Question about voting?

[Softly Whispers]

Is it my imagination or are there a group of people who are misusing the "Top Stories" to make sure their stories stay on top? For example, the top 20 stories by various authors, all of which had excellent reviews, good feedback, etc, suddenly disappeared from the top 20 -- replaced by rather inferior stories many of which had not taken advantage of a spell check etc. Some of these stories are starting to creep back up in the standings again to their proper place but perhaps Top Stories needs tweaking somehow so it isn't abused by people trying to boost their own stories higher in the standings by cheating.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Is it my imagination or are there a group of people who are misusing the "Top Stories" to make sure their stories stay on top? For example, the top 20 stories by various authors, all of which had excellent reviews, good feedback, etc, suddenly disappeared from the top 20 -- replaced by rather inferior stories many of which had not taken advantage of a spell check etc. Some of these stories are starting to creep back up in the standings again to their proper place but perhaps Top Stories needs tweaking somehow so it isn't abused by people trying to boost their own stories higher in the standings by cheating.

I and many others have found that when a new story reaches one of the top positions, it is only a matter of hours before somebody or somebodies knock it down by voting a one for it. These persons are referred to as trolls and their votes are referred to as one-bombs. If the stories were deserving of their high rankings they will creep back up over a period of time. Nobody knows why people do this but one reason might be to improve their own position although this is only temporary.

 

[davidwatts]

Funny that I saw this topic come up, as I had a story that just came up this morning. I checked the voting and it had 14 votes and a 5.0 rating. After checking the story for comments I ended back on my submittion page by accident and saw that I now had 15 votes and a 4.73 rating. I did the math and figured out what had happened, but now I know what it's called, one-bombs by trolls. Pretty neat.

The question is why do people do this? It can't really be for the money, can it? I like the voting because it gives you an idea of what people enjoy most, not for any awards or anything like that, because I don't consider myself worthy of that at this point in time.

How to stop it? I guess one way would be for the one votes not to count, but trolls would probably figure it out and start with the twos.

I don't know if this has happened to anyone, but a while back I made a comment on a story (after giving a a 4 vote) with a very mild suggestion for a possible improvement. The next time I checked my submissions, it looked like someone had gone through everything I had done and "one-bombed) them (easy to tell with the older stories that have been dormant). Same person that I had made a comment on? Who knows, but it makes you reluctant to be commenting using your own name.Is that common too? Thanks.

 

[Softly Whispers]

I commented on a poorly written story once

Very mildly, as you can see by my comments in the feedback portal, I'm not exactly scathing -- mentioned something about taking opportunity of editors. and my literotica mail was swamped by idiotic angry people calling me a jerk and elitist

 

[dreampilot79]

I'm not confortable with voting at all. Or perhaps it's the 4.5 standard for the "hot story" rating.

It takes a lot for me to want to vote a perfect 5 and yet a story I feel is hot but not perfect is punished in the "hot story" rating by a 4 vote. I wish I could vote a 4.5 !

 

[davidwatts]

Perhaps that is where a 10 point system would be helpful, so you could give the not quite 10 story a 9 and not feel like you are punishing the author.

Keeping the vote results private between the author and the website until at least the story is off the "new" list might keep high rated stories from being bombed, at least initially.

 

[BlackShanglan]

I don't know if this has happened to anyone, but a while back I made a comment on a story (after giving a a 4 vote) with a very mild suggestion for a possible improvement. The next time I checked my submissions, it looked like someone had gone through everything I had done and "one-bombed) them (easy to tell with the older stories that have been dormant). Same person that I had made a comment on? Who knows, but it makes you reluctant to be commenting using your own name.Is that common too? Thanks.

Yes, I had that pleasure as well. Now I either compliment something I like, or I tend not to comment. It's just annoying to be bombed for my pains. I now assume that those genuinely wanting substantial feedback will post to the feedback or SDC boards.

In the end, it's tedious, but the voting issues aren't so bad if you keep them in perspective. Granted that trolls are a constant, you can still get a decent idea of your progress as a writer by comparing stories within genres. I feel that on the whole, my worst-rated story really is my worst-written one, and my best-rated is one of my better efforts. When comparing across genres you do have to take other elements into account - for example, letter format, which I used in one recent story, will always turn some people off, so its lower votes don't bother me that much, nor do I think that they are entirely an indication of the quality of its execution. But as you point out - surely no one here is seriously in it for the money. With that granted, one simply has to put up with or brush off the annoying little trolls who appear to have a great deal of time on their hands that is not being used to improve their writing

Shanglan

 

[hotchkiss]

Perhaps that is where a 10 point system would be helpful, so you could give the not quite 10 story a 9 and not feel like you are punishing the author.

Keeping the vote results private between the author and the website until at least the story is off the "new" list might keep high rated stories from being bombed, at least initially.

I agree that a ten point system would be better as i feel bad about giving someone a lower vote if I feel they don't quite deserve a five. The only other alternative is not to vote at all which defeats the object.

As to some one bombing all your stories if you make constructive comments or dont give them a perfect five then that makes them no better than trolls anyway.

I put my stories up hoping that if some one can suggest a way to improve them or my writing they will (constructively)

cheers me dears
HK

 

[razor_nut]

A ten point system would be much better, it allows more accuracy in the voting. Though switching all the current stories to it would be a bit unfair to thier voting history.

Unfotrunately trolls will exist as long as the internet does. Just suck it up and know that the true enjoyers will vote your story properly.

 

[Boxlicker101]

A ten point system would be much better, it allows more accuracy in the voting. Though switching all the current stories to it would be a bit unfair to thier voting history.

Unfotrunately trolls will exist as long as the internet does. Just suck it up and know that the true enjoyers will vote your story properly.

A ten point system would work better in some ways but there would still be the same problem. An average of 9.00 or higher would be "Hot" and less than that could still be pretty good. Personally, when I vote, I tend to round up to the higher number.

Unfortunately, a ten point system would make the one-bombs even more destructive and the trolls would be casting them. Set up a hypothetical group of scores and you will see what I mean.

 

[razor_nut]

Unfortunately, a ten point system would make the one-bombs even more destructive and the trolls would be casting them. Set up a hypothetical group of scores and you will see what I mean.

Good point... Damn the trolls! Damn the to heeelllll!

 

[davidwatts]

In the end, I guess it really doesn't matter. This afternoon I received a wonderful private message from a lovely young woman who said she spent the day reading (and enjoying!) my stories. That alone, while making me fear for her sanity, more than makes up for whatever damage a million trolls could do.

 

[davidwatts]

In the end, I guess it really doesn't matter. This afternoon I received a wonderful private message from a lovely young woman who said she spent the day reading (and enjoying!) my stories. That alone, while making me fear for her sanity, more than makes up for whatever damage a million trolls could do.

 

[MagicFingers]

This is interesting

A ten point system would work better in some ways but there would still be the same problem. An average of 9.00 or higher would be "Hot" and less than that could still be pretty good. Personally, when I vote, I tend to round up to the higher number.

Unfortunately, a ten point system would make the one-bombs even more destructive and the trolls would be casting them. Set up a hypothetical group of scores and you will see what I mean.

I have been an advocate of the 10 point voting system since I became a member a couple of years ago. I feel it would give us a better rating. Since 90% is an "A", that would make most of us happy. Many people would like to rate a story an "A-", but not an "A+" which a "5" vote is. A "4" vote is really a "B-" which is too low for many stories. So, more people could give an honest "9" vote instead of a not-so-accurate 4 or 5.

I did a little check with the calculator:
10ea. "5" votes and one troll "1" = 51/11=4.63, or "H" as now.
10ea. "10" votes and one troll "1"= 101/11=4.18, or still an "H" with the "10" vote system.

Am I missing something? I value your posts and wonder if I'm missing which scenerio of votes would make a "10" system worse.

 

[wishfulthinking]

Hi all!

I guess one thing I have learnt is that everyone seems to get trolled. If I held the number 20 spot in a category, sure enough the person holding number 19 probably got just as many trolls.

When I first started writing here, there was a group of stories written by the same author that hugged the top 10 spots or thereabouts in the category, and every time I came near them I got trolled. I was pretty suspicious But now in hindsight I realise they may have been trolled at the same time also, but it wouldn't have been noticeable with their 300 votes on their story, compared to my very susceptible 30 or 40.!

But as to the 10 scale v 5 scale, it probably means that there might not be a top end huddle of stories and more spread out between 1-10. But I do probably favour the 5 scale because it would take me 10 minutes to figure out if they were an 8 or 9 or 10, and probably wouldn't end up voting as a result! Too much choice

 

[cloudy]

Since I've never won a monthly or holiday contest before, I haven't seen this before, but.....

I noticed that almost immediately after the winners were posted for the Halloween Contest, my story was hit with three 1-bombs.....curious.

It didn't take my score down that much, not enough to lose the H, and I have to wonder what the person/persons who did it thought they were accomplishing.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Since I've never won a monthly or holiday contest before, I haven't seen this before, but.....

I noticed that almost immediately after the winners were posted for the Halloween Contest, my story was hit with three 1-bombs.....curious.

It didn't take my score down that much, not enough to lose the H, and I have to wonder what the person/persons who did it thought they were accomplishing.

It's almost a certainty that it was vindictive, probably by one of the also-rans. I would have my suspicions but I would hesitate to voice them for lack of any proof.

 

[LustyLovers]

I loved your story Cloudy, we thought it was much better then the one that won. As much as I love feedback, every single time I got a public comment during the contest my score dropped. LOL

Winning here is HARD not only do you have very talented writers to compete with ( which is not the problem competition makes us strive harder) but you have very insecure people who have no confidence in their own work, so they cheat, bombing the competition. I have never given a story anything lower than a three. I wish there was a way to automatically discharge one bombers, if a person gives a certain amount of ones in a given time take away voting rights until the stories they bombed are checked out. If they are truely good legit stories, take the voting capability away from them.

 

[cloudy]

I loved your story Cloudy, we thought it was much better then the one that won. As much as I love feedback, every single time I got a public comment during the contest my score dropped. LOL

Winning here is HARD not only do you have very talented writers to compete with ( which is not the problem competition makes us strive harder) but you have very insecure people who have no confidence in their own work, so they cheat, bombing the competition. I have never given a story anything lower than a three. I wish there was a way to automatically discharge one bombers, if a person gives a certain amount of ones in a given time take away voting rights until the stories they bombed are checked out. If they are truely good legit stories, take the voting capability away from them.

I'm very glad you liked it, thanks.

I think your solution sounds like the most sensible one I've seen anyone propose, but I doubt it will ever be put into practice. It's very disheartening for new authors here, and I've seen many people get discouraged and either go elsewhere or just quit writing after they've been hit hard by the troll brigade.

 

[dreampilot79]

Now you talk about frustration... I've got 5 stories posted and one pending and what are my ratings?

4.47
http://english.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=169071

4.47
http://english.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=153714

4.60 (Whoopee the magic H)
http://english.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=162577

4.48
http://english.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=163991

4.42
http://english.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=152889

One of those magic H's and 4 so close it hurts. Is there any way to buy about one more 5 vote for each (hint hint)... should I post the billing address for each of yer votes?

Hope ya all realize I'm laughing and not serious here!

 

[dreampilot79]

Lusty

I love that idea but I wonder if the site software would allow it?

 

[dreampilot79]

Damn

Remind me to NEVER EVER beg for votes. Two of em got 1 bombed after I posted this.

OUCH!

 

[wishfulthinking]

Since I've never won a monthly or holiday contest before, I haven't seen this before, but.....

I noticed that almost immediately after the winners were posted for the Halloween Contest, my story was hit with three 1-bombs.....curious.

It didn't take my score down that much, not enough to lose the H, and I have to wonder what the person/persons who did it thought they were accomplishing.

I'm glad you said something! My story that got a 'W' recently got progressively bombed following the annoucement, so much so that it almost dropped below the 'H' mark.

But I could only laugh and think "too late!"

 

[wishfulthinking]

Damn

Remind me to NEVER EVER beg for votes. Two of em got 1 bombed after I posted this.

OUCH!

Begging is good.

Posting scores is bad

 

[taille]

I've noticed a lot of stupid comments in reading stories in loving wives. They usually sound like rednecks or racists.

Would it be easy for the site to change the way voting is done? I propose they only allow registered members vote on stories. That way the identity of the voter is recorded. And any offenders can be banned.