Do you vote?

[Svenskaflicka]

Funny... Over 1300 people read my story, but only 7 bothered to vote for it.

What are your voting habits?
Do you

• always vote
• never vote
• only vote when the story is really good
• only vote when the story's really bad?

 

[Gus]

Vote?

No, usually forget.
Don't notice the vote box until I have hit the back button.
Maybe I should, but it is not why I am there.
Yes, I know that the writers want this feedback.

Gus

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Also, by voting for a story and contributing to giving it an average point, you also tip other readers of which stories are hot or not.

 

[Singularity]

Voting Patterns

If I read a story all the way to the end, while online, I will almost always vote. However, for a long story, I will most likely scroll through the pages, downloading them for offline reading (it is amazing how short airport departure lounge wait times can be shortened when lingering over a deliciously wicked story).

When I return to Lit, I confess that I am much less likely to vote for an offline-read story, unless it really burned a hole through my brain, or if I run across the same story again on the Top-Voted lists in the categories I frequent.

Then, I will usually pop over to the last page and vote.

So, overall, my average is probably around 40-60% votes.

We should all probably strive to do better than that. After all, as an author, I like to see the voting results. Give some to get some, and we all benefit.

 

[wildsweetone]

When I return to Lit, I confess that I am much less likely to vote for an offline-read story, unless it really burned a hole through my brain, or if I run across the same story again on the Top-Voted lists in the categories I frequent.

Then, I will usually pop over to the last page and vote.

svenskaflicka, this kind of reading could account for half the views on your stories. singularity's example shows two views, one vote.

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I only tend to vote if I really like the story or intensely dislike the story. If I get bored I usually back out of the story so I don't vote.

 

[M.A.Thompson]

only vote when the story is really good

Yep. That is me. Actually, if I think the story is that bad (something I would give a 1 or 2), I usually won't even finish it.

Only once did I give a 1 and that was on a story so god-awful, I was surprised it made it through whoever does the screenings before they are posted. Even then, I did feel a little bad about 1ing the thing, I mean, the bugger did try. Hence, I now only vote if I think it is worth at least a 3.

 

[its Leslie]

I like to vote when I read a story. But I have found that to often it seems pointless.

People get offended by 1's of course, but also get pissed off with 3's.

I don't see much point to only being able to vote a 5, or potentially annoy a writer for ruining their chance at an H.

 

[TheEarl]

I actually rarely vote, I should more. If a story impresses me then I'll vote and feedback, otherwise I'll usually hit back before the end. Interesting to note that one of my stories has 63 votes from 11836 and another has 273 from 33626. The first has a 0.5% of people voting and the second has 0.8% of people voting. The second one has a little note at the bottom asking for voting and feedback, whereas the first has the little note at the top. It actually does make a difference. If your story's any good, then they'll forget what you wrote in the author's note at the top.

The Earl

 

[its Leslie]

Actually when I think about it, if I like your story, odds are I would send a modest email saying yes I liked your story.

It might not be anymore elaborate than "I liked your story".

But that is what I think we writers really want to see.

If something I wrote got an H odds are I wouldn't care. But just one single "I liked your story" from someone I didn't know before, would make the writing of the story all worthwhile.

I also never send messages like "god it was great, I jacked off immediately". I might have, but as a writer, I would settle for something a little more constructive in my comment.

 

[Whispersecret]

I always vote if I have a strong reaction, positive or negative, about a story. If I get bored midstream, I often backclick, like DN said.

I don't worry about hurting writers' feelings unless they are a person I've interacted with here on the BB. Okay, wait. I do feel a twinge of guilt, but then I think, "The only way they'll get better or get the idea that their writing needs improvement is if it shows up in the votes." Then I vote.

I have almost never given out a one.

Also, I'll admit to this--sometimes I'll click on an H story and think, "Okay this will be a great story." Then when I'm disappointed, will make a point to vote accordingly. I make every effort to vote without taking my disappointment into account, but who knows if I succeed?

 

[jfinn]

I try to vote on everything I finish, but I have a problem with this site letting me vote. It tells me I already have about 90% of the time even when it's a brand new story.

But regardless of that, I still try because I think it's important to let someone know how you feel about their work. And I like votes myself, so fair is fair. I do find that more often than not my votes are 5's or the occasional 4, but then that's because I'm not going to even finish a story I don't care for, and if I like it then that automatically means I think it's pretty good.

I guess too, that I'm leery about giving bad votes even to the stories that deserve it. I mean, I write, and I know the kind of effort that goes into it, even when it's crappy. I figure that the author really tried his/her best and since nobody's getting paid here there's no point in trashing their efforts. So, like I said, I'd rather just pass on it and back out of the story without voting at all.

Does that make sense?

Jayne

 

[damppanties]

I vote and send feedback if the story is very good. I love to tell the author what I liked in the story and what touched me personally.

I vote if the story is good.

I vote if the story is okay.

I don't vote if the story is very bad. I send some feedback instead. I've never voted less than a 3. Mostly it's just 3 or 4. I know that's not very honest but as jfinn said... I have problem voting 1 or 2. Don't want to do it to the poor guy.

-DP.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Like Whispersecret, I don't worry about hurting someone's feelings with my votes. If a story is REALLY bad, I vote 1. If it's plain out WORTHLESS, I write a feedback telling the author that the story is bad.
If the story is GREAT, I vote a 5. If the story really gets to me, I write a feedback telling the author that they have created a masterpiece.

Maybe I'm bitchy, but I don't think that a bad story should have high votes. If I run into one, I'll say my piece.