Should authors hold each other up, or tear them down?

[MillieDynamite]

OTOH the fact that Nazis committed the Holocaust doesn't mean that bullying at school can't be a problem.

What?

 

[SimonDoom]

I wonder who might this person might be? It's rhetorical, lovecraft. But if you wanna name names, we'd love to find out!

Please, no names! Let's not make it worse. I'm optimistic enough about people that I think this probably doesn't happen TOO often. And if it happens sometimes behind the scenes, at least here in the forum everyone seems to be agreed that this is generally a bad thing to do (unless they genuinely believe it is a 1 story, they read it, and they think it deserves that grade).

I believe JBJ was going by Noirtrash when I started here about six years ago. Or maybe that was the next name. The degree of open insult-slinging has declined since he stopped posting, as has the use of the N-word.

 

[Bubo_bubo]

What?

'putting things in perspective' only gets you so far.
To put it hyperbolically: The fact that the Jews had it very bad under the nazis isn't going to help a kid feel any less miserable about being bullied in school - for instance.
The fact that large atrocities are committed is no excuse for day to day small atrocious behaviour.

 

[PennameWombat]

I am kinda shocked.

When I started writing, I thought fellow authors would give advice, pointers, ratings, constructive comments, etc.

And while I have seen a few of those, several others are petty, tear each other down, give 1 stars to lower their rating.

So

Should fellow authors be a part of a fraternity and have each others backs? Or is this a competition and tear down others so you look better?

I only provide editorial advice if I'm specifically asked for it. If I'm entered in a contest, I don't vote on or comment on any entries, mine included. I'd only feel justified if I could read and vote on every story. And, with 100+ in, e.g., the recent Summer Lovin', I don't have the time nor inclination to do that. There are also a few Categories and genres that simply don't interest me and I'm not going to make myself read those.

But I've offered and provided pre-reads and editorial advice on Lit, but almost always privately and only via direct contact. I'm NOT going to read a story and offer an unsolicited editor's evaluation. Simply not going to do that, especially not a public one via a comment.

I've answered general questions and my opinions on this forum fairly often, and I think I've kept it constructive. My most recent contest entries have had, uh, large numbers of bomb votes, that analysis based on sweeps eventually - but well after the fact - removing a significant percentage of the votes. Are those from other authors? I have no idea. No one is coming to me to 'take credit' so I have no evidence other authors are or have done it. If I've posted something on this Forum that has badly upset someone? No clue and not my intention.

As to the fraternity of authors, sure. If you're going to read and rate stories, do it fairly, and I'd say under your account name here and not anonymously. And this Forum is for general advice and discussion. Yes, if you want an editor to help you out in detail, that's hard. Most of us have to work to make time to write our own stuff, much less offer swaths of - unpaid - time. But I think others have done it now and again, when we can. I'm far from a recognized superstar here, based on followers and views, so I won't claim to have mastered anything when it comes to "what Literotica readers want." So there's that.

 

[Duleigh]

No one has done that, but we've had endless posts about authors who supposedly it, and one person in particular here who posts incessantly about they're martyrdom because everyone down votes his stories. No proof of course, but they mention it in every contest thread

Irony is that many of us are fairly certain they're doing it to others.

I'd say I'd feel bad for a person who's life is so small they need to resort to that, but in this case I'd be lying I could never feel bad for this person

Right after I questioned the emotional maturity of someone who would go around and one-bomb another author, someone went and one-bombed over 50% of my stories. I've got self-inflicted OCD - I check my story status 3 times a day and right now I'm at a lull between new stories so when a story gets 1 page view, 1 vote, and drops a point, I know I've been targeted by the Uno-Bomber.

I'm sure it will draw another flock of one-bombs when I say that I love it when I'm proven right. I've never dropped a 1 bomb or even a 2-grenade on anyone, if I see something that I didn't like I'll ignore it, or I will DM them and maybe open a dialogue.

 

[Duleigh]

'putting things in perspective' only gets you so far.
To put it hyperbolically: The fact that the Jews had it very bad under the nazis isn't going to help a kid feel any less miserable about being bullied in school - for instance.
The fact that large atrocities are committed is no excuse for day to day small atrocious behaviour.

Are you saying that you know someone who used the holocaust as an excuse to bully school children??? I'm not sure how plane geometry has anything to do with it either

 

[LdyHoneybee]

How can you tell who is one bombing you. Might not even be a member, let alone another author. Unless they tell you…

 

[CyranoJ]

I wonder who might this person might be? It's rhetorical, lovecraft. But if you wanna name names, we'd love to find out!

Keep in mind as you ask this question that you're replying to one of the most notoriously conspiracy-minded people on the entire site.

 

[DarkRaven13]

How have I missed this thread. I just read through it all and everyone has great points to make. Thank you all

As a new Lit member and writer this is all new to me. I have seen posts regarding those who attack a story, but not necessarily posts specifically about voting a 1 star. Hmmm ... that is unfortunate.

I will say that since I've been here the past month I've gotten nothing but help and encouragement. ( And free eCoffee.). And for that I'm grateful.

I don't have much to add as I'm not knowledgeable enough yet to make a decent comment on the topic....and I hope never to gain that particular type of knowledge. (Yes that's probably wishful thinking on my part.)

However, there were a couple of mentions about contest and self-voting ... or rather, the lack of self-voting that made me think twice. As I'm entering an upcoming contest I had not given thought about this a d would have likely voted for myself. Is that poor form then?

(If so, I apologize as I actually did give myself stars on my first story. It was 5 stars. After I read stories from a few of you I ended up down grading mines to 4 stars ... then 3.)

At any rate, what is the general practice on this?

And ... I apologize if this went a little off topic from the original one.

 

[KeithD]

However, there were a couple of mentions about contest and self-voting ... or rather, the lack of self-voting that made me think twice. As I'm entering an upcoming contest I had not given thought about this a d would have likely voted for myself. Is that poor form then?

(If so, I apologize as I actually did give myself stars on my first story. It was 5 stars. After I read stories from a few of you I ended up down grading mines to 4 stars ... then 3.)

At any rate, what is the general practice on this?

And ... I apologize if this went a little off topic from the original one.

This is discussed periodically. Some say they don't vote on their own stories and many say they do--once. So, it's personal taste and you don't owe anyone an explanation on your own practice. Laurel did once say that an author's own vote on their story would not be deleted in the sweeps, so voting (once) on your own story is site sanctioned.

 

[DarkRaven13]

This is discussed periodically. Some say they don't vote on their own stories and many say they do--once. So, it's personal taste and you don't owe anyone an explanation on your own practice. Laurel did once say that an author's own vote on their story would not be deleted in the sweeps, so voting (once) on your own story is site sanctioned.

Thank you. I have other questions as well, but I'll save it for an appropriate thread.

 

[other2other1]

Hold up, Definitely!

Comment on the story, what you liked or didn't like, but never turn into a troll. I comment on the characters and there interactions. I try to note if something didn't fit right for me, but never to tear down the author.

We all put too much effort into the stories that we post here to pull each other down

 

[Bubo_bubo]

Are you saying that you know someone who used the holocaust as an excuse to bully school children??? I'm not sure how plane geometry has anything to do with it either

That's a rather conical interpretation of my post.

 

[lovecraft68]

I'm sure it will draw another flock of one-bombs when I say that I love it when I'm proven right..

Which is proof the bomber is a forum member or ghosts here. An easy way to get an idea on who is who recently took exception to what you said? In multiple posts(another hint and pretty much means this is a poster, not a ghoster) not long ago Tad had a beef with someone that someone then ran around claiming they were run bombed, but the truth was-and I was shown proof, it was her stories that were bombed.

 

[ElectricBlue]

However, there were a couple of mentions about contest and self-voting ... or rather, the lack of self-voting that made me think twice. As I'm entering an upcoming contest I had not given thought about this a d would have likely voted for myself. Is that poor form then?

Vote on your own story if you want to - there's no shame in doing so. Some folk like to denigrate those who do it, but that's their issue, not yours.

In the end, it's one vote, and in the long run, probably no big deal. In the short term, it can be useful. Besides which, who would know?

 

[DarkRaven13]

Vote on your own story if you want to - there's no shame in doing so. Some folk like to denigrate those who do it, but that's their issue, not yours.

In the end, it's one vote, and in the long run, probably no big deal. In the short term, it can be useful. Besides which, who would know?

Thank you.

I'm a rule follower by nature and I was trying to get a feel for what was most commonly done. For me, I had decided about ohhh...a couple weeks ago? I decided I might want to track how well I felt my writing was progressing over time, so I was about to start a spreadsheet tracker. It's not the most accurate measure I know, but I was hopeful it might give me some insight on how my writing was progressing (or not).

Thank you again

 

[Duleigh]

Which is proof the bomber is a forum member or ghosts here. An easy way to get an idea on who is who recently took exception to what you said? In multiple posts(another hint and pretty much means this is a poster, not a ghoster) not long ago Tad had a beef with someone that someone then ran around claiming they were run bombed, but the truth was-and I was shown proof, it was her stories that were bombed.

I just want it known that I am not making any accusations at all, I am just saying it's an interesting coincidence. Make of it what you will, one bombs are actually pretty rare, especially for someone who has never written a story that currently attracts the slavering uno-bombers I.E. Loving Wives/open marriages, and 17 one-bombs in one evening are exceedingly rare.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I just want it known that I am not making any accusations at all, I am just saying it's an interesting coincidence. Make of it what you will, one bombs are actually pretty rare, especially for someone who has never written a story that currently attracts the slavering uno-bombers I.E. Loving Wives/open marriages, and 17 one-bombs in one evening are exceedingly rare.

I'd tend to agree. Exceedingly rare - but someone could work out the probability of chance, from a statistical point of view (that maths is beyond me, but someone will know the formulae).

 

[SimonDoom]

I'd tend to agree. Exceedingly rare - but someone could work out the probability of chance, from a statistical point of view (that maths is beyond me, but someone will know the formulae).

I don't think 1 bombs are rare. I've tracked my stories at times within the first few hours of publication, and it's obvious when I've received 1s because of what happens to the overall score. I've also had anonymous readers tell me flat-out that they've given me 1s, usually because they didn't like the subject matter. It seems to be a phenomenon that is most likely to happen immediately after a story is posted, but I don't think it's an urban legend. It's a real thing.

 

[MillieDynamite]

It is not poor form. the fact that I don't vote on own work, at all, is choice I made. I don't want to color any results that are produced. Not that voting system, here or anywhere, is all that good of an estimate of the quality of the work. Most people here and other sites like here, put little thought into their vote.

How have I missed this thread. I just read through it all and everyone has great points to make. Thank you all

As a new Lit member and writer this is all new to me. I have seen posts regarding those who attack a story, but not necessarily posts specifically about voting a 1 star. Hmmm ... that is unfortunate.

I will say that since I've been here the past month I've gotten nothing but help and encouragement. ( And free eCoffee.). And for that I'm grateful.

I don't have much to add as I'm not knowledgeable enough yet to make a decent comment on the topic....and I hope never to gain that particular type of knowledge. (Yes that's probably wishful thinking on my part.)

However, there were a couple of mentions about contest and self-voting ... or rather, the lack of self-voting that made me think twice. As I'm entering an upcoming contest I had not given thought about this a d would have likely voted for myself. Is that poor form then?

(If so, I apologize as I actually did give myself stars on my first story. It was 5 stars. After I read stories from a few of you I ended up down grading mines to 4 stars ... then 3.)

At any rate, what is the general practice on this?

And ... I apologize if this went a little off topic from the original one.

 

[KeithD]

I think folks who bomb have moved to giving 2s rather than 1s in the understanding (which I doubt is correct) that all 1s are swept by the system. With the Lit. rating structure, a 2 is as devastating as a 1. For that matter, so is a 3, and a 4 can destroy a red H distinction.

 

[lovecraft68]

Thank you.

I'm a rule follower by nature and I was trying to get a feel for what was most commonly done. For me, I had decided about ohhh...a couple weeks ago? I decided I might want to track how well I felt my writing was progressing over time, so I was about to start a spreadsheet tracker. It's not the most accurate measure I know, but I was hopeful it might give me some insight on how my writing was progressing (or not).

Thank you again

He's not fully explaining things. No one cares if you vote for your story...once. Issue is people who create several alts to multi vote their story or multi downvote others. The issue has never been one self vote.

 

[lovecraft68]

I just want it known that I am not making any accusations at all, I am just saying it's an interesting coincidence. Make of it what you will, one bombs are actually pretty rare, especially for someone who has never written a story that currently attracts the slavering uno-bombers I.E. Loving Wives/open marriages, and 17 one-bombs in one evening are exceedingly rare.

I'm not saying you are, but rather than tip toe around the topic, I just tell it like it is, and it happens.
A few years back a poster who is no longer here left a not so flattering comment on another author's contest story, keep in mind they asked this person to read it. The reader said they didn't vote at all, but left the comment explaining why the story was non consent not fetish.

Back then comments went live right away and within an hour her story had been bombed into oblivion and received a rash of nasty anon comments and private feedback, because that author was a member of a group of writers who had gotten together to 'dominate' the site.

There is nothing like that here now that anyone is aware of, but there's a couple of petty sorts. They know who they are, and I'm having fun doing this because I know they're dying to reply...which would bag them....yet again.

 

[KeithD]

Well, no. The discussion has frequently gone to whether one should vote for themselves even once or not. Users can pull up discussions and see that for themselves. The regulars here will remember the discussions and can attest to what has been in the discussion as well.

 

[DarkRaven13]

He's not fully explaining things. No one cares if you vote for your story...once. Issue is people who create several alts to multi vote their story or multi downvote others. The issue has never been one self vote.

Thank you.

As I read though the thread it amazed me a little what an issue that mean votes were. I guess I should not have been surprised. I still want to thank those here, and I think most all of you on this thread I've seen and at times conversed with through the forums ... and you've all been very helpful.