Someone is going to get it!

[bluntforcemama]

So yesterday I checked on the status of one of my stories... 4.56, today, after 5 votes it's 4.33! How could that many people in one day who read my story all just happen to hate it? What the FUCK? I was so thrilled just to be on the hot list for once, and now I'm crushed. I bet I know exactly how it happened.... you cyber with someone the wrong way, and they mess with all your crap. AAAHHHHHH *runs screaming.*

 

[His Whimsicality]

Don´t know the number of votes your story has received, but perhaps the average vote from these five people was just a 4?

 

[SpecialK]

Depending on how many votes you have, the average is going to be affected significantly by just a few votes.

What I mean is, if you only had a relatively small number of people who had voted, and your average was 4.56 and the next five people who voted gave the story of 4, those votes are chipping down at the 4.56 average you had before. And giving a story a vote of four doesn't mean anyone hated it. When I vote 4 on a story, chances are I liked it quite a bit.

Even if you had a large number of votes, and those next 5 votes were a combination of 3&4's the average could move down from 4.56 to 4.33. If you think about it, 4.56 to 4.33 is only a difference of .26. That's only a 1/4 of a point. Not really a huge difference like if your story had dropped from 4.56 to 3.25 or something like that. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

K

 

[WriterDom]

if you scored 4.33 out of 5 on a test that would be a high B.

There is a little too much sensitivity about scores here. You are not your story. If someone doesn't like it, it doesn't mean they don't like you. Nor does it mean that your story isn't good.

This site is meant to be fun, so have fun damn it.

 

[Persephone]

Beg to disagree...

In a way, we ARE our stories. By putting so much of our energies into them, they, in effect, become part of us.

Another example is when we send our darling little five year old off to Kindergarten and the teacher mistakenly scolds her for something. You bet we'll be enraged!

We Are What We Write.

 

[Ray Dario]

I was watching the top stories list the other day. scorpio00155's story "Getting The Contract" was #1 in the "Loving Wives" section with a butt load of votes and then suddenly it took a nosedive. All in all it helped my rating but I have read, and voted a 5, on his story and he didn't deserve that. It really sucks when people do this to good stories. Why can't people who dislike a story just vote once like the rest of us instead of voting over and over again. This is childish and really retarded!

And this post will probably get my stories all zapped too, oh well it is worth it to express my opionion of the worms that do this shit!

Ray
The question isn't am I paranoid, but am I paranoid enough!

 

[CW]

Might be wrong, again,,, but I thought that you could only give a rating to any story or other submission once and only once,,,

Persephone,,,more than likely each author is a part of their story,,, but a low rating still isn't an attack against you as a person,,,

 

[bluntforcemama]

I guess I just really want that little "H" next to my story's title... it gives me a sense of pride that I earned that all by myself. And it does seem like I'm being personally attacked, I mean I understand that I shouldn't be so thin-skinned, and believe me, I try. When you write a story like that, it's almost like baring a part of your soul, and the person who voted down on it is in a sense rejecting that part of a fantasy that you have fallen in love with.

 

[Whispersecret]

I'm completely computer/tech challenged, so I'm not even sure if this is possible, but--

Among those of us who check our votes, it's become commonplace that stories that hit the top list almost immediately receive a bunch of low scores. Now, this could have a perfectly logical explanation. Perhaps people expect more from a Top Story and so judge more harshly when they're slightly disappointed. Perhaps there's a Mad Voter who routinely votes low on everything on purpose for some strange reason.

However, this dip in voting seems to happen so often that I am now wondering if maybe there's a bug in the system that is responsible. Again, I know nothing about programming, but it was just a thought. Something worth checking out, Laurel?

 

[Closet Desire]

How's this for perspective?

I checked to see how my book was ranked on Barnes and Noble today...148,000...sheesh...looks dismal eh? Then again, last week it was 318,000. Oh well, and then that's out of 4.5 million books on the list so...I start to smile. CD-able's book hit about 1,800 before slipping down to a steady 50,000 with occasional spikes to 6,000. It's okay...royalty cheques are royalty cheques.

Don't worry too much about people who haven't got anything better to do than run someone else down. They're the same ones who vandalize your car, flip you off at the stop light, and beat off while making obscene calls. If you let them have control of your happiness and satisfaction then...they've achieved the one little thing they hoped for.

Fuck 'em.

 

[genderbender]

I was checking my stories on the top list today and noticed a phenomenon similar to what WS mentions. Stories seem to score high in the beginning, then gradually slip lower. I have a story with ten votes that hit the top of the Lesbian section yesterday that I'll watch with interest to see if it slips lower. Another highly rated story of mine in the same section has moved lower. I can imagine people reading stories near the top of those lists having high expectations and punishing the author with a low vote out of disappointment.

I've checked some of the high scoring stories just to see how other authors are doing. I always enjoy a good erotic story! I have to say that some of the high scoring stories are pretty shoddy. I won't name names. I'm smart enough to know that a high score doesn't necessarily have much to say about the quality of the writing. For some readers, unabashed enthusiasm for fucking and sucking can override all other considerations. I know we're all trying to strike a balance, to titillate while writing sterling prose. For myself, finding this balance is a continuing challenge. But I have no interest in sacrificing quality of prose to earn a high score.

[Edited by genderbender on 02-26-2001 at 03:38 PM]

 

[bluntforcemama]

I love you guys!

I have to say that I love you guys, I really do! I only wish that we knew each other better. It's sory of like a family here, everyone helps out everyone else. No one else makes me feel better like you guys do. Thanks so much, Kerrie, and Whisper, and Persephone, Genderbender, Desire... all of you! Kisses!

 

[circe!]

Myst...

You are such a sweetie that I doubt you have "cybered" someone wrong. I've never read a single post from you that wasn't upbeat and positive.

I think that in most cases, when a top ranking story is voted down deliberatly it is out of some impersonal spite and free-floating malice. What I mean, is that the story is unfairly voted down because of its high rateing and not because of who the author is. (Of course I also believe there can be direct vengenge scenarios, but not in your case, Myst.)



(Spell Check! I need my Spell Check!)

 

[christo]

Bad Karma

For quite awhile my story "Mother of the Bride" was ranked #1 in the Mature category. And then this story came along to challenge it! How dare this filthy writer try to top ME! The story only had 30 votes, I was only .01 behind, I could do a Pearl Harbor and give it a 1 and retake my place atop the rankings.

But the story was pretty good. Very good. I read it, took a peek at Mr. Happy, and he was in the upright position. What kind of writer would I be if I didn't vote my conscience? Gave the story a 5.

And then, over the next few days my story got some good votes and the other story I guess got a few 4's and I took over 1st place again! See. Karma rules the Universe, you get as good as you give!

Of course, now I'm in 3rd place, and I'm faced with the same decision. Ah, fuck it. Gonna cream those two stories and see what happens.

Kidding, kidding...

 

[Ray Dario]

Hey everyone I was right!

The day after my post on this board, my Story "Help" is down .01 point with one extra vote. I got 1'd and I think it is too much of a coincidence to say it wasn't because of my post here. .01 doesnt' seem like much, but it did drop me from 2nd to 7th and put me behind Scorpio which is fine with me.

I acually think this is kinda funny. Because CW is right, they have to go to a lot of trouble to vote multiple times on a story and they are not really hurting us at all, just kind of annoying, like that guy that screamed obcenities at me this morning. Hey if you don't like how I drive stay off the sidewalks!!!

Ray

 

[Jennifer Kaye]

Personally, I think too much is made of "ratings". When I posted my first and only story, it made the top 20 list before the time of visible ratings and I was amazed. Even more amazing was all of the wonderful e-mail feedback I received. That kind of feedback means alot more than any rating ever will.

As for the rating system itself, I like to think that people would be honest and vote what they really think the story deserves, upon actually reading the story. For those that vote to manipulate things, well, as with most of the literotica site, whatever turns you on I suppose.

 

[Jennifer Kaye]

btw, LOL at Ray Dario's sidewalk comment.

 

[Ray Dario]

Laurel, You know I love this site. You, and all those who work so hard on it, are doing a great job. But I must admit that I am getting frustrated with some of our readers. I would really love more literate feedback on my stories. Perhaps I should ask for it in a post in the Story Feedback area, but even that usually only generates a small amount of, usually positive, feedback. And the ones I really want feedback from are the ones that give my stories extremely low scores in the voting.

Yes I know this is childish but if someone hates my story I want to know why, maybe I can correct the problem that I am having, but not if I don't know what is wrong. So here is what I'm thinking and I know this has been mentioned before but ... If someone gives us a 1 ranking is there anyway we can maybe encourage, not require but encourage, feedback from him, maybe take him to a screen that says something like

"You have given a very low rating to this story, would you please consider sending a completly anonymous email to the author explaining your ranking. Our authors work hard on the stories they submit and would appreciate any comments you might make."

and then have a box where they could enter their comments.

Is something like this possible? Is it already planned? Is it against some code you are following?

Okay I have spouted and ranted and vented so now let me thank you and everyone who works on, visits, and contributes to this site! All of you together have made it the best erotic fiction site on the net! Thank you!

Ray

 

[WriterDom]

"You have given a very low rating to this story, would you please consider sending a completly anonymous email to the author explaining your ranking. Our authors work hard on the stories they submit and would appreciate any comments you might make."

and then have a box where they could enter their comments.

Is something like this possible? Is it already planned? Is it against some code you are following?

Ray

That's not a bad idea, Ray, but I think the sad fact is that many of people who give ones could care less about giving anyone feedback. And I doubt if they even give it a careful reading. Perhaps it's the knock them off the mountain effect, or perhaps they see giving you a low vote as being equivalent to giving themselves or an author they like a higher vote. Or maybe you made a comment on the board that pissed someone off. Or maybe someone disagrees with the subject matter of your story. If we were a much smaller group we could appoint impartial judges in each category, but with the site growing at over 1000 members a week, and the number of authors increasing at 75 a week, the voting system is going to be chaotic.
But the good news is even within the chaos things tend to even out, and the better stories drift to the top while the poorer written stories drift to the bottom.

 

[Madame Pandora]

Lord knows what I think on this subject is well documented.

1. We’ve got reason to vent and there's NOTHING WRONG with venting. It doesn't mean we're having less fun at the site, it doesn't mean we respect the jobs Laurel and Manu do any less - it doesn't mean ANYTHING except that we want to vent. You put work into it, you have a right to feel protective of it. Period.

2. I don't think asking more questions is going to give us any more input. The people who act like children are going to have the same answers as children. A lot of shrugs and "I don't know"s or outright ignoring.

3. My highest rated story has been holding at a 4.6 for several weeks now. It has gone from the 20somethings to the 30somethings to the 40somethings. There has just been an influx lately of high rated stories with a low number of votes. My story hasn't dropped in numbers, but it has in ranking. So, keep an eye on your NUMBERS and not your ranking for the trends in feedback.



MP

 

[vgrey]

Don't forget...

Don't forget that most of the people that read your stories aren't going to vote at all. The ones that do vote read your story all the way to the end. That's why I take more pride in number of votes than rating. At least I provoked a response of some sort and possibly kept a reader enthralled enough to keep reading.
Another thing to consider is that the more votes that your stories get, the more stable your average is going to be, thereby giving you a better idea of your actual rating. When I see a dip in average associated with a new vote, I generally just say to myself, "Well, at least someone read it and cared enough to click."
That's why I would really love to have a hit counter on my stories so that I could get some idea of how many people are actually reading them. But as I don't, I just content myself with a rough average through the voting system that's in place now.
VG

 

[WriterDom]

Re: Don't forget...

That's why I would really love to have a hit counter on my stories so that I could get some idea of how many people are actually reading them. But as I don't, I just content myself with a rough average through the voting system that's in place now.
VG

yeah.. I know that is in the works. I wish it had a higher priority!

 

[doctor_insanus]

Ratings

I'm a new contributor to the site, and I was happy to see my first story listed at #4 on the Celebrities Top List with a 4.50 rating. Of couse, it only had 18 votes, and since then I've checked my profile. Another 5 people have voted, and the rating has dropped to 4.48. I also have a second story with a 4.50 rating, but it only has 6 votes so far.

Well, I'm perfectly happy with that! As long as I'm holding a solid 4, I know that people are enjoying what I'm doing. I think it's quite an honor to be ranked that high, even if only temporarily.

The feedback I've gotten back has been completely positive (so far), with some creative tips occasionally thrown in. I've appreciated each of them, and it helped inspire me. I'm hard at work on the second part of my story, and I think it's turning out great!

It's nice when someone gives your story a 5, but I think a 4 is very complimentary. I think the fact that people have taken the time to vote is probably more important, as long as their vote is honest.

Thanks to everyone. See ya!

 

[Moriah]

Hey, Myst; I know this is going to sound a bit like I'm patting you on the head and telling you, "It's gonna be ok." But take heart, you made the list.Tthink how many stories and how many authors didn't even make the bottom of the list.

Good luck, and no matter how it finally comes out, don't you dare get discouraged and give up.

 

[Mark Singer]

Once again, the thread compells me to spout, and spout I shall...
It's always a positive and reinforcing thing to see one's stories recieving a high rating. That goes without saying. And, on the other side of the coin, it's often a negative and debilitating thing when one sees his/her story take a hit in the ratings. This is simple human nature. We all want to hear how wonderfully we're doing and would really prefer to never hear the negative. Every rating system in the world is skewed in this regard, but it's the nature of the beast, I think.

Myself, I tend not to vote at all on a story that I find to be poorly written, whereas I'll enthusiastically vote for a story I find appealing. More than anything, I guess this stems from my own inability to judge another person's writing and 'telling' abilities. Possibly that might be construed as escapism, but I truly feel that sexuality is the most vast and all too often painfully personal areas of the human mind. Who can say that the story about Aunt Hildegarde and the threshing machine is not a wildly erotic tale? Well, me for for one, but I digress...
There are an awful lot of stories that are highly rated, on the scoreboard, that I feel are very poorly concieved and written (a lot of them are my own...). Regardless, they are appealing to a seemingly large number of people, according to the rating system.

I think the key to erotic writing is to try to disregard the rating systems and concentrate on what you, as the author, find appealing. It's one of the major forces that Literotica offers to us all. The ability to vent and to share our erotic personalities without fear of recrimination or judgement. We should wallow in that ability, like happy pigs in the mud.
And not let the ratings either upset us, nor let our little egos swell too much.

Hey...it's just a bunch of humans reading smut.

Peace...

-M-