Doing away with categories?

[Zenith77]

Is there an interest in a proposal to do away with categories entirely, and have Story Tags the only index?

 

[John_Vandermeer]

Yes. There should be an easy way to edit tags though, as tagging is also something of an art as well.

 

[KeithD]

I don't really think user interest has much of anything to do with any changes at Literotica. That said, some time ago there was a rumor that the site would drop categories and go with just story tags. I don't think that anything has come down from on high on that, though, and one of the more recent additions here were the category hubs.

 

[Zenith77]

I don't really think user interest has much of anything to do with any changes at Literotica.

Has it ever been tried?

Say that there was an overwhelming interest from the (vocally active, anyway) authors to instigate a change, and such a proposal was taken to Laurel, one would think that it would be at least considered. And possibly even implemented, depending on the work involved.

 

[KeithD]

Has it ever been tried?

Say that there was an overwhelming interest from the (vocally active, anyway) authors to instigate a change, and such a proposal was taken to Laurel, one would think that it would be at least considered. And possibly even implemented, depending on the work involved.

Sorry, I've been here too long to believe any of that.

 

[Trionyx]

I for one would not be interested in the proposal. There are certain categories I immediately will disregard and would not want to spend extra time looking through tags trying to see if a story is even worth the time to start reading.

 

[SimonDoom]

Why would one do this?

Whenever one considers a change to the site, two questions should predominate:

1. What's the benefit of doing this . . . from the readers' point of view?
2. What are the risks/losses, from the readers' point of view?

I see no benefit to the reader from getting rid of categories.

I see an enormous downside from getting rid of categories, from the readers' point of view. Readers use, and rely upon, categories to find stories they like. Many readers probably are unfamiliar with, or don't use, and don't want to use, tags. You would be depriving readers of an enormously important tool for finding stories.

I don't understand why one would want to do this.

 

[lc69hunter]

I would not be in favor of such a thing. I also disregard and do not even open to read certain categories. Tags are too easily manipulated.

 

[Zenith77]

Why would one do this?

Whenever one considers a change to the site, two questions should predominate:

1. What's the benefit of doing this . . . from the readers' point of view?
2. What are the risks/losses, from the readers' point of view?

I see no benefit to the reader from getting rid of categories.

I see an enormous downside from getting rid of categories, from the readers' point of view. Readers use, and rely upon, categories to find stories they like. Many readers probably are unfamiliar with, or don't use, and don't want to use, tags. You would be depriving readers of an enormously important tool for finding stories.

I don't understand why one would want to do this.

A few reasons.

1) categories are too limiting. Where does bi-sex go? Or what about a story that crosses multiple categories?
2) tags are far more accurate a search. Yes, they may be under-utilised in comparison to categories at present, but that doesn't mean the idea is defunct. It would be a simple matter to rank the top 10/20/50/whatever most-used tags, and have them as single-click searches at the top of the search page. This would make it very simple for readers to utilise.
3) readers and authors benefit from readers able to better hone-in on what they want to read. You may get fewer reads but you'll get a more appreciative audience. Using tags as the primary index would encourage people to select multiple tags to refine the search interests.

 

[Voboy]

As a longtime reader?

Getting rid of categories is about the very last thing I would ever want the site to do.

 

[John_Vandermeer]

We all know how to use Google search.

I agree categories distort the "market". Wherever you draw the lines, there is your distortion. Creates the incentive to pander the common denominator of a category in the best case. Dicintevices experimentation along the fringe in most categories (Fetish might be an exception). Creates ackward bed fellows in the worst cases (like LW). As an author I want to maximize the size of the audience that will not trash me. Categories do not get you there. Certainly when you often straddle category lines.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Seems like categories are the new ratings these days...

 

[Zenith77]

As a longtime reader?

Getting rid of categories is about the very last thing I would ever want the site to do.

I find this a very odd statement, particularly because 'as a reader' I never use categories and always use tags.

Perhaps if you shared some of your reasons it might help.

 

[SimonDoom]

I find this a very odd statement, particularly because 'as a reader' I never use categories and always use tags.

Perhaps if you shared some of your reasons it might help.

I think you're unusual.

I think most readers rely heavily on categories.

The bottom line is it doesn't matter what your logic is, or my logic is. The fact is that categories are a tool that readers rely on, and for that reason there is a zero percent chance they will be eliminated.

I would like to see a more robust search and tag functionality at this site, as a supplement to, and more sophisticated method for identifying desired stories than, the category system. But I don't see categories being eliminated, and I would not want that to happen.

 

[djrip]

I'm voting with my likes on this one. If everyone does the same I think we'll see a clear pattern.

 

[PennameWombat]

Has it ever been tried?

Asking to get rid of Categories? I've never heard of that being asked and have zero clue of why you'd want to do that. On other subjects, sure. Many ideas have been surfaced here, and it seems some of the regulars here have some level of contact with Laurel and/or Manu, and they've even described feedback. As a rule, what gets implemented is whatever the site owners had in mind to get implemented.

Say that there was an overwhelming interest from the (vocally active, anyway) authors to instigate a change, and such a proposal was taken to Laurel, one would think that it would be at least considered. And possibly even implemented, depending on the work involved.

This is hilarious. On April 20, 2023, 81 stories were published by 75 unique authors. Go take a look. I couldn't find any whose handles I've ever seen post in this forum. At least not in the last few years. Not a one.

I also have similar stats for Jan. 30, 2022. That day, 241 stories were published by 191 unique authors. If I recall, two of those authors post occasionally here. (I can show my work, but just go look at the New Story list.)

So... define 'vocally active'. The authors who are 'vocally active' - by posting here - are a tiny percentage of the total set of authors. You could define other methods of who is 'vocally active,' but it seems that the vast, overwhelming majority of authors here simply go about their business silently. So even if, say, ten of us HERE liked your idea, that's uh, well, the percentage gets lost beyond the decimal point.

 

[PennameWombat]

I find this a very odd statement, particularly because 'as a reader' I never use categories and always use tags.

Perhaps if you shared some of your reasons it might help.

And 'as a reader', I use both Categories and Tags. So... we cancel out. But I make no assumption that because I do things in a certain way, that's the way everyone must - or should - do things.

The site offers a Tag search which, if you don't specify a Category, will search for the tag across all Categories. Or, you can limit it. I don't see an issue.

 

[12oclocktales]

I think readers could be weaned off categories, but the tags really need to be improved on, especially the overlapping of so many of them: dominance, dominant, domination, for example. Why 3 when 1 would do?

 

[Lifestyle66]

Is there an interest in a proposal to do away with categories entirely, and have Story Tags the only index?

Why? What purpose does it serve to change the way the system works? Does it help the readers, who have become used to their categories?

Maybe someone could add inaccurate tags to trick more readers into viewing their stories. Would it frustrate readers, just to force them to see more titles they don't want to see?

Are you new to this and have something to gain personally by changing the rules?

 

[Lifestyle66]

I think readers could be weaned off categories, but the tags really need to be improved on, especially the overlapping of so many of them: dominance, dominant, domination, for example. Why 3 when 1 would do?

That's the problem with tags. The author types in whatever they choose to type, even with spelling errors.

 

[MelissaBaby]

A few reasons.

1) categories are too limiting. Where does bi-sex go? Or what about a story that crosses multiple categories?
2) tags are far more accurate a search. Yes, they may be under-utilised in comparison to categories at present, but that doesn't mean the idea is defunct. It would be a simple matter to rank the top 10/20/50/whatever most-used tags, and have them as single-click searches at the top of the search page. This would make it very simple for readers to utilise.
3) readers and authors benefit from readers able to better hone-in on what they want to read. You may get fewer reads but you'll get a more appreciative audience. Using tags as the primary index would encourage people to select multiple tags to refine the search interests.

Seems to me that much of that could be addressed by adding more categories, rather than eliminating categories all together.

 

[alohadave]

I find this a very odd statement, particularly because 'as a reader' I never use categories and always use tags.

Perhaps if you shared some of your reasons it might help.

If tags were shown on story listings they would be more useful, IMO. As it is now, you aren't searching based on tags, you don't see them until you open the story and click on the tags icon.

Many other sites will show you the tags in the listing so you are aware.

I just looked at the tag browser (for the first time ever), and all it shows is a tag crowd of commonly used tags. I don't see how that is particularly useful.

Part of the issue is that people find stories in different ways. Some exclusively inhabit categories and find stuff to read through those listings. Some mainly browse the new stories list (me), some like you primarily use tags. Each are valid ways to find stories.

I don't have a problem with categories, though I wish we could add to multiple categories as appropriate.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Seems to me that much of that could be addressed by adding more categories, rather than eliminating categories all together.

There is another site with 58, while Lit has 32 (I hope I counted correctly). Yet they don't have Fan Fiction, because they don't allow it.

It's always something.

 

[Rob_Royale]

I'd be more inclined to request the availability of adding a second category. Most all of my stories would fit into many.

 

[lc69hunter]

I find this a very odd statement, particularly because 'as a reader' I never use categories and always use tags.

Perhaps if you shared some of your reasons it might help.

I am in the top twenty commenters on Lit (currently #17). Every morning I start with the Feedback Portal, as someone almost always comments on an older story I may not have read. From there I start at the top of the categories, and go down from there, skipping or ignoring those for which I have no interest. I generally hit most of them, Non-consent/Reluctance, being one that I will never open, as it is too close to rape for my tastes, as I love women. Good stories can be found in all categories. You just need to look for them.