Stories marked hot

[gdog0014]

Just curious how it is determined which stories are labeled as "hot"

Is it by votes or editors picks?

Seems to me that some hot stories aren't labeled as such while some that are labeled that way don't seem so hot.

Anyway, just wondering.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

It is based entirely upon scores. A story with an average score of 4.5 or higher gets the H designation. I believe there is also a 10 vote minimum before the H attaches.

 

[sr71plt]

And the story has to maintain at least a 4.50, or it will lose the H.

 

[TamLin01]

"Hot" is a matter of votes; editor's picks are something different. If the editors particularly like a story it will be singled out with a green E next to it. I've only managed this once, so I have no idea what the criteria are

 

[estragon]

As I understand it, green "E"s are strictly what the site editor likes, irrespective of whomever else likes the story or doesn't like it. I've seen stories with "E"s that did not break 4.50.

 

[oggbashan]

As I understand it, green "E"s are strictly what the site editor likes, irrespective of whomever else likes the story or doesn't like it. I've seen stories with "E"s that did not break 4.50.

An E can be a target for trolls. My solitary E rarely gets an H. When it does, it doesn't take long for the H to vanish.

 

[estragon]

Ogg, quite true. And the editors make it easy by putting up the green "E" when the story is first posted on the "New" list, effectually lighting up the target for the trollbombers.

 

[sr71plt]

Ogg, quite true. And the editors make it easy by putting up the green "E" when the story is first posted on the "New" list, effectually lighting up the target for the trollbombers.

All E stories are put at the top of the "New" list too.

I especially like the E story system, because I can just blow a raspberry when lance posts how rotten my writing is. Of the two, I'll take Laurel's tastes in stories over lance's any day of the week.

 

[Brunne]

An E can be a target for trolls. My solitary E rarely gets an H. When it does, it doesn't take long for the H to vanish.

A bit like winning the Man Booker prize...everyone then assumes the book can only be understood by 'smart people' and it's then shunned by the general populous.

That being said, I never could get through the first few chapters of Life of Pi, so what does that make me?

 

[sr71plt]

Not like that, really. More like there's no need to even read the story to be playing Interent games with the author and/or the category--and any time a superlative is signaled, it's time to bring it down a peg or two. No matter what might have been the reason it was identified as superlative.

 

[oggbashan]

Not like that, really. More like there's no need to even read the story to be playing Internet games with the author and/or the category--and any time a superlative is signaled, it's time to bring it down a peg or two. No matter what might have been the reason it was identified as superlative.

It happens to stories that win the themed contests too. I have three Ws. One of them lost its H shortly after the result was announced and still hasn't regained it.

 

[lovecraft68]

It happens to stories that win the themed contests too. I have three Ws. One of them lost its H shortly after the result was announced and still hasn't regained it.

I noticed that. I was looking at some of the Nude Day authors scores and two of them were the V-day winners, I noticed one of those stories has drop .10 since it won.

I've also noticed a lot of green E's don't have an H rating even if the author has a lot of them.

I guess because that's the pick of one person it gets a "teacher's pet" type reaction and people lash out. Jealousy is not only an ugly emotion, but probably the most counterproductive one there is.

 

[PennLady]

I guess because that's the pick of one person it gets a "teacher's pet" type reaction and people lash out. Jealousy is not only an ugly emotion, but probably the most counterproductive one there is.

Quite possibly, but it could also be that the editor(s) and readers have different ideas of what they want from a story. I remember reading one and thinking it wasn't so great; I couldn't tell you which one but I remember thinking the writing style was kind of awkward. OTOH, maybe that was the author's intention. Shame, though, if people are voting low because of the E (not sure I voted at all on the one I read, but I doubt I would have gone lower than a 4).

 

[lovecraft68]

Quite possibly, but it could also be that the editor(s) and readers have different ideas of what they want from a story. I remember reading one and thinking it wasn't so great; I couldn't tell you which one but I remember thinking the writing style was kind of awkward. OTOH, maybe that was the author's intention. Shame, though, if people are voting low because of the E (not sure I voted at all on the one I read, but I doubt I would have gone lower than a 4).

You could be right. As with many things here, no one knows for sure, we all have our theories.

Mine is based on the fact that most E's I've seen have lower than "H" scores.

Probably a combination of trolling and maybe Laurel's taste is different from the majority.

I'll find out later. Nice Cthulhu just received an E today for their "Goblin Queen" story. I'm not much of a fantasy reader, but like the author and plan on checking it out.

 

[TamLin01]

My one E is pretty popular with the readers, but then, it's in a category that doesn't get many visitors, so perhaps that's something to do with it.

 

[redzinger]

I've read a few Es but been singularly unimpressed with most of them, I'm afraid, so I've scored them honestly. I wouldn't mark them down for it, but maybe others do.

There's some stories with Hs where I don't understand how they got them, but that seems to be a genre thing, or when the author has a readership which likes a certain type of story. One of my favourite-ever stories by Tang88 missed out on a few Hs. Mostly it's a good guide.

Ws are usually pretty good though, even if they're not to my taste.

 

[SevenSquared]

Yet another theory - People will read stories with a W or an E that they would not have read otherwise. This leads to more people getting to the end and giving it an honest 3 or 4 who would otherwise have either given up halfway through or not read it in the first place because it didn't appeal to them.

 

[nightgirl2012]

Ogg, quite true. And the editors make it easy by putting up the green "E" when the story is first posted on the "New" list, effectually lighting up the target for the trollbombers.

I am new here.... I have not posted my first story yet and was just trying to get a feeling for the site....what are Trollbombers, please?

 

[wolfie1960]

I am new here.... I have not posted my first story yet and was just trying to get a feeling for the site....what are Trollbombers, please?

I may be wrong but I seem to remember reading somewhere that Trolls are small minded and jealous members who deliberately flood high scoring stories with low star ratings out of maliciousness and envy.
There is probably no way that the site moderators can pick this up or action against it so it just goes on happening. Very sad as the stories targeted are often some of the best.
Perhaps a more knowledgable member can add to or correct my comment.

 

[estragon]

Wolfie, AFAIK, your answer is correct.