The Courage of 'Anonymous'!!

catalina_francisco

Happily insatiable always
Joined
Jul 29, 2002
Posts
18,730
Was looking for another thread I had seen a few weeks back to post this on instead of starting another thread for my rant, but couldn't find it. As most of us have experienced the 'anonymous' feedback reader of our stories who has nothing to do but abuse, we did not initially take too much notice when last week we received a barrage of abuse from 'anonymous' accusing us of cheating with votes and scores and also voting others down in the BDSM section to get into the top list. Big mistake to ignore it except to politely reply, denying the accusations and remarking we had noticed long ago that there does seem at times to be drastic measures taken against new entries to the top of that particular top list, but had not been at our doing...and not a place we are usually gracing for more than an eyeblink at the most. As it is impossible to do such things as fudging the voting and go undiscovered, we thought why bother officially complaining about it.

Mmmm, interestingly, over the last 2 days our scores and votes on all our stories since we began submitting here have been drastically reduced, along with others who were in the same vicinity as us on the list. Even got the point and vote deducted which came in the past week from someone who sent positive feedback on a story which was submitted last year and had not been voted on for ages by anyone new until then. That was ony one positive feedback out of a large number we have received since beginning to submit here. Personally I couldn't give a damn except I think it unfair and dishonest, not to mention gutlass, and obviously for me lends weight to rumours I have heard before about a small group dominating the list by means unknown, and the observations I have made of any newcomer to the top five or so of the list disappearing into oblivion overnight to be replaced by their predecessors once again, over and over.

It is unfortunate this individual is so courageous and sure of their own honesty and disinterest in being seen to be in the top list themselves they can't identify themselves to us or publicly on the public comments board where strangely enough today they are gloating and once again anonymous. Given we have been published on 2 other sites, by both our own submissions, and more recently by email been requested for submissions of our work for their use (writing and art) by 2 other sites, and the fact due to the international mix of our relationship and place of residence now we have people in 3 continents who know our work and follow it regularly, I don't think it is needed we cheat or need the empty satisfaction of a number on a screen to get our feedback.

Then you need only look back over our postings on the BDSM board even before the Shamelss Plug thread came into being, to see we have always (for 2 years now) posted links to Lit authors and stories we have read (usually unknown people to us) which we think others might enjoy and like to read and vote on. Certainly the act of someone seeking to make sure they get votes over others by dishonest or any other means.

As a moderator who has worked hard and been acknowledged for promoting Literotica and encouraging new people to join and post, as well as encouraging and assisting many new writers on the site privately and publicly, all I can say is I am severly disappointed in Literotica for this action and am seriously considering removing my stories at least and placing them all on the other sites where there is no BS voting system and all stories are given equal worth and appreciation. The reason we continued submitting here to date was out of loyalty as it was the first place we submitted work, and our close ties throughout the site. Those reasons are quickly becoming non important and worthless.

Catalina :rose:
 
Catalina y Francisco queridos, mi condolencia está con ustedes.

Please see this is as a glitch, let a bit of time go by before abandoning Lit. No matter what happens with scores and votes, your many fans (outspoken or quiet) are with you. For each anonymous asshole - believe there are hundreds who appreciate your work.

sinceramente,

Perdita :rose: :heart: :kiss:
 
If you withdraw your stories then Annon, cowardly though his tacts may be has won. Don't give him the staisfaction. Scores fluctuate, but your fans will always be there and will sorely miss you if you go.

-Colly
 
perdita said:
Catalina y Francisco queridos, mi condolencia está con ustedes.

Please see this is as a glitch, let a bit of time go by before abandoning Lit. No matter what happens with scores and votes, your many fans (outspoken or quiet) are with you. For each anonymous asshole - believe there are hundreds who appreciate your work.

sinceramente,

Perdita :rose: :heart: :kiss:

LOL, thanks for the support Perdita...just needed to let off steam. Interesting fact is though they suppiled an email address, no name was given, and they are obviously a very creativer writer themselves as the public comment is basically a pasted duplicate of their original message, with updated additions now they feel they have regained the upper hand. Now the 'contest' here for usnd others is, is this person one of the two we have heard rumours about for a long time now for destroying others in the top list, or do we need to update our detective kits?!! Never fear, I have too much I am working on as co-moderator of the BDSM board, a position I was invited into not sought myself, to abandon Lit altogether, but submitting work here is becoming less attractive. Thank goodness we stuffed ourselves on beautiful Spanish food in Amsterdam last night with another visiting Litster.:D

Catalina :rose:
 
I don't understand - Are you considering leaving because anonymous trolled you, or because the lit voting mechanics allowed him to do so?

If it's the former, I'd repeat what Perdita and Colly said - Don't let the bastards grind you down.

If it's the latter, then that's a choice you have to make yourself. I don't see Lit's voting mechanisms changing any time soon, so you need to ask yourself if you want to continue submitting your stories to a sit that allows for voting in that way.
 
Colleen Thomas said:
If you withdraw your stories then Annon, cowardly though his tacts may be has won. Don't give him the staisfaction. Scores fluctuate, but your fans will always be there and will sorely miss you if you go.

-Colly

Thanks for the valued support. Your words are very true and something I would normally say myself....guess I need to cool off and give the twit their 15 minutes of fame. :p

Catalina :rose:
 
"Mmmm, interestingly, over the last 2 days our scores and votes on all our stories since we began submitting here have been drastically reduced, along with others who were in the same vicinity as us on the list. "

Perdita has said best. My response is merely thought.

I think sometimes, that authors/moderators who participate on the board, giving their opinions, are more at risk from score bashers, but believe these anonymous idiots are few and far between.

LOL - I'm just wondering, so in order to do this, this person would have to premeditatedly go to an internet cafe, and spend hours on different computers knocking everyone's score down?

LOL - and people think their life is dull?
 
CharleyH said:

LOL - I'm just wondering, so in order to do this, this person would have to premeditatedly go to an internet cafe, and spend hours on different computers knocking everyone's score down?

Nah, just get a bunch of your mates to do it.

A dozen '1' votes will drastically drop most any scores.

Way too easy to cheat on the lit voting mechanism, which is why we don't generally pay it much heed.

p.s. Of course, I'm assuming that these low lifes actually have friends.... :devil:
 
raphy said:
I don't understand - Are you considering leaving because anonymous trolled you, or because the lit voting mechanics allowed him to do so?

If it's the former, I'd repeat what Perdita and Colly said - Don't let the bastards grind you down.

If it's the latter, then that's a choice you have to make yourself. I don't see Lit's voting mechanisms changing any time soon, so you need to ask yourself if you want to continue submitting your stories to a sit that allows for voting in that way.

Very true...trolls are what they are, and as with all things, they have their place and purpose in this world even if it is difficult to see what it is right now. Now, if they had just given us a name we could have sent them an autographed copy of our first realtime published work!! After all, they have played a contributing part in keeping up our commitment to this goal. Ah, so this is their purpose?!! A million thanks to the troll, whoever they may be.

Catalina :rose:
 
catalina_francisco said:
Now, if they had just given us a name we could have sent them an autographed copy of our first realtime published work!!

Personally I'd prefer to send them a visit from Bubba and his baseball bat.

:)
 
CharleyH said:
"Mmmm, interestingly, over the last 2 days our scores and votes on all our stories since we began submitting here have been drastically reduced, along with others who were in the same vicinity as us on the list. "

Perdita has said best. My response is merely thought.

I think sometimes, that authors/moderators who participate on the board, giving their opinions, are more at risk from score bashers, but believe these anonymous idiots are few and far between.

LOL - I'm just wondering, so in order to do this, this person would have to premeditatedly go to an internet cafe, and spend hours on different computers knocking everyone's score down?

LOL - and people think their life is dull?

So true, but what gets me is their accusations have resulted in deductions from our scores/votes in huge numbers. Lit says perhaps we have some over zealous fans....mmm, doubt that very much. Thank goodness our life in interesting enough to continuously keep us on our toes and provide us with some fairly interesting fodder for the writing machine. :) And just when I thought I knew all the possibilities we might experience a certain man comes up with some unexpected twists and turns. Mmmm, must be one of the million reasons I love him.

Catalina :rose:
 
raphy said:
Nah, just get a bunch of your mates to do it.

A dozen '1' votes will drastically drop most any scores.

Way too easy to cheat on the lit voting mechanism, which is why we don't generally pay it much heed.

p.s. Of course, I'm assuming that these low lifes actually have friends.... :devil:

LOL, perhaps the invisible variety?!!

Catalina http://www.flip-logtenberg.net/computer/laptoparm.gif
 
Love the chomping computer.

Catalina I think your reaction to this troll and his/her friends would depend on why you write and post here. For me I post here as a way tolet others see my works, and if they feel they want to comment on them then that is great. Of course their advice is taken as such, free advice.
As for the voting on stories, I actually never gave it much thought. (Although I do vote on the stories I read.) I always figure that if people like the few stories I have posted then great, if they didn't, then that's great too. My writing is not to everyones taste. I mean to say that if someone is looking for BDSM and came across one of my stories I'm sure they wouldn't like it.
Now as far as the voting hijackers and trolls go. I believe in letting them have their fun. (Their lives must be very dull and unfulfiling to have to resort to such tactics.) and go on with my life and writing while allowing myself the small satisfaction of giving them a nicely well thought out curse in passing.
By the Way, true cursing is a failing art form.

SeaCat
 
Re: Love the chomping computer.

SeaCat said:
Catalina I think your reaction to this troll and his/her friends would depend on why you write and post here. For me I post here as a way tolet others see my works, and if they feel they want to comment on them then that is great. Of course their advice is taken as such, free advice.
As for the voting on stories, I actually never gave it much thought. (Although I do vote on the stories I read.) I always figure that if people like the few stories I have posted then great, if they didn't, then that's great too. My writing is not to everyones taste. I mean to say that if someone is looking for BDSM and came across one of my stories I'm sure they wouldn't like it.
Now as far as the voting hijackers and trolls go. I believe in letting them have their fun. (Their lives must be very dull and unfulfiling to have to resort to such tactics.) and go on with my life and writing while allowing myself the small satisfaction of giving them a nicely well thought out curse in passing.
By the Way, true cursing is a failing art form.

SeaCat

This is true, and for the most part I don't particularly care about the voting, the same as I am known for speaking my truth instead of trying to follow the mythical path of speaking in a way to make everyone like you. It just ain't possible even if you happen to be the nicest, most thoughtful soul on earth. In this instance, for me, it is about honour, something which culturally is of significant imposrtance in this household. If someone tries to portray you as dishonourable, it does tend to matter more so than what the actual issue is about. F is Spanish, so it is strong for him, but I am Australian, and it is also an ethic I was raised on. But yes, you are right, people who resort to what resembles schoolyard name calling from behind the hedge are deserving of our pity as it demonstrates not only how empty and shallow their life must be, but their complete lack of confidence and pride in themselves.

Catalina :rose:
 
Or, if you just want to share your stories without caring about votes, you could turn the voting ability off in your settings.
 
Svenskaflicka said:
Or, if you just want to share your stories without caring about votes, you could turn the voting ability off in your settings.

That is definately an option...not much point really having voting when yet again today the stories we have remaining in the top list, and have had for months, mysteriously again attract 'ones' to move them downward and out and yet our emails are from people who are appreciative and voted 5's and 4's. Oh well, at least Mr Anonymous has formally identified himself after slipping up and giving an accidental identifying clue to his identity.

Sad so many good writers on that list have suffered the same fate as we have in the last 2 days, and the stories from 1-2 years back that had been there for months have replaced the now mostly unfindable former placegetters. Even those who have managed to weather the storm have had their scores drastically reduced, and requests for explanations from the powers that be have been ignored.

Fortunately for us we have been previously published on paper, and invited to write for other sites so have that validation, but I feel sorry for some of the newer writers who have talent which was rewarded by votes over a matter of weeks to be now penalised on mass without explanation. Such is life, but disillusioning to say the least.

Catalina :rose:
 
Catalina,

Surely the easiest way to eliminate the anonymous "1" voter, is to remove the ability to vote anonymously.

If all voters and remarks posters had to leave their names/handles/sigs etc, then they could be questioned as to their reasons.

This would remove for certain the votes/remarks of the "gutless" ones.

I don't understand the need for anonymous voting or remarks. If someone has something to say, they should have the guts to put their names/handles/sigs behind it.

And let's face it, huge numbers of us here, remain virtually anonymous behind our sigs anyway, myself included.

So why have anonymous voting???
 
lewdandlicentious said:
Catalina,

Surely the easiest way to eliminate the anonymous "1" voter, is to remove the ability to vote anonymously.

If all voters and remarks posters had to leave their names/handles/sigs etc, then they could be questioned as to their reasons.

This would remove for certain the votes/remarks of the "gutless" ones.

I don't understand the need for anonymous voting or remarks. If someone has something to say, they should have the guts to put their names/handles/sigs behind it.

And let's face it, huge numbers of us here, remain virtually anonymous behind our sigs anyway, myself included.

So why have anonymous voting???

Oh, so true. Maybe we need to suggest this to the powers that be and begin a campaign, and as Francisco says an added point should be that all votes and who cast them be public. That certainly would put an end to the malicious voter and cheating possibilities all in one easy way. Mmmmm, now I wonder if we could interest some of these '1' voters in being the entertainment at our Euro BDSM Lit Get Together I am working on at the moment?!!:D I can think of some who would gladly give their whips a good workout on their sorry butts.http://www.smilies4you.de/content/liebe/b18.gif

Catalina :rose:
 
Last edited:
Re: Love the chomping computer.

SeaCat said:
LOL, sorry SeaCat, I missed this part of the message last night..must have been lost in the steam coming out of my ears!! Let's lighten the mood with one which is disgusting and creative all in one!!
http://www.flip-logtenberg.net/sex/18+26.gif

Catalina http://www.smilies4you.de/content/liebe/b18.gif

Mmmm, have gained a reputation for my emoticon useage, but it is all the fault of wonderful Master for exposing me to such filth and cheekiness in the first place!! I swear, it's true.
 
Hi Catalina,

Before I add my own thoughts and experiences with "anonymous" I want to say that I feel for you, and understand completely where you are coming from.

On the issue of stopping anonymous voting, I have to say that I do agree, to some extent, but I do not think it should be completely banned.

There is the ability to turn off anonymous feedback, which, I think can be a good thing. But, ultimately, all actual votes are anonymous anyway. It would take a huge overhaul of the system to change that.

I imagine that all IPs are logged, when a vote is cast - that is one way Laurel and Manu know which "rogue" votes to weed out, so they are never doing it completely anonymously (unless they are hiding behind a proxy IP, but that's a different kettle of fish).

On the issue of feedback, some of my best and most interesting has been from "anonymous", and I have thanked them, through this board, for that in the past. I only wish I could've replied to them directly.

There could be numerous reasons why someone chooses to send feedback under the cloak of anonymity. Perhaps prying eyes look into their emails, and they don't want Lit authors replying to them, thus getting them into hot water. That's just one possible reason.

I guess what I am saying is: in my own experience, "anonymous" is often a nice, well meaning person. Although, obviously not in your case.

Lou :rose:
 
Hola, Catalina. I love that little whipping smilie. Never thought BDSM could be cute ;)

Perdita :rose:
 
Tatelou said:
Hi Catalina,

Before I add my own thoughts and experiences with "anonymous" I want to say that I feel for you, and understand completely where you are coming from.

On the issue of stopping anonymous voting, I have to say that I do agree, to some extent, but I do not think it should be completely banned.

There is the ability to turn off anonymous feedback, which, I think can be a good thing. But, ultimately, all actual votes are anonymous anyway. It would take a huge overhaul of the system to change that.

I imagine that all IPs are logged, when a vote is cast - that is one way Laurel and Manu know which "rogue" votes to weed out, so they are never doing it completely anonymously (unless they are hiding behind a proxy IP, but that's a different kettle of fish).

On the issue of feedback, some of my best and most interesting has been from "anonymous", and I have thanked them, through this board, for that in the past. I only wish I could've replied to them directly.

There could be numerous reasons why someone chooses to send feedback under the cloak of anonymity. Perhaps prying eyes look into their emails, and they don't want Lit authors replying to them, thus getting them into hot water. That's just one possible reason.

I guess what I am saying is: in my own experience, "anonymous" is often a nice, well meaning person. Although, obviously not in your case.

Lou :rose:

Thanks Lou. Yes, we have also enjoyed many a nice feedback from 'anonymous', and like you say it is sad to not be able to thank them but they must have their reasons, or just don't think to fill out the identifying box. This is actually the only bad experience we have had in feedback, and I guess after 2 years some would say we had been lucky and were overdue for a sample of what many have endured.

As to the IP's, that is what I have understood is the way to track it and keep it all in check, but in this case with so many having more than one or two so called rogue votes deducted, and in some cases they have been taken from stories that have not received any new votes in months, it does not seem to add up. I understood they were checked much more regularly than that, so older votes would not need to disappear in that case.....and it seems coincidental to happen en masse at the same time as someone who is struggling to remain on the first page himself starts sending abusive feedback to people full of accusations and innuendos. Oh well, at least it has kept him busy for a few days which must be a blessing to someone else, if not himself.:rolleyes:

Catalina http://www.flip-logtenberg.net/sex/girl4.gif
 
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