Thank you

[SimonDoom]

If it is any consolation, your experience is not that unusual. I have on occasion carefully monitored the votes for my stories as they come in for the first six or seven hours after publication. There appear to be readers waiting like trolls under a bridge to 1-bomb the story as soon as they can. It usually happens soon after publication. Then the bombing abates somewhat and the score begins to recover.

If you write edgy stories, some people won't like them. That doesn't mean they're not good. It's a reflection on the readership, not you or your work. Nonconsent is an inherently edgy subject matter, and there's a high probability of rubbing some readers the wrong way. Even so, your story has a score of 4.33 as I write this and there's a good chance it will rise with time. That's not bad at all.

You are focusing on the 1s that your story received. Why not focus on the 5s? Forget the score. Focus on the fact that you have readers telling you they enjoy your story. That's what I do. It makes for a much more satisfying experience as an author to ignore the silly negative votes and focus instead on the fact that there are readers who are enjoying what you write. I scanned your story list and it's clear you are getting many positive comments. For instance, your story A Big Stretch has plenty of positive comments, especially for a story with 23K views, even though the score, at 4.38, may seem low to you. I haven't read many of your stories, but from what I've read it seems clear you have a distinctive style that many readers appear to like but which may not be some readers' cup of tea. I experience the same thing. I have readers telling me my stories are great and I have readers who tell me I should immediately stop writing and never write again.

Focus on the positive. It's the only way to do this and stay sane.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Thanks for the kind words.

So this is my problem:

For my final story here for a while/. https://literotica.com/s/dungeon-101

The voting pattern has been:

5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 1, 1, 1, 1, 5 = 3.6

Well, so what? Some people like my stuff, some don’t. But…

The fives were spread out over time and hundreds of views. The ones all happened in a few minutes and without views ticking up much.

If that’s not a malicious signature, I don’t know what is.

Em

I misunderstood you. This was posted a day or so after Geek Pride.

One-bombing will always be here as long as the site allows non-members to vote, which will probably be forever. I know, you suspect it is a member. It could be, it does look very suspicious. I never work out voting patterns for myself because - for reasons.

I'm sorry this happened, and it's all too common here I suspect.

 

[gunhilltrain]

If it is any consolation, your experience is not that unusual. I have on occasion carefully monitored the votes for my stories as they come in for the first six or seven hours after publication. There appear to be readers waiting like trolls under a bridge to 1-bomb the story as soon as they can. It usually happens soon after publication. Then the bombing abates somewhat and the score begins to recover.

If you write edgy stories, some people won't like them. That doesn't mean they're not good. It's a reflection on the readership, not you or your work. Nonconsent is an inherently edgy subject matter, and there's a high probability of rubbing some readers the wrong way. Even so, your story has a score of 4.33 as I write this and there's a good chance it will rise with time. That's not bad at all.

You are focusing on the 1s that your story received. Why not focus on the 5s? Forget the score. Focus on the fact that you have readers telling you they enjoy your story. That's what I do. It makes for a much more satisfying experience as an author to ignore the silly negative votes and focus instead on the fact that there are readers who are enjoying what you write. I scanned your story list and it's clear you are getting many positive comments. For instance, your story A Big Stretch has plenty of positive comments, especially for a story with 23K views, even though the score, at 4.38, may seem low to you. I haven't read many of your stories, but from what I've read it seems clear you have a distinctive style that many readers appear to like but which may not be some readers' cup of tea. I experience the same thing. I have readers telling me my stories are great and I have readers who tell me I should immediately stop writing and never write again.

Focus on the positive. It's the only way to do this and stay sane.

This brings up an issue: is it based on Emily's stories, or her forum posts, or both? If I understand this site correctly, non-members can't post on the forums and thus probably can't read them either. They can read stories and also vote and comment on them, correct? It certainly is easy enough to create one or more "fake" profiles.

So, yes, focusing on the positive is a good thing. But it does take a while - like several years - to get used to some of the weirdness that goes on with this site.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Those 1s are likely to get swept out by Lit and your rating restored.

As a piece of advice for abandoning the site, you have been posting and writing a lot, so burn out is not surprising. Take a break. You'll always be welcome and have breathed fresh air into the AH club.

The Troll bombing you've seen is characteristic when, in their myopic view, you're getting too confident and need a good lesson. 1. you're a woman and they don't like that 2. you're too successful and they don't like that 3. You're blond(e) and, unless in their fantasy world, you have their dick in your mouth, they don't like that ... actually forget the dick in mouth because, you've guessed it, they don't like that either.

That’s reflected in some comments and PMs as well. As I say, I’ve been called uppity, a man hater and frigid (if only they knew!)

Em

 

[MillieDynamite]

That’s reflected in some comments and PMs as well. As I say, I’ve been called uppity, a man hater and frigid (if only they knew!)

Em

Then I'm in good company. I've also been called an anti-white racist, despite the fact I'm married to a white woman, and my Mum and Dad are white. Yes, I'm adopted, but I didn't move in with them until I was almost 13 years old. Glad you and share a few traits, EmilyMiller!

 

[Smuttyandfun]

I have read a couple of your stories, and I can tell that you're a very good writer.

The problem with writing for the public is we never what they'll do, or probably ever understand their motivation.

I'm lucky that I mostly get positive comments, but occasionally someone blasts me with something nasty. I was just victimized by a troll who seemed to be taking a lot of pleasure in bashing about 50 of my top rated submissions. At first he attacked the characters, then he started attacking me as an author. I've been deleting his comments, hoping that he's found another outline for his venom.

I know it's easy to say turn the other cheek, but sometimes it's all we can do.
I've had plenty of 1 bombs, but eventually the readers who enjoy whatever I've written help to cancel them out. As someone mentioned, one scores are eventually deleted.

I hope you'll decide to keep writing, because as we've all discovered it's kind of a fun addictive hobby. And you can't let the haters win!

 

[KeithD]

I don't think it's been authoritatively established that every 1 vote is swept--or that every story gets swept, for that matter.

 

[Djmac1031]

@EmilyMiller

Browsing your submissions page, all but your latest story us currently rated over a 4. Many of them very close to that 4.5 coveted Red H status.

What that tells me is, despite the targeting of a few trolls and haters, your stories have been VERY well received.

As Simon pointed out, try and focus on the positive ratings and comments, not the negative.

I know, easier said than done.

But you should be proud of your stories. And their reception.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Then I'm in good company. I've also been called an anti-white racist, despite the fact I'm married to a white woman, and my Mum and Dad are white. Yes, I'm adopted, but I didn't move in with them until I was almost 13 years old. Glad you and share a few traits, EmilyMiller!

I’m glad too .
I’ve also been told that I need to get fucked by a real man. My poor boyfriend .

The concept of being bisexual is beyond these people. Then so is the concept of shoelaces.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

I don't think it's been authoritatively established that every 1 vote is swept--or that every story gets swept, for that matter.

I’ve requested it - let’s see if anything happens.

I kinda think the sweep is a bit of a totem. Does it even exist?

Em

 

[KeithD]

I’ve requested it - let’s see if anything happens.

I kinda think the sweep is a bit of a totem. Does it even exist?

Em

Yes, sweeps happen. I've sometimes thought some of my stories never were swept, though.

 

[EmilyMiller]

@EmilyMiller

Browsing your submissions page, all but your latest story us currently rated over a 4. Many of them very close to that 4.5 coveted Red H status.

Over two thirds of them did have Hs - and were that way for months - the issue is all my ratings have been trashed in the last couple of weeks, with no uptick of views - it’s been surgical targeting.

What that tells me is, despite the targeting of a few trolls and haters, your stories have been VERY well received.

As Simon pointed out, try and focus on the positive ratings and comments, not the negative.

The comments are uniformly lovely. The negative ones are normally illiterate and safely ignored. It’s not one or two 1s. It’s clusters of 1s within a few minutes of each other with no uptick in views.

It feels - as it is presumably intended to be - extremely personal. I know I should rise above it, but the way I’m wired makes it hard (and no that’s not because I’m a woman!)

I know, easier said than done.

Yup!

But you should be proud of your stories. And their reception.

I was - once.

Em

 

[MrPixel]

I kinda think the sweep is a bit of a totem. Does it even exist?

It does. Both ways. (Bisexual scoring?) I've had 5's swept out, knocking enough votes off the ledger to lose 'H' status even tho' they remain >>4.5. I just shrug my shoulders.

 

[EmilyMiller]

This brings up an issue: is it based on Emily's stories, or her forum posts, or both? If I understand this site correctly, non-members can't post on the forums and thus probably can't read them either. They can read stories and also vote and comment on them, correct? It certainly is easy enough to create one or more "fake" profiles.

So, yes, focusing on the positive is a good thing. But it does take a while - like several years - to get used to some of the weirdness that goes on with this site.

Anyone can read the forums, hun. Though scrolling to older pages requires a log in.

Em

 

[Voboy]

Sweeps definitely do happen, but the details are opaque. Which is likely a good thing, and certainly intentional.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I have read a couple of your stories, and I can tell that you're a very good writer.

Kind of you to say

The problem with writing for the public is we never what they'll do, or probably ever understand their motivation.

I'm lucky that I mostly get positive comments, but occasionally someone blasts me with something nasty. I was just victimized by a troll who seemed to be taking a lot of pleasure in bashing about 50 of my top rated submissions. At first he attacked the characters, then he started attacking me as an author. I've been deleting his comments, hoping that he's found another outline for his venom.

I know it's easy to say turn the other cheek, but sometimes it's all we can do.
I've had plenty of 1 bombs, but eventually the readers who enjoy whatever I've written help to cancel them out. As someone mentioned, one scores are eventually deleted.

I have always had that and just shrugged. It’s life. But, in the last few weeks, someone has been systematically going through my entire story list and thowing clusters of 1s against every story (sock puppet accounts or IP hopping I don’t know - but I get four or five 1s all together in a short period - it’s a total outlier to normal rating patterns).

I hope you'll decide to keep writing, because as we've all discovered it's kind of a fun addictive hobby. And you can't let the haters win!

Easy to say, when it’s compromising my mental health.

Em

 

[Djmac1031]

Easy to say, when it’s compromising my mental health.

Which is why I'm in full agreement that, if it's taking a mental toll on you, by all means take a break.

I'm just hoping to encourage you to be kind to both yourself and your stories.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Which is why I'm in full agreement that, if it's taking a mental toll on you, by all means take a break.

I'm just hoping to encourage you to be kind to both yourself and your stories.

I know, hun

Em

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Kind of you to say

I have always had that and just shrugged. It’s life. But, in the last few weeks, someone has been systematically going through my entire story list and thowing clusters of 1s against every story (sock puppet accounts or IP hopping I don’t know - but I get four or five 1s all together in a short period - it’s a total outlier to normal rating patterns).

Easy to say, when it’s compromising my mental health.

Em

If I am not mistaken, you can PM Laurel and ask for a sweep if you believe you are being targeted by certain people. If the 1* are coming from the same people an more than one of your stories, then Laurel shouldn't fail to see it. It is worth a try, anyway.

 

[EmilyMiller]

If I am not mistaken, you can PM Laurel and ask for a sweep if you believe you are being targeted by certain people. If the 1* are coming from the same people an more than one of your stories, then Laurel shouldn't fail to see it. It is worth a try, anyway.

I did a couple of days back

Em

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't think it's been authoritatively established that every 1 vote is swept--or that every story gets swept, for that matter.

I'm pretty sure it's NOT true that all 1 votes are swept. Nor should they. What's the point of giving readers the option of voting 1 if the vote automatically is deleted?

I don't know how the system works but my sense is that the site has a way of identifying what it believes are "inauthentic" votes and it sweeps those.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Not 100% sure how well this “dialling down forums” is going TBH:

https://imgur.com/a/jmvTsWp

Em

 

[lc69hunter]

That’s reflected in some comments and PMs as well. As I say, I’ve been called uppity, a man hater and frigid (if only they knew!)

Em

Well you are, aren't you???? We love you, you do know that, don't you?

 

[gunhilltrain]

That’s reflected in some comments and PMs as well. As I say, I’ve been called uppity, a man hater and frigid (if only they knew!)

Em

At the risk of sounding both didactic and nostalgic, I remember the pre-Internet world where it was a lot more difficult to say or write such things about somebody without them knowing who it was. Yes, there was gossip and people could leave notes in mailboxes or on car windshields. It was far from perfect. But I wouldn't want to be in my twenties now and this is all I had ever experienced.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I'm pretty sure it's NOT true that all 1 votes are swept. Nor should they. What's the point of giving readers the option of voting 1 if the vote automatically is deleted?

I don't know how the system works but my sense is that the site has a way of identifying what it believes are "inauthentic" votes and it sweeps those.

As voboy said above, the process and methods are intentionally not revealed to us. Another Lit quirk. To me, it's a way to have a partial fix on something that can't be completely fixed - namely, the voting here.