Halloween Contest Off-Topic Thread 2

[TamLin01]

There are stories in every contest that end up below 4.0.

...again, I can only shake my head at the idea that a score falling below what should logically be about the 80th percentile for stories is considered an utter disaster.

(And yes, I realize this is not what RR himself is saying here.)

Guys, people are going to vote 3s on your stories sometimes. It's a fact of life. It's not even a bad score.

 

[lovecraft68]

Guys, people are going to vote 3s on your stories sometimes. It's a fact of life. It's not even a bad score.

You're right, technically its average. Not great, but not bad.

Most lit stories seem to end up over 4 and over time people have been conditioned to think anything less than is an insult and couldn't be legit.

I once started a thread asking if anyone ever thought there was a such a thing as a legit one bomb, that someone could 'gasp' think a story was that bad in their opinion.

As time has passed it seems the sweeps think less and less are. I placed 3rd with a couple of 4.82's and the winners were in the 4.86 or so range. Now we've seen winners in the low 4.9's two in one contest last year. That is pretty much saying nothing under a four and not many under five were legit votes.

I feel Three's are seen as bombs in contests because trolls are catching on that one's get swept and seeing winning stories are always well over 4.8 a three will easily hurt a stories chances to get that.

 

[SecondCircle]

Better a spade than an alt I suppose. You should hang out in the GB, you'd get better at the whole secret identity thing.

Times change and language changes.

Cool little modern twist to your favorite analogy? If I asked you for a spade nowadays, and you fetched me a regular round point shovel? I'd roll my eyes and go grab the actual spade.

Or, if you'd prefer: Callin em like you see em, is not the same as calling it like it is.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

Ain't that the truth.

Like who comes up with this? What kind of mind even dreams half this up?

I'll be honest: I've NEVER once believed in or supported any conspiracy theories whatsoever, but I did not say anything until now.

Why?

Because of, "Wait, don't you get it? Don;t you get it? Yeah, it's true! There are HOW TO manuals on Literotica! Cheat sheets, one of which I wrote myself!"

Really. LMAO. As a writer on lit who sometimes posts in Contests, who could possibly win someday, I took great exception to that.

Trust me when I say the last person in the world I would ever want to "copy" from when I want to write an Incest story is Lovecraft68.

Who would that even occur to?

Not MindsMirror, not 8Letters, who both triumphed with original Incest stories that the Incest crowd loved. Yet they are smeared, too. It's not just the Cabal Cabin who is impacted by all this.

Meanwhile, the very one who wrote the Cheat Code he's accusing others of using won with a tome in the very genre HE wrote the Cheat Sheet on. Played to his base; wrote a giant novel length story (all highly suspicious, by his own list of suspicious activity.)

In fact, the single thing that the admitted Cheat Master has to lord over TTT is that he "doesn't post at the last minute." That's "not how he rolls." That's why he makes such a big deal about that one inconsequential factor; it's the only thing that he can pin on TTT, nothing else.

I mean, to even think this, you have to have a concept of writing and posting on lit that is conniving, cynical, shallow, obsessed with placement, scores, and "winning" at all costs--the very things he never hesitates to accuse others of. That's the kind of person who never reads a story or cares about quality; all he sees is this imaginary stature of a "story file." He thinks like that, so he assumes everyone else thinks like that, too.

Not that it matters. The Three Stooges who now have their very own Grassy Knoll thread never respond to sustained arguments against their conjectures.

"I dunno about that. I just know they're cheating."

Yet in the same breath that you cast accusations, you list these ways to cheat and game. In this very thread you address us all saying "oh, you guys know how to get better scores in your category, we all know ways to cheese it a little." This happens a lot actually. There was an entire thread of people discussing the ways "we" cheat, listing different methods to game the system, a lot of which Laurel refuted and eventually had to shut down because it wasn't wise to list ways to cheat in a thread. Some of this shit I'd never even imagined before, and yet here's all the accusers basically saying, "Well, they robbed the bank like this. I mean, no, I don't rob banks. But this is how I bet they robbed it. You know... how I would do it if I robbed banks."

Are you serious?

It honestly makes me wonder just how much of this crap is stuff you've thought of and done before. You spend way too much time analyzing every little thing about these contests and then assign one of your wierdly indepth methods of gaming to shadowy cabals.

.

 

[sr71plt]

We all have different things going on in life. Twas sarcasm used to show that I scrape together time to write, and usually won't meet deadlines, and certainly won't usually meet the LC68 deadline.

And my post was meant to lessen the heat of the thread a bit. I guess I forgot to include this:

 

[lovecraft68]

Times change and language changes.

Cool little modern twist to your favorite analogy? If I asked you for a spade nowadays, and you fetched me a regular round point shovel? I'd roll my eyes and go grab the actual spade.

Or, if you'd prefer: Callin em like you see em, is not the same as calling it like it is.

For whatever reason-and inaccurately I know- I always envision card spades when I use that expression.

But if you're bored, here's more than you'd ever want to know about it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_a_spade_a_spade#History

 

[Arngrim]

Better a spade than an alt I suppose. You should hang out in the GB, you'd get better at the whole secret identity thing.

After all I've said, after all everyone else has said, this is what you're still stuck on? In that case, better an alt than a bully. Better an alt than a hypocrite. Better an alt than an alt who pretends to be their own wife. Shall I go on?

As for the secret identity, sr71plt is doing a much better job of following the bread crumbs than yourself. I'll give you the last piece of the puzzle: if I revealed who I really was, no one in this thread would know the name -- except for you. "It's all there for those who pay attention."

 

[SecondCircle]

For whatever reason-and inaccurately I know- I always envision card spades when I use that expression.

But if you're bored, here's more than you'd ever want to know about it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_a_spade_a_spade#History

I understand the original analogy. I put my own modern twist to it. Or did you not catch that?

 

[lovecraft68]

I understand the original analogy. I put my own modern twist to it. Or did you not catch that?

Yeah, but I didn't have a good twist to come back on the twist, you win the spade round. We can do hoe jokes next though.

 

[lovecraft68]

I'll give you the last piece of the puzzle: if I revealed who I really was, no one in this thread would know the name -- except for you. "It's all there for those who pay attention."

There's no puzzle to piece. I don't care who you are. I know that's no fun, but its true.

 

[SecondCircle]

Yeah, but I didn't have a good twist to come back on the twist, you win the spade round. We can do hoe jokes next though.

Fine. You prefer backhoes? Or garden hoes?

I hear real men use garden hoes. Something tells me you wouldn't go that way because of that. Backhoe seems more our style.

 

[SecondCircle]

And my post was meant to lessen the heat of the thread a bit. I guess I forgot to include this:

I'm terrible with emoticon etiquette.

...

 

[lovecraft68]

Fine. You prefer backhoes? Or garden hoes?

I hear real men use garden hoes. Something tells me you wouldn't go that way because of that. Backhoe seems more our style.

Now that's clever.

You on your own or running back and doing the Family Feud huddle? "Okay, now say this...go on, run along now, then tell us what he says."

Now if you'll excuse me, apparently I'm supposed to be putting together puzzle pieces.

 

[SecondCircle]

Now that's clever.

You on your own or running back and doing the Family Feud huddle? "Okay, now say this...go on, run along now, then tell us what he says."

Now if you'll excuse me, apparently I'm supposed to be putting together puzzle pieces.

Ooh. You know so much about me.

No one is there LC. Especially not anyone with puzzle pieces.

But you know so much don't you.

 

[oggbashan]

Advice required please.

What statement should I put in the first post of my next Contest Support thread? Should I increase the warning messages to newbies? Should I attempt to deter the thin-skinned?

Should I start an Off-Topic Thread as well?

I have already started the Winter Contest thread so the first revised one would be for Valentine's Day.

Reminder - this is what I say now:

This thread is to SUPPORT and ENCOURAGE authors to enter stories in the Winter Holidays contest. Bring out your fur-lined boots, your Santa and Elf fantasies, your presents and crackers (or your Christmas themed beach parties for those in the Southern Hemisphere).

There is an advantage to entering stories in one of Literotica's themed contests, apart from the possibility of winning, and that is that your story gets far more exposure and attention than it would normally do.

Some of that attention might be unwelcome, some abusive, but some could be appreciative and helpful.

 

[NicoleZ]

Advice required please.

What statement should I put in the first post of my next Contest Support thread? Should I increase the warning messages to newbies? Should I attempt to deter the thin-skinned?[/B]

"Beware of Jaetter"

 

[Arngrim]

Advice required please.

What statement should I put in the first post of my next Contest Support thread? Should I increase the warning messages to newbies? Should I attempt to deter the thin-skinned?

Should I start an Off-Topic Thread as well?

I have already started the Winter Contest thread so the first revised one would be for Valentine's Day.

Reminder - this is what I say now:

This thread is to SUPPORT and ENCOURAGE authors to enter stories in the Winter Holidays contest. Bring out your fur-lined boots, your Santa and Elf fantasies, your presents and crackers (or your Christmas themed beach parties for those in the Southern Hemisphere).

There is an advantage to entering stories in one of Literotica's themed contests, apart from the possibility of winning, and that is that your story gets far more exposure and attention than it would normally do.

Some of that attention might be unwelcome, some abusive, but some could be appreciative and helpful.

This is how I would handle it:

First, create a new thread with the subject line "Are You New To Literotica's Themed Contests? PLEASE READ!" and ask to have it stickied. Next, in this thread, write everything a newcomer could possibly want to know about. A FAQ of sorts. Explain the submission process and how it differs from a normal submission, how times from submission to actual posting varies, what the sweeps are and why they were implemented, etc. Mention the support thread if someone needs further advice. The thing is, write things based only on known facts (example: sweeps are conducted periodically during a contest, but the nature of what or how votes are swept is unknown).

"But most of this can already be found in the sticky already there."

The explaination on how themed contests work is exactly one paragraph long. This is insufficient. Not to mention, the links provided are a pain for someone seeking specific answers that apply to the contests.

Next, create the support thread but revise your last lines to read something to the extent of:

"Some of that attention might be unwelcome or abusive from reader and author alike. Part of being a writer is being able to accept criticism. Be brave and don't despair. If you have concerns about having been wronged in some way, seek out the contest off-topic discussion thread."

Finally, make an off-topic discusion thread. This is were any concerns over trolling, cheating, conspiracies, or rants about "my story deserves better than this" should go. Keep negativity here. I think the AH mod would appreciate having a "dumping ground" as well.

Realistically, this is all that can be done. If it sounds like a good idea to you, I'd be more than happy to help you write some of it or bounce ideas back and forth.

 

[Seanathon]

I'm still trying to figure out why this thread is back. Why lock the original Halloween Contest off-topic thread just to reopen it?

In fact, locking threads at all seems pointless when the same arguments just end up spilling over into other threads on this forum.

If posters are breaking rules (personal attacks, etc) give them a warning or ban them.

But locking threads just to reopen them as the arguments continue in a different thread? Is there an emoticon for facepalm?

 

[sr71plt]

Yeah, and why after such a thread has been dormant for sixteen hours, post a "why does this exist?" comment to it to revive it again?

 

[8letters]

Advice required please.

What statement should I put in the first post of my next Contest Support thread? Should I increase the warning messages to newbies? Should I attempt to deter the thin-skinned?

Should I start an Off-Topic Thread as well?

I have already started the Winter Contest thread so the first revised one would be for Valentine's Day.

Reminder - this is what I say now:

This thread is to SUPPORT and ENCOURAGE authors to enter stories in the Winter Holidays contest. Bring out your fur-lined boots, your Santa and Elf fantasies, your presents and crackers (or your Christmas themed beach parties for those in the Southern Hemisphere).

There is an advantage to entering stories in one of Literotica's themed contests, apart from the possibility of winning, and that is that your story gets far more exposure and attention than it would normally do.

Some of that attention might be unwelcome, some abusive, but some could be appreciative and helpful.

I'd create a Contest Support thread as you have and create a Contest Piss & Moan thread for cheating/troll/conspiracy theory posts.

 

[sr71plt]

I'd create a Contest Support thread as you have and create a Contest Piss & Moan thread for cheating/troll/conspiracy theory posts.

Why anticipate that there will need to be one? I don't think a separate sticky would do much, though. I doubt that anyone much reads the stickies before (or instead of) posting directly to the forum.

 

[oggbashan]

I'd create a Contest Support thread as you have and create a Contest Piss & Moan thread for cheating/troll/conspiracy theory posts.

Why anticipate that there will need to be one? I don't think a separate sticky would do much, though. I doubt that anyone much reads the stickies before (or instead of) posting directly to the forum.

That is why I posed the question above. What should I include in the opening post for contest support threads?

Should I include 'Don't post ratings'; 'Don't quote the trolls'; 'Don't mention 1-bombs' and so on.

I could edit the first post to include Laurel's official announcement which includes HOW TO submit to the particular contest - when Laurel posts it.

I could include links to stickies. I agree with sr71plt. Few people read the stickies.

I could include links to relevant FAQs.

But I don't want a first post that is a wall of text.

As for an off-topic thread? It doesn't have to be wholly about moaning and conspiracy theories. It could be about the questions, like mine, that aren't specific to the particular contest.

Anyone could start an off-topic thread at any time if they want to. I don't HAVE to be the person that starts the Official Contest Support thread.

I could edit the first post of the Winter Holidays thread to include suggestions but I was aiming to start with next year's Valentine's Day support thread.

What would be useful for people considering entering a contest for the first time? Apart from - "Don't take the contest too seriously. You can't win a life changing sum of money and your rating could fluctuate."

 

[NicoleZ]

What would be useful for people considering entering a contest for the first time? Apart from - "Don't"

Perfect.

 

[oggbashan]

Perfect.

For some sensitive people 'Don't' might be appropriate for coming to Literotica.

For some sensitive anonymouses 'Don't' might be appropriate advice before reading my stories.

 

[8letters]

Should I include 'Don't post ratings';

Sadly, I think so. Personally, I want to discuss what stories are on top but people freak out when you mention the stories with the top ratings as they assume that some post deep in a thread that a few dozen people will read will trigger a horde of trolls descending on the story.

'Don't quote the trolls'; 'Don't mention 1-bombs' and so on.

I would say something to the effect that the Piss & Moan thread is for discussing votes and comments.

As for an off-topic thread? It doesn't have to be wholly about moaning and conspiracy theories. It could be about the questions, like mine, that aren't specific to the particular contest.

I don't think people asking questions that aren't specific to the particular contest is much of a problem, but I've only paid attention to two contests.

What would be useful for people considering entering a contest for the first time?

I would definitely discuss the sweeps and that the winners aren't determined until Laurel does a manual review of the votes of the top stories.