Someone just went through and 1'd all my stuff, how stupid is that?

[KillerMuffin]

At least it looked that way. Everything dropped significantly. Stupid juvenile. Oh well, I hope that it made you feel better, whomever you are. I don't particularly care all that much. I write well, I know I write well. At least I'm not juvenile. LOL.

Keep doing it if you feel better doing it.

 

[Madame Pandora]

You know, KM, by bringing that to attention you may be accused of "whining." Be forewarned.

However, I have noticed that when I post something negative on the board, sometimes my stories will take a dip of a couple points. It is pathetic, but right now, there doesn't seem much that can be done about it. Some people can't express themselves so they do underhanded, stupid things.

Chin up, hon. I know it's frustraing {{{{{ }}}}}

MP

 

[Guest]

Well, that's obviously done to be mean or out of spite, 'cause who would bother reading through all your stuff if they thought the first thing they read by you was bad enough to deserve a 1?

 

[HSWriter]

It's happened to me as well KM, a few times acually... I guess someone has a love/hate thing for you (Well, I couldn't see anyone just hating you.. you are so loveable)... anyways... I am anxiously awaiting the implementing of the "Member's" Voting results.. it should help take out the fraud.. But for now, the Lit. Awards will be the most accurate account of how people feel.. in the Lit. Awards.. the voting should be more than secure...

 

[KillerMuffin]

Actually, I have a pretty good idea who did it. I've only made one "cyberenemy" in the last few days. A new record I'm sure, lol. I think it's hysterically funny that this person can't dis me to my face, has to go through and do the temper tantrum thing. Very smooth. I bet that immaturity factor gets high points in the sexy rating with the potential lays.

Even got my poem, which most people probably don't see, it's on page 2 of the poem section, way down there. You'd have to hit my profile to get it along with the rest, pretty much.

 

[circe!]

Me too...

Last evening I wrote a post on the BB asking (pleading!) for feedback on my newer chapters. Right after my post was viewed a few times, one of my chapters which had one vote of 5, pumulted down to a 3. I know it's ridiculous, but I was all upset. It felt like because I was "whineing" for feedback, someone "punished" me with a low vote.

Perhaps I'm just beiong oversensitive and paranoid...?

 

[Madame Pandora]

circe,

Honey...not necessarily. It may just be that because you asked for feedback the person was motivated to visit your work and hasn't gotten around to explaining the lower vote yet. Or it could be a coincidence.

You asked for feedback in the appropriate place and I don't think anyone would consider that "whining." But...the truth is, you never know ;-(

It does hurt when someone hits one of your stories with a low score when you don't have all that many votes. As you get more votes, it will counteract.

Trust me, I'm still licking wounds on my last story after daring that moron to do his worst ;-)

You might be a little paranoid...we all are from time to time. I have to work hard not to fall into that trap myself. It's all subjective. Remember that a couple votes overall will come out in the wash eventually. It's just waiting for them that is teeth-gnashingly difficult.

And, from what I've seen, you will ALWAYS take a couple hits when you're at or near the top of the "Top Lists." My theory is that some people place more expectatin on a story or just like knocking off whoever's on top. But then...I have been accused of paranoid whining myself, so what do I know? ;-)

{{{{{{{{{{ }}}}}}}}}}}

MP

[Edited by Madame Pandora on 01-22-2001 at 04:33 PM]

 

[CRaZy]

Naaa. I don't think I can hear any feet stamping or fists pounding on the floor. No whining in here. Just people making their observations and letting off a little steam. I think this is a better spot than the general board.

I am a debating coach. Often the winning team is chosen for political reasons or one of the adjudicators had links to the opposition school etc. etc. etc. Here on Lit, just like everywhere else I guess life isn't always entirely fair.

 

[Whispersecret]

I feel for you, Muff. I really wish there was something I could do, but we really can't prevent petty people from being petty. Just keep telling yourself, "What goes around, comes around." I believe that people who behave like that just can't truly be enjoying their lives, because they know deep inside that they're assholes.

I haven't noticed a drop in my scores when I'm bitchy on the board, mostly because I don't keep close tabs on them. I only check my ranking once in a while. Since I can't figure the hell out of the math anyway (what vote number must have pushed me down this far, etc.) all that really matters to me is the rank. However, I have long suspected that popularity on the boards affects votes.

I'm sure it's not above some board regulars/lurkers to stoop to this sort of thing. As Roger said, it's obvious they were shooting you down purposely, otherwise they wouldn't have gone to the trouble of finding all your other work.

 

[Softly]

Motives

Hi Killer Muffin,

Several of my stories were zaped with a "One."
Since I check the scores every day, I know when
it was done.

Two days ago, I tried to vote on another author's
work. A screen appeared saying, "You have already voted on this story, Softly. Your vote was a 5."

One must imagine that if it was not for that restriction,
one of the "Small Minds," that votes to offend, instead of voting on the story content, would make a shambles of the integrity of the voting system.

The motive for the act, could be one of several things.
"THE AWARDS ARE COMING UP." If you favor one author, but that persons stories are marked lower then another author, perhaps you can bring notice to one person by voting "Ones, on all the other stories, that are in competition.

Or, as you have brought up, you cast a light on a "Dumb One," so he attacks you with his key board.

WE could round up the usual subjects?

One of my stories, "Garbage Man," is ranked number four on one list. I have voted a five (5) on stories, one, two, and three. AS I recall KM, yours was number one.

I sleep at night, and I would think that you do too.
We are the authors; "IN THE ARENA!" It is not the critic that counts.

 

[KillerMuffin]

Well Softly, there is a way around that. Some people are just dirty enough to use it. Why, I have no idea. It's just voting on pornography, but whatever.

Laurel is getting a members vote thing going on. Once that part of the scripts is up and running, that will take care of the bad people voting more than once on a story.

I just think that it's pretty sorry that she has to do that.


By the way, I remember your story, loved it. Gave it a 5 if I recall correctly.

 

[chatbug]

Sometimes, the low scores are just telling you something...

This post is not about what happened to KillerMuffin and others. I also think it's mean and juvenile to deliberately vote a story down. But there are some valid reasons for low votes.

I've posted seven stories, a couple of years work, and the only ones rated higher than a three are the ones that haven't gotten the ten votes yet to make them visible.

I think I spell the words correctly and know most of the grammar rules, but I know I'm not a great writer. I enjoyed writing the stories and I hope others can enjoy reading them. I suspect that the people that honestly vote with a low score just don't like / get aroused by the topics I choose, or the way I choose to deal with the topics.

I have given some stories a 1 or 2 vote when the grammar / spelling was terrible, or if it's a theme I've seen covered many many times before. If the story is full of cliches I usually give it a 2 or 3. I have read some good stories that don't interest me, and I don't vote on those at all. I have enjoyed several good stories and voted a 4 or 5 for them.

 

[KillerMuffin]

I don't seem to have high vote totals on my stories either, one or two stories have dropped, indicating to me that someone didn't like them. I wish they'd tell me why, but after the drop I'd look over and see things that could stand changing.

 

[Alex De Kok]

I know what you mean, Muffin. One of my tales, Kate (Chapter 2 thereof) had good votes, even picked up a 'H' (brief joy) then hit the ten mark. Result, nosedive.

In all honesty, I think the lower vote's more realistic in my case, because I can nearly always see something I should have changed. It was one of my earliest efforts.

Alex

 

[lady moneypenny]

Should we be counting votes or hits?

I'm pretty new here, but the three stories I have all seem to be going down well considering the feedback I've been getting.

However, my most popular story with the highest number of votes has the lowest score. 3.62 and is way down the list, but I've had loads of emails and icq messages about it... can anybody come up with a better voting method, after all lots of people just print them off to read and never vote.

Ah well, we know we give pleasure to a great many , I know Muffin and the others here have given me many a worthwhile orgasm.... )

 

[Deborah]

I have a few suggestions to deal with the 1 votes.

First, in view of all the current interest in the "Awards Nominations," I think there should be an award for the author with the most 1 votes. I predict I'll win.

Second, I think a screen (like the one if you vote more than once) should pop up for a 1 vote that says ...

*********************************************************
You voted 1 on this story which means you think it really sucks. Are you sure you want to give it a 1? If so, please explain why below:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

Please list your email address here (optional):
__________________________________

*********************************************************

Perhaps a feedback form could be generated to the author with this info. LOL! I bet the 1 votes would decrease by 99%.

 

[HSWriter]

I have a few suggestions to deal with the 1 votes.

First, in view of all the current interest in the "Awards Nominations," I think there should be an award for the author with the most 1 votes. I predict I'll win.

Second, I think a screen (like the one if you vote more than once) should pop up for a 1 vote that says ...

*********************************************************
You voted 1 on this story which means you think it really sucks. Are you sure you want to give it a 1? If so, please explain why below:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

Please list your email address here (optional):
__________________________________

*********************************************************

Perhaps a feedback form could be generated to the author with this info. LOL! I bet the 1 votes would decrease by 99%.

HOLY SHIT DEB.. What an idea? thats incredible... and I'm not joking either... i say we take that one to Laurel...

 

[Whispersecret]

First, in view of all the current interest in the "Awards Nominations," I think there should be an award for the author with the most 1 votes. I predict I'll win.

Hilarious. You ARE funny, Deb. <winks>

I think your idea is stupendous. If the feedback was sent directly to the authors then we would have a better idea if it was someone who genuinely had a reason or a lowlife scumbag bent on retribution.

I'd even say something like this:

"You voted a 1 on this story, which means you think it really sucks. Are you sure you want to give it a one? If so, please take a moment to explain to the author your reason so that (s)he can endeavor to improve his/her future writing. Thank you."

 

[chatbug]

Originally posted by Whispersecret
"You voted a 1 on this story, which means you think it really sucks. Are you sure you want to give it a one? If so, please take a moment to explain to the author your reason so that (s)he can endeavor to improve his/her future writing. Thank you."

I second Deborah & Whispersecret's motion and ask the chair to call for a vote.

I think this is a great idea. I think that 2 votes should require an explanation as well as 1 votes.

I admit that I've voted 1 or 2 on a couple of stories without any feedback. I didn't think it would help / be appreciated / be understood? But I should have made the effort to give feedback.

 

[Weird Harold]

I think this is a great idea. I think that 2 votes should require an explanation as well as 1 votes.

Logically the idea of a checklist for canned feedback should be extended to all vote levels. A different list of reasons someone might vote that particular score would come up, and unless one or more them is checked and sent to the author as feedback, then the vote doesn't count.

There is a drawback to this idea though. I think many people who would otherwise vote won't vote if it gets too complicated. It won't deter those who vote ones "because I can," They'll just lie about the reason for the low votes. However, it might deter people who don't want to be bothered if voting involves more than a single click of the mouse.

Overall, I think the idea of a questionaire tailored for each score is a good one. I'll trade a few votes for some reasoning behind the votes given.

 

[Softly]

Look at this!

My story "Mr. Billy Joe Cabot" became the top story, yesterday in the "Loving Wives" list, with a score of
4.78. At this momnet, it still is so listed.

But, on my personal page, it shows that there have been two votes added in the last two hours, both ones (1), so the
new total is 4.38.

I have no doubt who has done it. He is a real "Dumb Fuck" that runs a two bit web site. What an ass hole?

Laurel must know who is doing this. Perhaps, the server could be programed to display the name,in a list, of any one that votes a one on a story, so that a pattern would
develope and all would be aware of who the top "Dumb Fucks," are.

 

[HSWriter]

Re: Look at this!

My story "Mr. Billy Joe Cabot" became the top story, yesterday in the "Loving Wives" list, with a score of
4.78. At this momnet, it still is so listed.

But, on my personal page, it shows that there have been two votes added in the last two hours, both ones (1), so the
new total is 4.38.

I have no doubt who has done it. He is a real "Dumb Fuck" that runs a two bit web site. What an ass hole?

Laurel must know who is doing this. Perhaps, the server could be programed to display the name,in a list, of any one that votes a one on a story, so that a pattern would
develope and all would be aware of who the top "Dumb Fucks," are.

I don't think we can go around passing blame to anyone in particular, Softly. There is a flaw in the system, which Laurel is addressing. As soon as the Member's Voting Results are able to be posted, then the voting will be very accurate. Some how, some way, we are just going to live with the currents system for a while...

 

[Softly]

Hi HSWriter,

From time to time, I receive e-mail about stories
just posted, that are well in the four to five point
area. The word choices are such, that it could only come
from one man. At the same time, the story will get zaped
with a one. The e-mail will point out one flaw.

If it walks like a skunk, looks like a skunk, smells like a
skunk, and is black with a white strip down its back, I am going to stick my "Hick" neck out and call it a skunk.

Since I wrote about the two ones (1) this AM, a third one (1)was voted on the story, which started the day with a
score of 4.73. It is still number one on the top list for
"Loving Wives," with that score. On my personal page, it shows 15 votes, and a score of 4.20.

"When you are the Anvil, bear. When you are the Hammer, strike."

 

[Madame Pandora]

Softly,

I know it sucks. You put your effort into a story and then some numbnuts comes along and smacks it.

The good part is that you can stop looking at the numbers so seriously and start figuring out better ways to get valuable feedback. The bad part is that you still want to smackdown the little rodent who used the only devices left to his tiny brain. At least that's how I look at it.

HSWriter is right...the system isn't perfect, and it gets better everyday.

But, I think if KM started this thread for anything, it was to be able to vent and get it all out and then move on.

Sorry about it, Softly. It stinks. Like HS says, Laurel has been working on things to make them better. Even then, there will be someone who finds a way to use the system for their own personal aims.

You can't make anything idiot proof. They will just build a better idiot.




MP

 

[KillerMuffin]

I wonder if the idiots would stop doing it if they couldn't see how their pathetic little retaliations affected the list. Keep the First page of lists and remove the totals on everything else, maybe that would help? Maybe not.

I noticed that Pastorale and Coming Home keep nosediving, despite the fact that I get nothing but wonderful feedback about the both of them. I tracked it for the past few days, and after doing the math, it's pretty much 1's for like a day, then it goes up, then 1's again. It makes me wonder.