Are the Similar Stories random?

[Tw0Cr0ws]

The 'Similar Stories' listed at the end of the stories seem to be randomly chosen.

For example; if the story is a conventional sappy romance and some of the 'Similar Stories' listed are a BDSM story and a group sex/golden shower/bukkake story and a rape story and a vampire horror story how are they similar?
Who or what decides?

 

[TxRad]

The 'Similar Stories' listed at the end of the stories seem to be randomly chosen.

For example; if the story is a conventional sappy romance and some of the 'Similar Stories' listed are a BDSM story and a group sex/golden shower/bukkake story and a rape story and a vampire horror story how are they similar?
Who or what decides?

Many of us have asked this question for years.

 

[Jay321]

my guess is that there is one tag that they share in common. Then random from there.

 

[Manu]

They are not random, but our algorithm will definitely be improved in the future. We are working on a ton of updates to the backend of Lit. Better algorithms for related and recommended stories is fairly high on our list.

 

[lovecraft68]

I've never thought it was keyed to anything seeing as I get a lot of GM stories showing as similar to what I read and I think I've read one GM story in my time here.

I never pay them any mind. In the grand scheme of things its a minor feature to not be working.