Story voting--Is it going on?

[Whispersecret]

Seems to me that the Top Stories have pretty much stayed the same for a long time. I realize that, hey, they might just be the most popular stories. But on the other hand, it seems like, if people were voting, there would be some noticable shuffling around.

I try to remember to vote on stories. It doesn't always happen.

So, I was just wondering if people voted, or just read.

 

[Laurel]

In order for the voting to be updated, I have to access the voting scores on the server and manually update the lists. Because of our increased traffic, I am currently unable to get onto the server to get the results. As soon as I am able, I will update the top lists. Out ISP is working hard to get the second server in place. However, it's not an easy thing to install. He should have it all in place this week. In the meantime, I am going to keep trying to access the server at various times of the day and hope that I can catch it in a lull. When that happens, I will update the top lists asap.

 

[Weird Harold]

Originally posted by whispersecret:
So, I was just wondering if people voted, or just read.

I think I would vote more often if the voting worked from an offline copy of the html file, or if there were a way to vote without adding to the bandwidth used by loading the entire story to get to the voting boxes after reading it offline.

I'm not sure if my reading pattern is typical or atypical. How many people actually read the stories online.

I've seen comments from various people that they print them and read them away from the computer. I save each day's new stories and then cut and paste them into Word to magnify the font for easier reading by my nearsighted eyes.

I'd like to see some sort of voting system that allowed me to 'batch vote' by scoring the day's stories offline, then log back on and record all of the votes at once. It's a programming nightmare, and I have no real expectations of ever seeing such a system. It would be nice though.

 

[Laurel]

We have a whole plan for the voting system once we get the new scripts in place - a plan that will encourage votes and also prevent fraud. Not to let the cat too far out of the bag, but it involves everyone having the option of signing up to be a member. Everyone can read and vote, but for the monthly cash prizes (another thing we want to start once we get the scripts in place) only member's votes will count. Also, we're thinking of having a Hall of Fame list of the top 10 members ranked by how many stories they've voted on and giving some sort of prize - toys, gift certificates, something - for those people. Of course, that last bit isn't set in stone - just something we're kicking around. I just wanted you all to know that we are concerned with authors receiving feedback via voting, and are working to encourage it.

 

[Guest]

I vote on the ones I like. The volume is so high though that most stories get rejected after the first, maybe second paragraph. I read quickly (even faster in book format where I can see the whole page) but still cannot get to everything, so I usually do not make it to the voting point, and I hate to vote, "you suck," preferring to vote, "you're great."

One thought that has been in the back of my mind is this. If I write a sucky story (hey, maybe I'm already guilty of that) then vote on it repeatedly, can I replace "Teaching Patti" by shear force of will (sorry DCL, just the only story that comes to my mind on the list, nothing personal)?

 

[Whispersecret]

I wondered the same thing Andra Jenny did about deceitful self-promotion (not that she would do it). But it sounds like Laurel has something in mind to prevent that.

I'm not sure the prize for the member who votes the most is a good idea, only because people could just arbitrarily vote on stories without really reading them. (Of course, that could be happening now.)

Maybe for people like WH, could you make a sort of daily/weekly/monthly ballot?

Just to be clear--this thread was NOT a slam on Laurel to berate her for not updating! I have always assumed the list WAS updated, and just wasn't changing. SOrry if it seemed like that.

[This message has been edited by whispersecret (edited 05-08-2000).]

 

[Laurel]

I'm not sure the prize for the member who votes the most is a good idea, only because
people could just arbitrarily vote on stories without really reading them. (Of course, that
could be happening now.)

I don't think it is, though. If you look at the Toplist, the stories on it are good stories. They aren't the only good stories on the site, to be sure, but it's not like it's full of crappy stuff that people are trying to vote up.

Also, I think those people who take the time to sign up as a member so that their votes count (and they're only able to vote on any given story once) are the type who aren't going to just assign some random vote. If you look around the BB, you'll see intelligent people who take writing and sexuality seriously (not TOO seriously, though..

).

Literature is not a sport - there are no winners (except the readers). So any kind of contest in which stories are compared to each other and ranked by points is bound to be off by some degree. Art is subjective - what I like, you may not.

However, we are appreciative of the fact that writers contribute to this site. You writers are helping to keep quality Free entertainment on the Internet - you help make the Net a better place.

With this in mind, we want to find some system to somehow reward you guys. Since we can't pay each and every one of you, we think that a contest with prizes is our small but sincere way of saying "thanks" to those who make so many readers happy every day. So that's the plan. More details to come later - I'm zipping my lip right now...

 

[Laurel]

After reading my post over, I think I forgot to address your question, Whispersecret... We're not sure if we'll actually have prizes for the readers just yet, and if we do, it'll be adult toys and videos and that sort of thing, not cash - something to show appreciation, but not enough to entice someone to vote like maniacs.

Just to be clear--this thread was NOT a slam on Laurel to berate her for not updating! I have always assumed the list WAS updated, and just wasn't changing. SOrry if it seemed like that.

Didn't take it that way at all... If you look at the top of the lists, I usually put the last date I updated it, so you'll always know how old the list is. I'm going to try again tonight to access the voting info. Can't wait for the new server!!

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

>>If I write a sucky story (hey, maybe I'm already guilty of that) then vote on it repeatedly, can I replace "Teaching Patti" by shear force of will (sorry DCL, just the only story that comes to my mind on the list, nothing personal)?

How do you think "Teaching Patti" got there in the first place? LOL

Yeah, yeah, I know it's been up there a long time, along with "First Night" and every other "Prophesy" chapter, but the site is always getting new people who've never read them, and I sitll get a lot of e-mail on "Patti". Still, I was glad when Laurel changed it from a Top Ten list to a Top Twenty, and there was more room for other great stories.

Something I've always wanted to know, though, is this: "Teaching Patti" is always in the top five, but is that chapter one, or the whole series? Same with "Jazzy Girl"; chapter one is always on the list, but never chapter four or chapter six. Are people voting for the shole series, or do I just write dynamite first chapters and sucky sequential chapters?

 

[Lasher]

Ummm...you've probably got this in the works with the new script, Laurel, but just in case...

What about expanding your top list, and adding some lists by category to other stories some exposure. Maybe have a Top 5 Lesbian story list, and a Top Incest story list - do like 6 or 8 major categories like that. Maybe add a Top 5 or 10 New stories list also. Just a thought.

I personally never look at the top list just because I don't like people telling me what I should read! (I had to go look at the top lists to make sure you weren't already doing this!!)

And as far as voting goes, I only vote for the stories that I think are excellent (very few of those) and for the stories that I piss me off enough that I want to let someone know that they are absolute shit (more of those).

 

[Savage Kitten]

I agree with Andra Jenny.. .maybe its not right.. i dunno.. but i just can't vote down a story because i didn't like it .. so if i do come across one that i don't like or can't stomache... i just don't vote.. on the other hand.. if the story is great i really appreciate the chance to let the author know

can't wait to see what u have in store Laurel!!