don't award a 1 because I don't like the author.

And Here

I take story rating very seriously, because I like to think people assess my stories in kind. To that end, I have a guideline which I follow when rating Lit stories. And here it is:

5 – There are no significant plot holes, characters are consistent and distinct, spelling and grammar errors are minimal, and the author has a clear and engaging story to tell with no loose ends.

4 – Has all the qualities of a 5, but one or two of the above components (structure, characters, editorial, clarity, engaging, completeness) are clearly lacking.

3 – Has all of the qualities of a 5, except three of the above components are clearly lacking.

2 – Has at least one of the six qualities of a 5 and can hold my attention to the end of the story.

1 – The story is so lacking in qualities that I cannot force myself to finish reading it.

I think it's pointless to have a 1 to 5 rating scale if 1's are never given out, for then it is truly a 1 to 4 scale and guideline adjustments should be made accordingly. So, I will and have awarded a 1 to those occasional stories that are honestly unreadable trash. Even with my train wreck mentality of wanting to see just how bad a story will get, there's always some persistently talentless author who can write below my generous level of tolerance.

Ben, that is the most concise definition of rating I have ever read.
Personally, I'd actually add one more 'quality'; that of 'nationality'. I hate it when what seems an English author writes (or tries to write) in Americana.
It just does not seem to add up, somehow.

Up yet, I don't think I have ever given a 1 or a 2. I'd rather not vote on it. Perhaps I should.

 

[sr71plt]

I hate it when what seems an English author writes (or tries to write) in Americana.

That goes double in BBC productions where an English actor must be American. The resulting flat twang has no equivalent anywhere in the states.

But I have acted in British-based theaters in former British colonies and am quite sure I got laughed at regularly for trying to go the other way.

 

[slyc_willie]

Back when I started at Lit, there was a poster whose repeated bile on this forum pissed me off to no end (no, their name did not begin with an S). Lit was the first forum I had ever posted to, so I had yet to grow a thick skin and did not quite understand the nature of Internet trolls.

So, one afternoon, I took a look at one of their stories (during a contest, no less), clicked to the last page, scrolled down to vote . . . .

And I couldn't do it.

I actually went back and read the story and hated to admit that it was fairly good. A lot of minor errors, and the plot was weak (but then, at the time, a lot of mine had the same problems as well), but it was good. I ended up giving it an honest vote of 4.

After that, I developed a little more respect for the person. They were often a complete jerk on the forum, but I had to admit they knew a thing or two about writing.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

That goes double in BBC productions where an English actor must be American. The resulting flat twang has no equivalent anywhere in the states.

But I have acted in British-based theaters in former British colonies and am quite sure I got laughed at regularly for trying to go the other way.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tjn2n1CMss0/TSKM5UQaQDI/AAAAAAAAFQ4/PbJFDIPTsDk/s1600/Band%2Bof%2BBrothers%2B%25281%2529.bmp

 

[autoplot]

Nah. If I don't like a story, I'll just stop reading it and never think about it again.

 

[jomar]

I've been bombed by readers, but I've never one bombed because of any forum activity or otherwise.

 

[PennLady]

I may have given a one or two early on, but like others, a story worth that rating is probably one I won't finish, and then it's not fair to vote when I haven't read the whole thing.

 

[KlaytonFrost]

I've voted one before, but I don't think the counts as bombing, does it? If I'm not mistake that's when you go to lengths to vote several times for a story, rather than just once.

 

[Bramblethorn]

5 – There are no significant plot holes, characters are consistent and distinct, spelling and grammar errors are minimal, and the author has a clear and engaging story to tell with no loose ends.

4 – Has all the qualities of a 5, but one or two of the above components (structure, characters, editorial, clarity, engaging, completeness) are clearly lacking.

3 – Has all of the qualities of a 5, except three of the above components are clearly lacking.

2 – Has at least one of the six qualities of a 5 and can hold my attention to the end of the story.

1 – The story is so lacking in qualities that I cannot force myself to finish reading it.

I don't have a formal system, but if I had to write one it'd be something like this:

Start at 0

-1 if the story looks like you got your cat to type it
-1 for "unlikeable" story (I don't mind if the characters are jerks, but if the author is so much of a jerk that it bleeds through into their writing, that's a turn-off. Rampant misogyny is probably the most common example on Lit.)

+1 point for getting the technicals right (spelling/punctuation/grammar)
+1 for decent storytelling technique (don't introduce characters by measurements, don't rush into the sex by paragraph 3, etc etc)
+1 for making an effort on characterisation
+1 for for "believable" story (this isn't about supernatural elements so much as excessive coincidences, people acting contrary to human nature, author just didn't bother getting basic facts right)
+1 for "wow" factor.

Anything less than a 3 and I'm unlikely to make it to the end.

Ben, that is the most concise definition of rating I have ever read.
Personally, I'd actually add one more 'quality'; that of 'nationality'. I hate it when what seems an English author writes (or tries to write) in Americana.

My partner introduced me to the term "Britpicking": when a US author writing in a British setting needs somebody to check the local details.

 

[litfan10]

If I find a story bad enough to be at the bottom of the scale rating I never leave the vote but I have plenty of times PMed or emailed authors to tell him/her that in my opinion s/he had some serious problems going on with the work.

A one vote for personality reasons rather than merit of the work is more an indication I have a problem than the other person I feel. A story isn't the person; it's a product of the person which to me are two very different things.

Lowest votes I've given are threes, lower than that it's a private matter between me and the author if s/he is interested in my opinion.

If I don't like a story I leave it - it has nothing to do with the story - it's me: I don't like it. I respect that others might enjoy it very much.

If it's a case of errors with standard English than that is fixable and doesn't merit a permanent one-bomb.

I am passionate about reading and writing and respect other's rights to that same passionate without a desire to demise that passionate through my voting opinions.

Just my opinion.