If you could see who gave you bad votes

[KillerMuffin]

If Laurel offered to whisper in your ear, tell you the identity of your one voters, would you want to know?

If you answered yes:

If someone you were friendly with gave you a one without explanation, would you consider it a betrayal?

If you recognized a top-list author from the the list of one voters, would you retaliate?



Disclaimer:

THIS SITUATION DID NOT AND WILL NOT HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE! I just got suddenly curious after reading a thread on the Story Feedback forum.

 

[alltherage]

Don't care to know. I assume that some of what I write will offend someone and that in doing so I will recieve low numbers. I would hope the someone I know would be objective and helpful and if they were not I would just as soon live with my illusion.

 

[flawed_ethics]

I wouldn't care. Going through the effort to find out, and being the possessor of such knowledge would only open a new bag of trouble.

Besides, I'm more worried about the 2's. Who votes 2?

 

[MathGirl]

Nothing original here

What alltherage said above. I'd rather not know. Besides, after the first few stories I stopped paying much attention.
MG

 

[Master_Vassago]

Evil Master_Vassago would like to know so He could hunt them down and smite them. LOL.

Personally if you don't have the balls, or the nerve, to tell Me that you thought My story sucked or that you are just a cowardly person that has no backbone and just gives ones I could care less.

IF it were a TOP-List Author though I would like to know that though, just because it would be interesting to see how many of them try to desperately hold onto their top stories.

 

[openthighs_sarah]

I don't think I would feel actually betrayed, but I would probably be tempted to confront the person about it, just to see what the fuss was about -- thereby implicating Laurel or whoever and causing a huge mess.

So on reflection -- no, I don't want to know. I, too, would rather maintain my illusions, since they're harmless enough. World's prettier this way.

 

[Moxon4]

If I could see who gave me a bad rating, I would just like to see what they didn't like, and try to keep that in mind when writing my next one, I think an author should always try to improve their writing. If the person who gave a low rating wouldn't want to tell me why, and they just didn't like it, then there's nothing that you can get out of it, and that person is just useless to you.

 

[catalina_francisco]

I would like to know, very much so.
Yes if I would find out who was the one who had been giving me one's for no reason I would retaliate. My vengeance would be swift and horrible.

Actually if a friend would give me a one I would ask him why and try to see what was so bad about my story that it needed to be valued a one.

If a Top author would do it, I would of course definitely check out all of his stories and give them all the appropriate recognition they deserve. And then I would send them an email asking which the reason for giving the one was.

Then find out where he/she was living and under the cover of the night sneak into their house take my whip and give them a good whipping for having the nerve not to give me a 5.

Of course I would do this to everyone who would dare not to give one of my stories a 5.

F.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

If a friend 1'd me, I'd like to know why. I don't think that it would be a betrayal for him/her to give me a low vote, no more than it would be to give me a 5 even though the story is bad, just because he/she likes me. One has to separate the person from the story. But I WOULD like to know why he/she thought the story was bad, so that I could perhaps consider that for my next story. Feedback DOES get to me, you know. People who have been reading my stories chronoogically will notice the change in my style of writing. Among other things, I've switched to a more "american" way of quoting, using "" instead of - in front of my characters' speeches.

If a Top Author 1'd me once, I wouldn't care very much - perhaps that particular story didn't suit him/her. But if I would find out that the same author 1's me every time I submit a new story, I would definitely want to get back at him/her. I wouldn't do anything childish like vote 1 for his/her stories in return, though. I would simply tell Laurel that I'm being harrassed by this jealous score-cheater.

 

[Gabriel_Lee]

I wouldn't care! I write for those discerning people who give me a 5.

GL

 

[Pure]

SF said,

//If a Top Author 1'd me once, I wouldn't care very much - perhaps that particular story didn't suit him/her. But if I would find out that the same author 1's me every time I submit a new story, I would definitely want to get back at him/her. I wouldn't do anything childish like vote 1 for his/her stories in return, though. //

Well, I think I'd get pretty 'childish' indeed, assuming retaliation is such. The ones on top through skulldugerry deserve to be done in, but any legal methods. Giving a punitive 1 is legal, by Lit rules.

//I would simply tell Laurel that I'm being harrassed by this jealous score-cheater.//

That would be totally useless. Laurel cannot throw out a vote based on *your* theory of motive. What a can of worms?! A says B voted out of jealousy, so B's vote is to be thrown out?? The established writers then, who don't deserve it and get hit would accuse critics of jealousy to discount the votes and maintain their high position. C says " D is mad at me 'cuz I took her boyfriend. " So Laurel is to throw out D's vote????

Public exposure might be one way to deal with the problem in this fantasy universe: show how B spends all his/ her time plumping his/her stories and giving 1's to rivals or contenders.

There is a problem no one has mentioned. Laurel says it's FANS who do some of the strategic 1's. What then.? We find out Jane Jones, a fan of Tigger Jan is sabotaging the latter's rivals. What do I do? Give 1's to JJ or to TJ? Both?

All in all, I say, don't tell an individual who's giving 1's, but maybe publicize the names of "1 vandals", though caught maliciously or strategically givings 1's.

J.

 

[OT]

I wouldn't want to know, but would probably lack the will power to resist.

I believe those that would not want to know, but I wonder, if the option was there day after day (after day, ..., after day), how long could you resist the temptation?

Unopened boxes of chocolate are rare.

No to the betrayal. I love to agree to disagree. My best friends are the ones who have opinions.

No to retaliate.
What if (just for a minute pretend -- ok?) what if the top-list author was actually the best damn author out there? Wouldn't it be perfectly logical that the "best" would rate your story something-less-than-best ?

 

[Pure]

OT:
//No to retaliate.
What if (just for a minute pretend -- ok?) what if the top-list author was actually the best damn author out there? Wouldn't it be perfectly logical that the "best" would rate your story something-less-than-best ?//

I agree under the conditions you mention: the 1 is given sincerely. It's the givers view of 'merit.'

I thought we were discussing a *supposed* top author who, for strategical (not merit based) reasons torpedoes his or her rivals with lots of 1's.

As Laurel has mentioned, part of the problem with 1's is that the reason is not obvious. Even where there's a pattern--all your stories get 1s from Ms. X-- it's never absolutely clear that she doesn't just hate your stories. And a 1 vote is her right. YOU say it can't be her view of merit because YOU think your stories have it; so she must be doing it for nefarious reasons.

 

[Master_Vassago]

Ahhh, but it has been proven that some people do one vote their rivals. Or on the other hand, give themselves well over 60 votes. Those stories then drop off the list once Laurel reviews them.

 

[BlackSnake]

I figure, if their comment is worth anything they would let you know who they are.

Comments are not all bad even if they are not favorable. I got a comment about a story I posted that said that they liked my story, but the use of wrong words and poor grammer made it hard for them to read it.

That to me is a really good comment.

 

[BlackSnake]

If a friend 1'd me, I'd like to know why. I don't think that it would be a betrayal for him/her to give me a low vote, no more than it would be to give me a 5 even though the story is bad, just because he/she likes me. One has to separate the person from the story. But I WOULD like to know why he/she thought the story was bad, so that I could perhaps consider that for my next story. Feedback DOES get to me, you know. People who have been reading my stories chronoogically will notice the change in my style of writing. Among other things, I've switched to a more "american" way of quoting, using "" instead of - in front of my characters' speeches.

If a Top Author 1'd me once, I wouldn't care very much - perhaps that particular story didn't suit him/her. But if I would find out that the same author 1's me every time I submit a new story, I would definitely want to get back at him/her. I wouldn't do anything childish like vote 1 for his/her stories in return, though. I would simply tell Laurel that I'm being harrassed by this jealous score-cheater.

If someone I'm feel on good terms with gave me a 1, I would like to think that they would tell me why they felt my story sucked.

 

[gauchecritic]

What if (just for a minute pretend -- ok?) what if the top-list author was actually the best damn author out there? Wouldn't it be perfectly logical that the "best" would rate your story something-less-than-best ?

Except that 'great' authorship is purely a matter of style and taste.

If you look at the top list as of 20:04 GMT, the #1 story has a rating of '5' but only 10 votes (won't last long there) the first story with more than a dozen votes doesn't even make 4.9

I'm pretty sure that a large percentage of writers at Lit. believe themselves to be "the best damn author out there". Do they all get to underscore the opposition?

So much for logic.

Gauche

 

[gauchecritic]

double post. bloody servers.

 

[catalina_francisco]

It is sad that some people feel the need to vote others down just to see their story at the top of the list, continually reappearing like the proverbial yo-yo. To me, if I can't get there on my merit as a writer alone, I am not interested in being there as it sort of makes it a hollow victory. Such tactics only encourage authors submitting their work to try and equalise their position (understandable at times) or cause them to think about the value of submitting more work to Literotica as we are in the process of doing at the moment.

I guess I am fortunate in that I am highly appreciated as a writer outside of the Literotica site, as is my darling Master who has just been published and is being courted by other sources who also want to publish his work. For others it may be more disheartening and give them the impression their work is not good enough which may be far from the truth. I think we all like to be appreciated for our stories, and honesty should allow this to continue unhindered.

As for punishing those that practice the false voting down of rivals, as tempting as it may be on one level, I think they must inwardly at some point have the worst punishment possible just in knowing not only have they resorted to these unfair tactics, but that they feel their writing is not good enough to stand on its own merit. Surely that is the greater and longer lasting punishment, then again maybe it is just my spiritual beliefs colouring my view in this.

Catalina

 

[Svenskaflicka]

If someone I'm feel on good terms with gave me a 1, I would like to think that they would tell me why they felt my story sucked.

What it took me half a web page to express, BS managed t6o summarize in one sentence...

 

[Pookie]

I personally don't care. It wouldn't change anything anyways. I figure if someone gave me a malicious score, I'm probably not on good terms with that person to begin with.

 

[deliciously_naughty]

No...I like my illusions

 

[pop_54]

Hmmmmmmmmm

Just as I never vote for myself, I don't really want to know who's voting what for me, unless of course they want to tell me, which some have the guts to do bless them.

Top list authors voting others down, never!!!, I wouldn't believe that, well you could knock me down with a feather!!!. Huh learn something new every day.

 

[KillerMuffin]

A year ago, I would have wanted to know. Just to know and retaliate. Now? I wouldn't ask, but like OT said, if she were to offer (I don't even think she knows), I would probably be unable to refuse. If someone I thought highly of gave me a one and no explanation, I would be hurt. A friend of mine once told me that a story that I had thought was one of my better ones wasn't all that good. That hurt. Of course, I got over it. We don't discuss my writing anymore.

I wouldn't muster up the energy to retaliate against a top-list author who one-voted my work. I already know of three specific authors who give one, one vote to everything new in their category. Not fraud, but not cool either. I know because these three have written me on separate ocassions about this. They told me it was their usual practice, but deviated from it when they read Absolution for Gretta MacClain. I'm sure there are more out there. I didn't retaliate. Just shrugged and went on.

 

[Guest]

It happens, I have no doubt, but I don't want to know voter identities.

I joined Lit not quite a year ago and submitted my first three stories that day. I hope my writing has improved since then.

About six months ago someone voted 1's on all my stories - right down the line. (I used to keep serious track of numbers - but that just isn't as important to me anymore.)

A week or so later those votes must have been removed. I saw the number of votes decrease by one and all my scores raise slightly.

This same thing just happened again in a certain category (I was going to be specific but probably shouldn't). One of my stories has been near the top for months - has more than 200 votes - and a couple of days ago it took a serious dip in scoring with just a couple of votes.

*sigh*

If someone really hates your work, truly feels it is poorly written, fine. They are certainly entitled to their opinion. But to nail someone just for the sake of winning categories or contests? Pathetic.

It annoys my husband more than me. If HE found out, he'd try to get get 'em.

Oooh, on second thought,

"Laurel? I'd like to know who just voted me those 1's!!!"