stupid ratings...

[sunandshadow]

I just posted my first interactive story here a week ago. The first person who rated it gave it a 5/5 for having a unique concept and as a good wish to a new writer, which I appreciated. The ironic result of this was that for a few days my story had a perfect score and topped the rating chart. I didn't care about this since I knew it was a fluke of having just the one vote.

But then I look at the story today, to get myself geared up to write a new thread, and discover that someone either didn't like my story having a perfect score or didn't like my story's content, because they decided to screw it over by rating the first 3 threads 1/5 (no comments of course). I'm not claiming my story's flawless, but for pity's sake it has correct grammar and spelling and even some actual sex in it, it couldn't possibly be rated a 1 by anyone who was being halfway fair. So, now I am totally not motivated to write the new bit I was planning on writing tonight.

 

[Harrowborg]

Its a pain in the ass when that happens. A few of mine I thought were really good have been rated pretty low for what I assumed was just bitter people with a bit to much free time. Do write the next part, I'm sure you'll find that once its recieved enough votes (and this may take a while) it will balance out and be recognised. Sadly, they'll always be morons in the world out to spoil peoples fun, just keep smiling, and writing.

 

[janiexx]

I just posted my first interactive story here a week ago. The first person who rated it gave it a 5/5 for having a unique concept and as a good wish to a new writer, which I appreciated. The ironic result of this was that for a few days my story had a perfect score and topped the rating chart. I didn't care about this since I knew it was a fluke of having just the one vote.

But then I look at the story today, to get myself geared up to write a new thread, and discover that someone either didn't like my story having a perfect score or didn't like my story's content, because they decided to screw it over by rating the first 3 threads 1/5 (no comments of course). I'm not claiming my story's flawless, but for pity's sake it has correct grammar and spelling and even some actual sex in it, it couldn't possibly be rated a 1 by anyone who was being halfway fair. So, now I am totally not motivated to write the new bit I was planning on writing tonight.

Don't, whatever you do, stop writing because then they (the trolls) will have won.

Write, write, write and ignore the ratings. The votes will stabilise after a while and any rogue scores will be deleted.

Good luck and keep at it!
janiexx

 

[CopyCarver]

Its a pain in the ass when that happens. A few of mine I thought were really good have been rated pretty low for what I assumed was just bitter people with a bit to much free time. Do write the next part, I'm sure you'll find that once its recieved enough votes (and this may take a while) it will balance out and be recognised. Sadly, they'll always be morons in the world out to spoil peoples fun, just keep smiling, and writing.

Don't, whatever you do, stop writing because then they (the trolls) will have won.

Write, write, write and ignore the ratings. The votes will stabilise after a while and any rogue scores will be deleted.

Good luck and keep at it!
janiexx

Absolutely right times two. From a philosophical point of view, the ultimate revenge against trolls is self-inflicted by their own trolldom.

Remember also that the one-bombs may well be removed and your vote totals restored to honest ratings when Laurel and Manu have time to do one of their periodic "troll patrols."

 

[The Mystery Valiant]

Vaporize them

As I understand, you just started to show your stuff and someone decided to get their kicks by drop kicking your work unfairly. Then I suggest that you play just as unfairly and much more creatively. Write the next one, post it! and then keep doing it until junior gets sick and tired of his little game. The harder you fight, the faster they will tire! Don't let one tool-head burn your heart and soul! Eloquence is your divinity, and the flame doesn't die in the face of night, ever! Creative energy is exponentially greater, destructive is exponentially wasted. Be there and make it yours!

 

[WhiteTigerNipples]

It happens to everyone. Just check out some of the threads in the AH area and see all of the complaints by writers about getting hit by trolls. Just ignore them and keep writing.

 

[sunandshadow]

Thank you all for the encouragement - I didn't know the mods might remove the bad ratings, that would be nice. Maybe I'll get finished tonight the section I had intended to write yesterday.

 

[cloudy]

Thank you all for the encouragement - I didn't know the mods might remove the bad ratings, that would be nice. Maybe I'll get finished tonight the section I had intended to write yesterday.

They don't remove "bad ratings" - after all, a low vote may be just as legitimately given, in a reader's mind, as a high one.

Laurel will, however, remove votes that seems suspicious, i.e. someone has 1-voted all of your stories within a three minute period (obviously not taking the time to read a damn thing), or if, say, the top ten stories in a category were all 1-voted within a short period.

 

[Speakeasy]

It happens to us all. There are people that just need to make their mark somehow, and downgrading a story is one of the ways they do it. I've had a few stories at the top of the lists for a week or so, only to be precipitously bumped to lower ratings in a day... eerily low enough to be just below the top. Hmmmm....

BUT... I LOVE the feedback from women about the orgasms they've had reading them.

There are rewards, too.

KEEP writing!

 

[AsylumSeeker]

From experience, I have noticed that time tells. I have had stories come out with high ratings, suddenly dipped low for suspicious reasons, but after several months have elapsed the ratings have gone back up (not as high as I'd like, but probably a more realistice number). There's power in numbers.

But even more rewarding than numbers is when I get feedback from a reader three or four months after I'm sure the story is "dead" telling me they just read it, loved it, and are going to go back and look at my other stories.

Sometimes it just takes a single feedback letter to relight the spark that motivates me to write.

 

[sunandshadow]

That's true - I recently got a response like that for a Nifty story of mine that's almost 5 years old now.

Woohoo just noticed that I've been promoted from Virgin to Experienced!

 

[Fizzxxx]

I made a similar post to yours just a couple of weeks ago, and had some good responses relating to the rigging of votes, which of course, we all know goes on here. Some people have too many sour grapes to suck on! You might like to read my original post and feedback which is a little down the page and titled LoveDreams (see, at least I got myself some free advertising from it!). My story bombed completely after the first week, even though the email and public comment feedback was excellent. My rating has picked up slightly. Don't let these sad people, who are sooo critical of those of us who take up the challenge to write, get you down. We ARE better than them! We are AUTHORS! Keep on writing, it really is the only way to beat 'em!

 

[kbate]

The early vote on many stories is high, as the fans of the category weigh in. The early high rating gives the story a red H attracting more attention and thus more votes from perhaps a more critical readership. The red H also attracts the low voters, who simply try to bring down the number on every story.

You simply cannot look at a low number of votes and get an idea of your story's merit, the voting process has little to do with that. If you desire a more objective opinion, put the link in a thread here (or on chyoo), and take the feedback in the public forum, where the trolls will not post and those who do tend to be honest in their opinion, not being covered by a blanket of anonymity.

I tried to go through the story, but ran into multiple blocks and backed out, not having the time to play with every option.

 

[michass]

just read "When love comes to town"

It was quite good, perhaps not as imaginative as some of what is posted here, but certainly meritorious enough to deserve at least a 4. I rarely even look at anything without an H or E next to it, and tend to give scores from 3 to 5 for these. I dislike rape scenes and have on occassion given a 1 to a writer whom has strayed (in my opinion) from better material in that direction, particularly if they romanticize it. I assume that the numbers will average out, and the best will remain so. There is an H next to every one of your stories, so this appears to be true. It is also true of the best writers here, so I don't think the limited low voting by "trolls" is very significant in the long run. You might also consider that the low votes may in some cases be legit. Somehow, I don't think that my prep-school English instructors would rate much of what is here above a 1-2! However, literotica ratings, like most grades and ratings, clearly show signs of grade inflation, and in our society no one thinks they are below average.

Get over it! It's like dating, job hunting, grant writing etc.; one can't dwell on every rejection. If you and a few others appreciate your work, that should be enough, the rest is gravy.

 

[janiexx]

Ummm...

It was quite good, perhaps not as imaginative as some of what is posted here, but certainly meritorious enough to deserve at least a 4. I rarely even look at anything without an H or E next to it, and tend to give scores from 3 to 5 for these. I dislike rape scenes and have on occassion given a 1 to a writer whom has strayed (in my opinion) from better material in that direction, particularly if they romanticize it. I assume that the numbers will average out, and the best will remain so. There is an H next to every one of your stories, so this appears to be true. It is also true of the best writers here, so I don't think the limited low voting by "trolls" is very significant in the long run. You might also consider that the low votes may in some cases be legit. Somehow, I don't think that my prep-school English instructors would rate much of what is here above a 1-2! However, literotica ratings, like most grades and ratings, clearly show signs of grade inflation, and in our society no one thinks they are below average.

Get over it! It's like dating, job hunting, grant writing etc.; one can't dwell on
every rejection. If you and a few others appreciate your work, that should be enough, the rest is gravy.

Hi,

I'm a bit confused here...are you referring to my story "When Love Comes To Town"?

I just contributed to this thread to encourage someone who was feeling a bit down about troll votes...

A very confused janiexx (but thanks for the 4 vote...)

Oh, and if you don't like romanticized "rape" stories, you'd better not read one waiting approval - "Even Better Than The Real Thing"....Hmmmmmm

 

[CynMarie]

I never vote lower than a 3 unless it is really wretched or unintelligable (I HATE one big block of text and/or one long run-on sentence). Just because something isn't my cup of tea, doesn't mean it's not good.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Makes Sense

What kbate says makes sense. I'm a working man that aspires to be a professional writer. I have extremely high personal standards and I watched the tallied votes. If I received less than a 4.8 I was freaking out (ask kbate - LOL - ?) She wondered why I was complaiing about a vote so good. The lesson's perspective; be grateful for what you achieve.

I pour my heart into my stories. The characters are a part of me (sexual organs excluded) But the greatest reward is that single, unsolicited e-mal that greets and praises our efforts.

kbate, and others who give your time, heartfelt thanks. Your contributions allow selfish guys like me to indulge in our fantasies.

 

[kbate]

If I received less than a 4.8 I was freaking out (ask kbate - LOL - ?) She wondered why I was complaiing about a vote so good. The lesson's perspective; be grateful for what you achieve.

Misspellings are the reason you are a meere 4.8 writer. :emoticon:

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Sigh! And all this time I thought I was perfect! As it turns out, kbate is.

 

[kbate]

Sigh! And all this time I thought I was perfect! As it turns out, kbate is.

I'm a struggling 4.6 writer striving to reach the level you at which you started. Don't listen to me, I'm hardly perfect.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Lost some red Hs recently, and I wonder if that was trolls or a sweep. Who knows. Wasn't too thrilled with it.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

United

kbate, with your editing skills and my writing skills, we could be a 4.9! Synergy is what it's all about.

 

[Cinnamon2006]

Don't feel bad, I have one troll who constantly spams mine with low ratings and shitty comments- nothing constructive, just outright flaming. I, like you, understand that my stories aren't for everyone, and that not everyone is going to like what I write, but some of the shit this woman has left is nuts! Keep your head up, and don't feed the trolls!

 

[Darkniciad]

Don't feel bad, I have one troll who constantly spams mine with low ratings and shitty comments- nothing constructive, just outright flaming. I, like you, understand that my stories aren't for everyone, and that not everyone is going to like what I write, but some of the shit this woman has left is nuts! Keep your head up, and don't feed the trolls!

That sounds like someone low-voting all your stories out of spite. You might consider using the report function on any public comments, or on the story itself noting in the "other" box that you think you have a troll "stalker" just low voting you without really reading your work. If the management agrees that it looks like troll behavior, those low votes will probably vanish in no time.

Odds are that would provoke an IP sweep that could clean troll votes off other people's stories as well.

 

[Cinnamon2006]

That sounds like someone low-voting all your stories out of spite. You might consider using the report function on any public comments, or on the story itself noting in the "other" box that you think you have a troll "stalker" just low voting you without really reading your work. If the management agrees that it looks like troll behavior, those low votes will probably vanish in no time.

Odds are that would provoke an IP sweep that could clean troll votes off other people's stories as well.

Thanks so much for the helpful advice! I honestly wasn't sure what could be done, if anything about "trolls". I know the troll read the first story in my series, but I KNOW they didn't read the rest of them. Like I had mentioned before, I know that not everyone is going to like my stories, and that's totally cool- but when you've got someone who just flames you and spams you with some shit- it gets annoying. Thanks again!