A small Cookie rant...

[cookiejar]

I have a question for the authors out there. Of the last 3 stories I've written, the first few votes were 1's. I felt very disheartened after all the work to be bombed like that. I have a friend who keeps saying; forget about it; your writing should be for you. I agree, to a point but I still feel a sense of hurt for want of a better word.

My question is this: Is he right? Should I let it slide off my back? A low vote with an explanation doesn't bother me. It's these anonymous trolls who seem to take pleasure that bug me. I know we all get them here but when my friend says all voting is inconsequential, I just can't agree. Sorry for the rambling but I had to get this off my chest (so to speak.)

 

[rgraham666]

Cookie? The trolls actions say more about them than they do about you.

PM Laurel about the one bombs.

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

I feel your pain, Cookie. I have gone through the same thing myself. And lately it has taken the steam out of my desire to write anything for Lit.

I wish it were different but it's not. I have come to accept that as just the way things are. But I still don't like it.

 

[cookiejar]

Cookie? The trolls actions say more about them than they do about you.

PM Laurel about the one bombs.

You know I think I may have a few out there who don't like me. I mean these stories are posted and the votes are there within a few hours.

I've never PMed Laurel, I guess i felt like I was whining.

 

[minsue]

You know I think I may have a few out there who don't like me. I mean these stories are posted and the votes are there within a few hours.

I've never PMed Laurel, I guess i felt like I was whining.

Whine away. If you're getting undeserved 1s for a personal reason, you've every right to whine.

Don't PM, though. When I did she asked that I use the "report this story" feature and let them know that it's been bombed that way. Makes it easier for them to check.

 

[cookiejar]

Thanks guys and yes I am too sensitive. I do write a lot of romance, which can sometimes make for interesting feedback from readers looking for stroke.

I just submitted a new story and I shall post the link when it comes out.

 

[Guest]

Cookie, I feel for you, honey. However much any of us says, "Don't take notice of the scores, we all know our worth, it's the feedback that counts, blah-de-blah," it still smarts a bit when stories get low votes.

I fully accept that, on my own stories, sometimes somebody might deem a low vote justifiable, but in certain circumstances, it is obviously the work of the infamous "trolls" or "bombers".

That's the way you have to try and look at it. It's highly unlikely it's a personal attack. I mean, come on, who could not like you?

Can I ask? Which categories are the stories in? Some categories seem to attract more arguably "dodgy" voting than others. I know Loving Wives does.

Chin up, girl, you are a very good author!

Lou

 

[scheherazade_79]

You're quite right to feel upset, Cookie. I haven't been hit by the trolls yet, but if / when it does happen I intend to hit back by posting a story in the non-erotic section that makes a complete and utter mockery of the kind of people who get kicks from trolling good work.

In the meantime (and I know it's easier said than done), don't let them grind you down. Just believe in yourself, and the rest should come naturally.

 

[TheEarl]

cookie: I sympathise completely. Everyone always says that voting doesn't matter, but dammit I'm a computer scientist! I like quantifiable reports about my stories and nice though the quantitive feedback is (very nice, don't stop sending the nice feedback), I do like to see my stories get a high vote. Can't offer any more advice other than to buy a punching bag for those really frustrating days.

The Earl

 

[Lisa Denton]

The first few votes being ones probably would make you feel worse. Without constructive feedback they are not an attempt to help. Without explanation they should not be worried about. Mr./Ms. Anonymous often does not explain a 1 vote as he/she realizes even with an I.Q. of 1 that "i tink dis shit sux cuz dere wuz no lebian alien beastiality or eben piplls peeing on each udder, to be a gud righter u gotta have pippls peeing on each udder, i now cuz i gradiated first grade." just doesn't come out sounding very intelligent.

Everyone loves to discuss the voting system, I will not argue with those who say they think a 1 vote might occasionally be merited. Why they waste the time to continue reading through something deserving a 1 vote is beyond me, and I would never vote on something I didn't read through.

CS started a thread here "Plug your own story" which is different than the others like it in that most AH regulars are helpful even when critical. Put a link in that thread to one and I will look when I get a while later.

 

[TheEarl]

"i tink dis shit sux cuz dere wuz no lebian alien beastiality or eben piplls peeing on each udder, to be a gud righter u gotta have pippls peeing on each udder, i now cuz i gradiated first grade."

Just had a very weird thought of a class project. Instead of writing letters to Father Christmas (or Santa if you're a Septic) or to a celebrity:

Today children, we're going to be starting our new class project. Everybody is going to write a letter to their favourite Literotica author!

<sniggers>

The Earl

 

[English Lady]

*hugs* Cookie -it is frustrating and if you feel it really is unwarranted then there is no reason not to contact laurel You write really well but its just a sad fact that sometimes the votes don't tell the story you'd like 'em too. do prioritise what you get in feedback. When someone sends feedback it means you've touched them in some way that they want to contact you. that means something in my books

 

[Lisa Denton]

Just had a very weird thought of a class project. Instead of writing letters to Father Christmas (or Santa if you're a Septic) or to a celebrity:

Today children, we're going to be starting our new class project. Everybody is going to write a letter to their favourite Literotica author!

<sniggers>

The Earl

"Earl, you make me feel all moist and creamy!! Can I get your autograph on my underwear?"

 

[cookiejar]

minsue, thanks for the advice. I have filed it away.

Lou, the stories are in erotic horror and humor. Erotic horror was a fluke, humor I write a lot. It fits my wacky personality.

Scheherazade, thanks for the pullup on my bootstraps.

Earl, it's times like this I wish my ex-fiancee was around. He would make a great punching bag.

Lisa and EL, I feel much better just getting it out. I know we all go through it and we all just need a good bitch now and then.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

CookieJar,

I only have a couple of stories (and they were all graded higher than I would have graded them myself) but two received 1-bombs early. (One the first vote, the other in the first five.) It hurts.

To keep my sprits up, I imagine him circling over the New List watching for a weak hatchling to strike. He’s not talented enough to be creative, so all he can do is play assassin.

I try to imagine how frustrating it must be, to be so totally bereft of talent, and try to be more understanding of his antisocial behavior.

I remember a cartoon that shows one vulture saying to another, “Patience my ass! I’m going to kill something!”

That’s our 1-bomber! The poor useless bastard.

Don’t let his frustration become your frustration, and when you notice it, ask Laurel to investigate.

We may HAVE to write, but we DON’T have to share. All we get for our trouble is a grading by the readers, and maybe some feedback. It should be worth the management’s time to see that good writers don’t become too discouraged to publish here.

If I ever get hit with anything more than mere carpet 1-bombing, I shall feel that my work is improving. It must be, if I stick out enough in this pack, to become an individual target.

 

[cookiejar]

CookieJar,

I only have a couple of stories (and they were all graded higher than I would have graded them myself) but two received 1-bombs early. (One the first vote, the other in the first five.) It hurts.

To keep my sprits up, I imagine him circling over the New List watching for a weak hatchling to strike. He’s not talented enough to be creative, so all he can do is play assassin.

I try to imagine how frustrating it must be, to be so totally bereft of talent, and try to be more understanding of his antisocial behavior.

I remember a cartoon that shows one vulture saying to another, “Patience my ass! I’m going to kill something!”

That’s our 1-bomber! The poor useless bastard.

Don’t let his frustration become your frustration, and when you notice it, ask Laurel to investigate.

We may HAVE to write, but we DON’T have to share. All we get for our trouble is a grading by the readers, and maybe some feedback. It should be worth the management’s time to see that good writers don’t become too discouraged to publish here.

If I ever get hit with anything more than mere carpet 1-bombing, I shall feel that my work is improving. It must be, if I stick out enough in this pack, to become an individual target.

I like your thinking...

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Cookie,

1 bombs hurt. Malicious Pc's hurt. Mean feedback hurts. The most important thing you can remember is that they are MEANT to hurt. The are delivered by design, from someone who is maliciously seeking to inflict pain and or cause you to question your writing.

They hurt a lot less, when you take into consideration they are designed to hurt. Someone out there, with serious issues of their own, is trying to drag you into their personal world of small, petty, mean, inadequacy. No one can hurt you, unless you give them the power to do so. If you view them for what they are, a personal invitation from some looser to join him/her in being a miserable bitch/bastard, you then have the option of just declining the invitation to feel bad for thier enjoyment.

The occasional one comes to everyone, even the sandman or Killer muffin can't please EVERYONE with a particular story. Yet on technical merit alone, neither of them deserve a one. Still they will get them occasionally. Of those, the occasional one is a legitimate expression of some reader's dislike of a story. When you get seceral, especially in a short span, you are most likely dealing with some small, petty, miseralbe hack, who can't write and hopes to discourage someone who has the talent they don't possess. Don't buy into it.

I have my own personal trolls, 2 in particular who seem to check my member page and get every story that comes up off to a rousing low average. I'm almost positive I picked them up here on the boards and their vindictive votes and vicious comments have more to do with my politics than my skill as a writer. I've never asked Laurel to remove votes, I don't even pay attention to the averages my stories carry. The most powerful repudiation of their invitations to feel bad come from simply ignoring them.

If, when you get one, you try to imagion the kind of small, desperatly jealous and petty person who would do that to someone else's work. They become pretty easy to just ignore out of hand.

-Colly

 

[oggbashan]

Cookie,

I wish I had your success rate of Hs and Es.

The ultimate defeat of the one-bombers is the rating when you have dozens of votes and Laurel has removed the bombs.

I think you may be a target because you are so consistently successful and the bomber(s) are jealous.

Og

 

[cookiejar]

Thanks Colly and Ogg, I really need to take these trolls less seriously. Thanks to everyone who replied here or in PM.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Cookie,

Why not post your non-contest stories under a suedo, soodo, pseedo, fake name? I believe several AH folks do that. I'd suggest you still submit contest entries using Cookiejar so you can be a part of all the BS during contests. Using a, you know what kind of name, might cost you a few votes and views at first, but you've proven you're one of the top Lit writers, and cream always rises to the top.

Just one request, if you decide to do that, please let me know.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[maggot420]

I can't imagine anyone giving you a legitimate 1.

Personally I love your work.

And if you do decide to follow Rumple Foreskins advice, please let me know as well.

Sorry for the rambling but I had to get this off my chest (so to speak.)

If you ever need any help getting something off your chest, I am at your service

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

... post your non-contest stories under a suedo, soodo, pseedo, fake name? ....

PSEUDO

Think about yourself in a suede speedo.
Think of how it would smell.
Now, don’t tell anyone that it’s coming from you.

PU suede speedo

U be silent.

P / sued / o

pseudo

Or, just get a spellchecker.

 

[Guest]

"Earl, you make me feel all moist and creamy!! Can I get your autograph on my underwear?"

Mijita*, I have conflicting emotions about this. Earl's my god-son, so it's kind of like he's your half-brother.

O, screw it, make sure there's room for his huge scrawl.

Mum

* Spanish for my little girl/daughter.

 

[BlackShanglan]

My pleasure comes from having found a few people I think it really worth pleasing. I trade with them via email, exchange draft reviews, and look to please them. I'll add to that an interest in the opinions of some people whose posts intrigue me and whose good opinion I think worth the effort of courting. But the random 1-bombs ... pah. They aren't worth the bother.

The other thing I have noticed is that on the whole, I think the votes accurate in reletive terms. That is, the work of mine rated lowest I think on the whole the worst and vice verse, with the exception of the letter that I know no one likes, but that I love nonetheless