A Tiered Category System?

[Guest]

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[minsue]

None of the above - I think it is a good idea in theory, but would be too cumbersome for the site owners to deal with. Especially considering that the current stories, thousands of them, would have to be redone.

 

[3113]

I dunno. I wonder if getting too specific is likely to make readers less likely to take chances on a story--become more spoilt. "I only read BDSM is it's first time and romantic. But if it's romance, then I don't want it to be first time or to involve any toys. Toys and Masterbation stories can't be romantic, they have to be erotic couplings...."

Okay, maybe it wouldn't get that bad. But it does let readers stick to their comfort zones--which they do already but we can still slip in some surprises with the categories as is.

Not that the categories are in any way perfect. I've had times when I was completely stumped myself on where to fit a story--which cat dominated and if I put this in BDSM, but it has gay guys in it, will the BDSM folk get mad at me because I've tricked them into reading a gay story? And if I put this in gay, will the gay guys get mad because it's mature?

Maybe the solution is giving the story a longer and better tag-line?

 

[Guest]

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[neonlyte]

This service already exists - use Story Search

If you enter text Lesbian you get 1000 titles (search limit to first 1000)
Enter Lesbian First Time - still 1000
Lesbian First Time Anal - 174
You can continue to refine the search terms with fewer stories appearing.

 

[Guest]

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[Svenskaflicka]

I know that over at Restricted Section they have a system where you check all the things you want to be included; Humour, Romance, PWP, Angst; desired pairing, etc.

Maybe something similar could be used for Lit, to search for great stories?

 

[Guest]

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[Owlwhisper]

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[Owlwhisper]

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[neonlyte]

Doesn't this only work if the author has added the specific keywords that represent the additional categories that apply? (And spelled them correctly, too?) I know at least one of the FAQs suggests this, but I wonder how many people do it. For that matter, how many people doing searches will use categories as key words, given that a search mechanism for those is also provided?

I've seen sites (probably related to software use and development) where you can specify multiple categories for your contributions, and also during searchs. Using a similar "check all that apply" approach might make it easier for both authors and searchers.

Sure - but it's a two way street, authors have to be disciplined enough add the keywords if they want readers to hone in on their stories. However, I doubt many use the service.

What it is good for is checking on things like character names - for example, 'Tim' seems to be particularly prone to screwing his Mother or Sister and you might want to choose a different name for say a BDSM story.

 

[Owlwhisper]

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[Guest]

In the Fan Fiction thread, started by Aurora Black, ArtisticBiGuy came up with an interesting point.


Some of the categories in Lit are very limited, and the question becomes, is it only a few authors who feel this way, or is it many? This is more a curiousity poll than anything else, but I'd like to know, just for future reference, if maybe down the line I get bold enough to venture into asking Laurel and/or Manu what they'd think of such a thing.

So, answer, if you would, and bump this thread now and then.

ArtisticBiGuy and I have discussed this before at length, and since most stories can be easily divided by orientation, and then fall into a convenient catagory, it seems a more logical system. Also, it guarantees a reader the chance to find something that most closely matches what they want, and it would help authors place their stories correctly. Many readers are looking for particular orientations in the stories they read, and if a story also is humorous, or BSDM or some other catagory that will suit any orientation, it can be a problem for an author to place it correctly.

I don't say the keyword system isn't also a good idea, but keywords are not always intuitive and are subject to such things as spelling and typing. I think a tiered catagory system would DECREASE reader and author frustration by labeling things clearly.

 

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[silverwhisper]

this idea will not gain traction due to the issue of an inability to address the existing stories on lit.

that said: i think that a tiered system is wrongheaded, b/c it presumes that certain qualities can be said to be more important. more importantly, what if the author and editor disagree re: which factors more heavily?

i believe that simply permitting multiple categories would be the easiest solution, insofar as any such hypothetical change would ever be adopted.

ed

 

[Guest]

this idea will not gain traction due to the issue of an inability to address the existing stories on lit.

that said: i think that a tiered system is wrongheaded, b/c it presumes that certain qualities can be said to be more important. more importantly, what if the author and editor disagree re: which factors more heavily?

i believe that simply permitting multiple categories would be the easiest solution, insofar as any such hypothetical change would ever be adopted.

ed

"More important" is not the issue and really has nothing to do with what's being discussed. A tieinng system says nothing about "importance", just as a filing system does not make the letter "A" more important merely by starting with it.

A catagorization system work by dividing something a common quality. Through all erotic stories there are certain commonalities -- sex. Sex (in the majority of cases) involved gender and orientation to gender. Gender orientation can be easily grouped into the fewest catagories. Almost every catagory currently existing -- EXCEPT the two that involve orientation -- can also be subdivided by some other factor. The two gender specific catagories also can contain stories that also fall into the other catagories. Thus they are cross referential and create confusion for authors placing stories and readers looking for stories.

 

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[silverwhisper]

malachiteink: i used to work with folks who categorize for a living. that experience taught me that unless the logic of category/subcat is manifestly plain to everyone who will seek to employ the system in a meaningful fashion, it isn't going to be particularly useful. i understand the point you're making, but the simple fact is that yes, i'm sure everything would make sense to you in the way you envision it. all i'm trying to say is that this may not be the experience for the average reader of lit. example: MMFs. under what category does this constitute a subcat? loving wives? what about MMFs that turn into full-blown three-way consensual sex between all partners? and there are permutations of which neither of us will conceive.

angelshadow: clearly, i assumed you were speaking specifically of lit. that said--and no offense intended--i honestly believe that ASSTR's method of applying search terms works particularly well. i'm curious however how you were conceiving of this as applied to a non-erotic stories site. ?

ed

 

[Guest]

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[silverwhisper]

fair enough. :>

ed

 

[Guest]

bumpbump

 

[CharleyH]

Streamlining is never good - and if you need someone else to figure out your target audience? Well, I MUST question that.

 

[Guest]

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[CharleyH]

I think perhaps I'm stupider than normal today... can you say that again, slowly, in ENgilsh, and in small words my aching brain cells can absorb and translate?

If I need to? That says a lot.