Arrghh--the sweeps...

[evanslily]

Okay, I wouldn't normally comment on this. I've been around long enough to know this happens, a lot...

But can someone explain to me how a chapter that had over 350 votes and a score of 4.91 ish yesterday can now have, according to the top list, only 235 votes and a score of 4.90, and according to my member page right now, only 107 votes and a score of 4.85?

Incidentally, there are 52 comments. I take it that the 107 figure will remain, and may even fall...

Don't get me wrong, 4.85 is still a good score, I have nothing to complain about, not really, I know that. But I thought this wasn't supposed to be possible anymore. I can't vote more than once on any story--the yellow stars are lit once I've voted. I guess it's possible folks could take themselves off to a proxy server and vote again--but why would they?

But so far today, I've lost over 200 votes. Ouch. That's a lot of people voting more than once for me. If that is, in fact, what happened...

I know there's nothing anyone can say or do. I know something similar happened to MarshAlien last year and I sympathise whole-heartedly with anyone else this has happened to.

It really doesn't inspire you to keep submitting stories, does it? And God knows, I'm having enough trouble writing right now.

Sorry, just needed to get that out of my system. Grrr...

 

[scouries]

you're not alone young lady....

Oh my dear Mz Lily – I for one do feel for you!

I know the feeling of losing over 200 votes in one fell unexplained swoop. I know the pain of thinking about these orphan votes who have been cast aside and are now wandering in the AHland wilderness.

Your story (unfortunately you didn’t mention the title) must either be up for a monthly prize (good for you) or is in the HOLIDAY contest. For the last year the ROYAL FAMILY (read Manu ) has been using a new sweep technique on these stories on an individual basis.

It’s no longer just double votes that are removed (like you I’ve never accepted that hundreds of readers are somehow double voting for me) nor votes from people whose pattern of voting is suspect.

No, now another class of voters is being removed. A huge number of LITEROTICANS (including some surprisingly famous AHland names) have been put on a permanent “remove this person’s votes in every contest” list. They’ve been put on it for a variety of reasons but once on it you’re fucked. Every future vote you make will be removed before monthly contest and special contest winners are announced.

Perfectly legitimate votes are simply jettisoned with no explanation from the PALACE. There is no court of appeal.

This has led to extraordinary vote losses over the past year. You mention our alien friend. But there are others: mr heat has been savaged in recent contests. Yours truly has seen losses of two thirds of his votes on stories in recent contests. darkboy has admitted to heavy losses (although his may have been justified).

Now it should be noted in MANU’S defense that ROMANTIC CATEGORY stories have historically been bolstered by a huge bloc of vote riggers and cheaters which might explain some of your losses.

Anyway maam, the good news is you’re likely to win a prize. Multi chapter romance stories are almost guaranteed monthly contest wins.

You might send a note to the QUEEN miss lily and tell her you’re not happy. Surprisingly the PALACE seems to becoming much more open to it’s authors opinions (for which we’re all glad).

I’m james r scouries, and I hope miss lily wins a prize…

[size=+2]Dolphins votes are regularily rejected…[/size]

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I never paid attention to how many votes my stories had, or what they rated after the first month. I would only be guessing if I tried to tell you what my stories are at, I just looked to see how many comments I had this morning

Then again, I have always been more interested in the comments than the ratings. I love hearing what people have to say about my smut.

 

[Weird Harold]

But so far today, I've lost over 200 votes. Ouch. That's a lot of people voting more than once for me. If that is, in fact, what happened...

Contrary to Scouries conspiracy theory, the votes removed have always been "fraudulent votes" rather than simply "duplicate votes" and Laurel and Manu have consitently declined to explain how "fraudulent votes" are defined or detected to prevent people from working around the detection methods.

In general, fraudulent votes are votes that fit some pattern indicative of reasons other than the story content driving the votes -- for example, a user that votes the same score on an entire category in less time than it would take to read the stories voted on, is clearly not voting on the stories' qualities but according to some agenda.

 

[starrkers]

But more than half all votes fraudulent? That seems to be stretching it a tad.

Were any other stories affected, Lily, or just that one?

 

[evanslily]

But more than half all votes fraudulent? That seems to be stretching it a tad.

Were any other stories affected, Lily, or just that one?

Yep, other stories have been affected but that was the one I noticed most. I think (though I may be wrong) that there were around 380 votes on it. It isn't the first time it's happened, that's for sure but never quite so dramatically as this.

What's mighty strange is that probably 200 of those 380 votes went on in the first couple of days after I posted the chapter--it was Chapter 10 of Caught by the Tide (the last chapter) and I was really overwhelmed by the kind response it got (especially given there was no sex in it, LOL--shouldn't be allowed, right Scouries )

So it's difficult to believe 200+ votes were fraudulent. We've had theories before that if someone votes then subsequently leaves a comment both votes are swept away. But even that wouldn't account for a sweep on this scale, would it?

I dunno. I guess in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter, and as Theegoatpig says, the comments and emails you get mean more than votes. But it is a little disheartening, to say the least.

Never mind. I won't take my bat and ball home yet... I'm still grateful to Laurel and Manu that this place exists and that they're happy to let me post my sloppy romances on an erotica site.

 

[michchick98]

Never mind. I won't take my bat and ball home yet... I'm still grateful to Laurel and Manu that this place exists and that they're happy to let me post my sloppy romances on an erotica site.

Your romances are far from sloppy, Lily. In fact they're some of the best written stories on this site. How are things going with you? And not to be a pushy reader/fan, but when can we expect the next chapter of Back to the Farm? I absolutely love that story.

 

[evanslily]

Your romances are far from sloppy, Lily. In fact they're some of the best written stories on this site. How are things going with you? And not to be a pushy reader/fan, but when can we expect the next chapter of Back to the Farm? I absolutely love that story.

LOL, thanks Sheri.

Hmm, Back to the Farm Chapter 11 is in a work in progress but also a bit of a runaway train--I'm 10,000 words in and nowhere near to the end of the chapter, dammit. I have a sneaking suspicion that I might have to keep going to the end of the story and then decide where to split the chapters, because where I'd originally planned on finishing Chapter 11 is still a good few thousand words away. My muse isn't being particularly obliging right now either.

All I can say is that it will be finished eventually and I'm trying to get there as fast as I can. Real life commitments (like having to go to work 5 days a week, gasp!) keep getting in the way. I really thought that now I don't have any exams for a while I'd be able to press on more quickly, but actually, thinking about it, I may just've spent more time writing than studying before... No wonder I kept failing my exams, LOL.

 

[NoJo]

This thread reads like a lot of alts agreeing with each other. Except for WH.

 

[evanslily]

This thread reads like a lot of alts agreeing with each other. Except for WH.

It does?

I can assure you that there's only 1 of me on this thread.

I'm not Scouries, Theegoatpig, Starrkers or Michchick98...

Anyway, I've had my whinge--and I'll shut up now

 

[gauchecritic]

This thread reads like a lot of alts agreeing with each other. Except for WH.

interesting that you only except WH.

 

[starrkers]

interesting that you only except WH.

That's because he's an alt of WH

 

[scouries]

how do you know?

QUOTE WEIRD HAL Contrary to Scouries conspiracy theory, the votes removed have always been "fraudulent votes" rather than simply "duplicate votes" and Laurel and Manu have consistently declined to explain how "fraudulent votes" are defined or detected to prevent people from working around the detection methods.

In general, fraudulent votes are votes that fit some pattern indicative of reasons other than the story content driving the votes -- for example, a user that votes the same score on an entire category in less time than it would take to read the stories voted on, is clearly not voting on the stories' qualities but according to some agenda.


As to your “the votes removed have always been "fraudulent votes" rather than simply "duplicate votes.” I must say I’m always amazed when AHers expound upon the sweep system here at LITEROTICA Hal. I’ve heard more than twenty of you old timers expound on this question over the past few years – but these supposed expert explanations are always somewhat different and never backed up with verifiable facts.

You say in one sentence – Laurel and Manu have consistently declined to explain how "fraudulent votes" are defined but then follow that up with – In general, fraudulent votes are votes that fit some pattern indicative of reasons other than the story content driving the votes. How do you know that? You’ve just said the ROYALS have never defined what a fraudulent vote is but all of a sudden you’re the expert.

In fact there’s not a “Scouries conspiracy theory” my good man – it’s simply my observations on what I’ve seen. On the subject of votes and sweeps I’m quite happy to claim some expertise. I suspect I’ve received more votes and had more votes swept away than any other LITEROTICAN over the last 2-3 years.

And I’ll tell you this Hal with 100% certainty – there have been major changes to the system MANU uses to sweep votes on SPECIAL CONTEST stories and potential MONTHLY CONTEST winners over the last 18 months. I’ve seen it… in black and white… on my stories.

And one part of these changes has been to sweep votes away that were made by people who’ve been identified in some way in the past as “problem voters” irrespective of the legitimacy of the specific “vote” in question.

You may have lots of answers Hal but I’m afraid in this case you didn’t understand the question.

Miss Lily’s question (and it’s the same one that mr heat and I have raised during this years SPECIAL CONTESTS) is “How come all of a sudden a significantly higher percentage of votes are being swept away compared to years past?” And further, how could this be possible given that it appears to be harder to commit one of the sins (double voting) since the star voting system was introduced?

I’m james r scouries, and I’m an expert on votes…

[size=+2]Dolphins are too… when they aren’t in Canada that is…[/size]

 

[scouries]

ok, i'll finally admit it - i am misshick...

...and i write my romance stories under the name eversilly...

I’m james eversilly hick scouries, and I hate all ALTS…

[size=+2]Dolphins LOVE Canada …[/size]

 

[Emerald_Dragon]

I think maybe too that people click on the voting stars and then decide to leave a comment. You have to vote again when you leave a comment. The original vote would be swept but the comment one would stay (I am assuming). I have done this (not thinking far enough ahead) and I cringe when I do it because I know that it will be swept.\

It wouldn't explain all of them but it might explain some.

 

[NoJo]

interesting that you only except WH.

Oh come off it everyone knows you're me

 

[Safe_Bet]

Oh come off it everyone knows you're me

Shit! I thought I was you!

 

[Tricialen]

Okay, I wouldn't normally comment on this. I've been around long enough to know this happens, a lot...

But can someone explain to me how a chapter that had over 350 votes and a score of 4.91 ish yesterday can now have, according to the top list, only 235 votes and a score of 4.90, and according to my member page right now, only 107 votes and a score of 4.85?

Incidentally, there are 52 comments. I take it that the 107 figure will remain, and may even fall...

Don't get me wrong, 4.85 is still a good score, I have nothing to complain about, not really, I know that. But I thought this wasn't supposed to be possible anymore. I can't vote more than once on any story--the yellow stars are lit once I've voted. I guess it's possible folks could take themselves off to a proxy server and vote again--but why would they?

But so far today, I've lost over 200 votes. Ouch. That's a lot of people voting more than once for me. If that is, in fact, what happened...

I know there's nothing anyone can say or do. I know something similar happened to MarshAlien last year and I sympathise whole-heartedly with anyone else this has happened to.

It really doesn't inspire you to keep submitting stories, does it? And God knows, I'm having enough trouble writing right now.

Sorry, just needed to get that out of my system. Grrr...

It happened to one of my stories too...sigh...hugs

 

[Guest]

I think maybe too that people click on the voting stars and then decide to leave a comment. You have to vote again when you leave a comment. The original vote would be swept but the comment one would stay (I am assuming). I have done this (not thinking far enough ahead) and I cringe when I do it because I know that it will be swept.

It wouldn't explain all of them but it might explain some.

Nope, afraid not.

From the FAQ page (http://www.literotica.com/faq/05315902.shtml#02164825):

You must give a rating to the story to leave a comment. If you have voted on the submission previously, then the vote you leave with the comment will not count toward the submission's total.

Face it, folks, NOBODY knows even approximately why some votes are removed in sweeps. Laurel and Manu aren't talking, and I seriously doubt that people are popping up and yelling, "HEY! That was my fraudulent vote you just swept!"

However, I feel certain that the pronouncements will continue. Carry on, all.

 

[michchick98]

It does?

I can assure you that there's only 1 of me on this thread.

I'm not Scouries, Theegoatpig, Starrkers or Michchick98...

Anyway, I've had my whinge--and I'll shut up now

Okay, well I can clarify that I'm me and only me. Although, with the exception of Scouries, the delusional douchebag, if I'm an ALT of any of the others mentioned, I'm in good company. (And it's quite refreshing to have Scouries and his alts on ignore.)

 

[Weird Harold]

How do you know that? You’ve just said the ROYALS have never defined what a fraudulent vote is but all of a sudden you’re the expert.

I know that because many years ago, when the monthly contests were first starting and the special contests were just a vague plan for the future, Laurel explicitly said "we won't tell you what we consider a fraudulent vote or tell you how we detect them because if we let that information out, people will find a way to cheat the system"

I've neither seen nor heard anything in the intervening decade that makes a substantive change in that policy.

ETA: Those were public discussions of how voting was going to work, so they may be buried back in the archives among the very first forum posts. They might alos have been far enough back to be under the UBB forum software and thus not transfered over to the vBulletin software forums.

That's because [sub joe] he's an alt of WH

Please, don't insult me like that. I have one alt who publishes everything except how to essays and his location is clearly shown as the "back of Weird Harold's head."

But more than half all votes fraudulent? That seems to be stretching it a tad.

Given the number of days recently that Literotica has been very slow to respond, I can believe that a high a percentage of inadvertent duplicates -- roughly matching spates of duplicate posts in the forums as to frequency and cause.

 

[michchick98]

LOL, thanks Sheri.

Hmm, Back to the Farm Chapter 11 is in a work in progress but also a bit of a runaway train--I'm 10,000 words in and nowhere near to the end of the chapter, dammit. I have a sneaking suspicion that I might have to keep going to the end of the story and then decide where to split the chapters, because where I'd originally planned on finishing Chapter 11 is still a good few thousand words away. My muse isn't being particularly obliging right now either.

All I can say is that it will be finished eventually and I'm trying to get there as fast as I can. Real life commitments (like having to go to work 5 days a week, gasp!) keep getting in the way. I really thought that now I don't have any exams for a while I'd be able to press on more quickly, but actually, thinking about it, I may just've spent more time writing than studying before... No wonder I kept failing my exams, LOL.

Understandable about the 'real life' getting in the way. I was just asking what I'm sure many people have been emailing you about.

The best you can do is just keep writing until the ideas stop flowing, then figure out where you'd break-up the chapters.....just as you said, of course.

I keep my muse well supplied with chocolate, caffeine and cigarettes. That seems to keep her happy, when she's not on vacation in the tropics, away from the icky cold weather here, of course.

 

[Darkniciad]

*Chuckle* Good luck, WH. scouries is probably sitting in a corner somewhere right now hissing, looking to his sock puppets for comfort. Tossing facts and common sense at him is like presenting a cross to a vampire, or kryptonite to Superman.

I've had a few votes swept in the recent sets -- nothing remotely like what others are reporting. I've only seen about 3 maximum per story, which was barely over 1% of the total votes. I take that back, one only had 11 votes and lost one, so that was about 10%.

I use my website/blog to remind readers on a fairly regular basis not to vote more than once on my stories, and not to down-vote others to try to improve my standings. Ever since I started doing that, the number of votes I see swept has dropped quite a bit.

 

[TE999]

Interestingly enough, this last sweep improved my Holiday story score but removed some H's from my previous stories...go figure.

Such is the magic of the Lit Vote Hoover.

 

[starrkers]

Please, don't insult me like that. I have one alt who publishes everything except how to essays and his location is clearly shown as the "back of Weird Harold's head."

My apologies.
The whole "they're all just alts" line as a dismissive always annoys me. I meant my comment flippantly, to show the idiocy of the original to which I was replying.
I certainly meant no disrespect to you.