Does George Bush have something to do with it?

[firedancer8]

Hi,

I'm new to the forums - not much of writer, although I love reading the stories...

I don't understand the votes tho... One day I look at a toplist and everything seems normal. The next day I see that everything has changed... usually about eight stories by one writer right at the top of the list. A couple of days later it may change again and several stories by a different writer are at the top of the list...

I also notice stories that have a HUGE number of votes - completely out of proportion to other stories... I see stories that are very well-written, and I see stories that read like Peter and Jane stories, and frequently the Peter and Jane stories get higher votes than the ones that have a structure... and images... and interesting vocabulary.

Why is this?

I figured that the writers of the stories might be able to give me the best answer... so what do you think?

Is voting genuine, or is it run by the same kind of politics that won Florida for George Bush the first time round?

 

[impressive]

Welcome to the AH, firedancer.

Top Lists are plagued by trolls -- those who vote not on the story's merit, but on the desire to shoot it down. Every so often, the powers that be sweep away the troll droppings, which is why there is so much shuffling on the Top Lists.

As for the number of votes -- that depends on many things: how long the story's been posted; how many fans the author has; etc.

 

[firedancer8]

Thanks for the reply. I thought that might be the case... So what is it about a story that sends it to the top of the list?

 

[impressive]

So what is it about a story that sends it to the top of the list?

That also varies. Could be a huge fan base. Could be ultra "wank-worthy." Could be some sort of fraud (i.e., registering a whole bunch of accounts). Could be just damned good writing.

(When it's one of MY stories, of course, it's the "damned good writing." Yeah, that's the ticket.)

~ Imp

 

[BlackShanglan]

Re: voting and top lists, and the stories therein:

On my bad days, I agree with Corporal Snark: "People are Philistines." I mean, would you look at those two ridiculous bits of tripe in the NH category ...

On my good days, I recognize that everyone comes to Literotica with different goals. At times it does frustrate me when a story I think has great power is voted lower than one that doesn't strike me as having the same literary merit. But then, I have to recognize that quite a lot of Lit readers are not looking for literary merit. My goals are a bit more "readerly"; I want plot, character development, interesting themes and motives, powerful human interactions. Many people here, however, really just want some quick fun that gets them physically excited and leads to a joyous release. They want porn, and quite reasonably given the name and focus of the site. Sometimes they get frustrated when people won't just give them their porn, just as I can get frustrated when people won't give me my literature. The tension is in the name - Literotica, both literature and erotica - and on the whole it's a healthy tension that keeps us all on our toes. Admittedlty, it can lead to some bafflement and frustration in voting. However, I think that via the favorites lists, the site managers have given us some means to communicate more personalized ideas of what is best. I find that those are usually of the most use to me - the "favorites" lists of people whose writings I like, or whose other favorites I enjoyed.

Shanglan

 

[firedancer8]

(When it's one of MY stories, of course, it's the "damned good writing." Yeah, that's the ticket.)

~ Imp

I'll check them out! thanks Imp!

 

[impressive]

Re: voting and top lists, and the stories therein:

On my bad days, I agree with Corporal Snark: "People are Philistines." I mean, would you look at those two ridiculous bits of tripe in the NH category ...

On my good days, I recognize that everyone comes to Literotica with different goals. At times it does frustrate me when a story I think has great power is voted lower than one that doesn't strike me as having the same literary merit. But then, I have to recognize that quite a lot of Lit readers are not looking for literary merit. My goals are a bit more "readerly"; I want plot, character development, interesting themes and motives, powerful human interactions. Many people here, however, really just want some quick fun that gets them physically excited and leads to a joyous release. They want porn, and quite reasonably given the name and focus of the site. Sometimes they get frustrated when people won't just give them their porn, just as I can get frustrated when people won't give me my literature. The tension is in the name - Literotica, both literature and erotica - and on the whole it's a healthy tension that keeps us all on our toes. Admittedlty, it can lead to some bafflement and frustration in voting. However, I think that via the favorites lists, the site managers have given us some means to communicate more personalized ideas of what is best. I find that those are usually of the most use to me - the "favorites" lists of people whose writings I like, or whose other favorites I enjoyed.

Shanglan

In other (and far fewer) words: it varies.

 

[firedancer8]

Thanks for the insight Shanglan. I think you're right... I feel frustrated when I see literary stories being knocked down, but I suppose a lot of people come to Literotica for a quick hit... The old saying goes - you can't please everybody all the time.

 

[neonlyte]

Good Thread title Firedancer8 !

Those two just about said it all.

Imp - you are incorrigible fishing for reads like that - I'm proud of you

Welcome Fd8, stick around, someone here is always stuck for a title

 

[TheEarl]

Welcome to the board Firedancer. I used to remain certain that tosh would rise to the top because of the vagarities of the readers, but Shanglan's voting success with 'Will' (now there is a story worth your time) has convinced me otherwise.

Now, I have absolutely no clue why some stories riseto the top. Maybe it's luck, maybe it's a catchy title, maybe it's that they know the secret formula for pleasing the Loving Wives fans.

The Earl

 

[thebullet]

One reason for stories to float to the top of the list is the use of multiple chapters. If a certain story thread gets a loyal group of readers, then almost every chapter of that story will score higher than the last. Why? because those readers who haven't been with it from the beginning usually won't bother reading chapter 12 if they haven't read 1 thru 11. The only people reading Chapter 12 are the true believers. So unless Chapter 12 is a total piece of shit, it will score high.

I know of what I speak. I have a story, Tales of the eKids. Chapter 1 scored something like 4.76. Chapters 2 thru 6 scored 4.86 to 4.94. Come on. Let's be honest. I thought the stuff was good. But really.

Another factor is the cateogy posted. People reading Romance stories are far more forgiving than people reading Loving Wives stories. I speak from experience here. LW readers forgive nothing and take no prisoners.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Good, bad or indifferent, a story can make the top lists based on it's merits, on the authors popularity or on something as obscure as being perfectly sized to let a reader hit the vote page at or before orgasm

When mine get there, unlike Imp, I assume it's beacuse I have a very wonderful readership who take the time to vote

 

[thebullet]

Coleen wrote:
something as obscure as being perfectly sized to let a reader hit the vote page at or before orgasm

Christ almighty! It's just something I never thought of. I'll have to revise my writing methods and use a timer!

It's kind of like the crescendo part of A Day in the Life. I learned that when I was younger (and under the influence of certain curative herbs), if one started 'the act' as it were at the beginning of the song (I'm talkin' a quicky here!), one could allow the crescendo to draw you right along into major climactic explosions. I just never thought of doing the same thing with a story.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Welcome Fd8, stick around, someone here is always stuck for a title

That would be me.

TheBullet has excellent points on multi-chapter works. Long works tend to score high as well, as many people don't vote what they don't finish, and don't finish what they don't like. As Colly points out, too, having people who know you and like your stories -a readership - really helps.

As for The Earl - thank you. Sincerely. You are much too kind, and in just the excess most needed.

Shanglan

 

[neonlyte]

Christ almighty! It's just something I never thought of. I'll have to revise my writing methods and use a timer!

1.8 minutes I seem to remember from another thread

Still, depends how fast you read.

 

[impressive]

1.8 minutes I seem to remember from another thread

Still, depends how fast you read.

Or stroke.

(Which is what I meant by being particularly "wank worthy.")

 

[Guest]

So lessons learned here says the highest voted story will be an audio story (read to the wankers), with a 1.8 minute version of Bolero playing under the spoken words. At 1.9 minutes, the voice should shout "VOTE A 5 NOW YOU WANKER, OR GOD WILL SEE YOU!"

 

[thebullet]

at 1.9 minutes, the voice should shout "VOTE A 5 NOW YOU WANKER

No, by 1.9 minutes they're already feeling guilty and looking for the kleenex.

 

[Guest]

No, by 1.9 minutes they're already feeling guilty and looking for the kleenex.

OK, alternative approach, at 1.7 minutes a woman's voice breathes, "Make me cum baby. Vote 5 now! Ah, that's it!"

 

[TheEarl]

1.8 minutes I seem to remember from another thread

Still, depends how fast you read.

1.8 minutes? Seriously?

Jesus, how quick-firing are our audience?

The Earl

 

[sophia jane]

Nothing of interest to add. But boy, do I love Bolero.

SJ

 

[neonlyte]

1.8 minutes? Seriously?

Jesus, how quick-firing are our audience?

The Earl

It was link Imp posted about premature ejaculation.

Personally, my next story is going to climax at 1.8, 3.6, 5.4... I'm looking for a stayer.

How long is Bolero?

 

[TheEarl]

Sod Bolero. I'm lookign for the Masochism Tango.

Any Tom Lehrer fans?

The Earl

 

[BlackShanglan]

Sod Bolero. I'm lookign for the Masochism Tango.

Any Tom Lehrer fans?

The Earl

Give me "Beat Me" by Adam Ant. Good lad.

 

[TheEarl]

I ache for the touch of your lips dear,
But much more for the touch of your whips dear.
You can raise welts, like nobody else.
As we dance to the Masochism Tango.

Let our love be a flame, not an ember.
Say it's me that you want to dismember.
Fracture my spine, and swear that you're mine.
As we dance to the Masochism Tango.

The Earl