To Vote or Not To Vote

[minsue]

On the story feedback thread was a question that I have often wondered about myself:

Here's a response and a question from a reader and (as yet) non-author.

Often, by the time I get to the third paragraph, I find that the story I've opened is not one that I want to continue reading. If I were to vote on these stories, I'd probably give them ones, since I obviously didn't enjoy them enough to even read them to the end. Instead, I click on the back button without voting.

In a way, this skews the voting results, to the disadvantage of the stories I did read, because a great many of the stories I've opened would have much lower scores, and the stories that I did finish would be ranked relatively higher.

My question to authors, then, is this: would you prefer a low score for a story I've preferred not to read through (for whatever reason), or no vote at all?


Crazy Lou

Like Lou, I usually just don't vote. Every once in a while, though, I go through a blunt honesty phase & vote 1s & 2s (depending on how terrible) for the stories that are so bad I can't even make it to the end.

What's a reader to do?

 

[Guest]

Min, I voted on #2 but not for the second sentence. I don't give 1s cos they might be cleaned out, but I'll give a 2 to prevent more crap (not that I think it will). Otherwise I normally give 3s for mediocrity, 4s for very good, and very few 5s. For my own scores I truly do not care.

Perdita

 

[Boxlicker101]

Originally posted by Lou Nuttick
Here's a response and a question from a reader and (as yet) non-author.

Often, by the time I get to the third paragraph, I find that the story I've opened is not one that I want to continue reading. If I were to vote on these stories, I'd probably give them ones, since I obviously didn't enjoy them enough to even read them to the end. Instead, I click on the back button without voting.



It would depend on why I didn't want to continue reading it. If it was stupid and poorly written and I disliked it for that reason, I might give it a 1 or 2 without reading to the end. On the other hand, if it is something I don't want to read about, I would not vote. I really don't want to read about abuse or rape or slavery or violence and if that is the subject, I will stop reading. I won't give it a low vote, though, because it might be a great story, just about a subject I don't like. I won't give it a high vote either, of course.

 

[minsue]

Originally posted by Boxlicker101

It would depend on why I didn't want to continue reading it. If it was stupid and poorly written and I disliked it for that reason, I might give it a 1 or 2 without reading to the end. On the other hand, if it is something I don't want to read about, I would not vote. I really don't want to read about abuse or rape or slavery or violence and if that is the subject, I will stop reading. I won't give it a low vote, though, because it might be a great story, just about a subject I don't like. I won't give it a high vote either, of course. [/B]

I agree there. If it's the subject matter, not the writing, I don't vote at all.

(I just voted #3 because I hate having to hit the 'view results' button. Skewing my own poll results. )

 

[Guest]

 

[gauchecritic]

I think it's probably wrong to vote on something that you haven't read. I also think it's wrong to vote low on something because it doesn't appeal to you.

If you're reading something on Lit to get you hot and bondage doesn't turn you on then why are you reading a bondage story for fuck's sake?

If you don't like it, STOP READING.

Otherwise look out all the authors that have pissed you off recently and one vote every story, then go through each category that turns you off and one vote all those. Then go to the categories you do like and one vote the titles/blurbs you don't like.

Works for me.

Gauche

 

[CharleyH]

I voted for you, bitch laughing because the word turns my crank . . . what can I say

In reality, if I don't like a story I don't read it, so how can I fairly vote on something I can't possibly get through? I like to be fair at the very least, but I also don't comment about the fact that I didn't read it because, well, what's the point if I have nothing to help the author?

 

[LorriLove]

yep

I think it's probably wrong to vote on something that you haven't read. I also think it's wrong to vote low on something because it doesn't appeal to you.

If you're reading something on Lit to get you hot and bondage doesn't turn you on then why are you reading a bondage story for fuck's sake?

If you don't like it, STOP READING.

Otherwise look out all the authors that have pissed you off recently and one vote every story, then go through each category that turns you off and one vote all those. Then go to the categories you do like and one vote the titles/blurbs you don't like.

Works for me.

Gauche

so right gauche, if you don't like the heat, keep out of the kitchen, and don't shoot the chef for your mistake.

if i start reading something i don't like the subject matter of, i switch off and wouldn't dream of voting any way, up or down, so unfair to do so.

anyone who casts a vote for any reason other than genuine like or dislike of the content, is not only cheating the author, but their own integrity as well.

 

[minsue]

Re: yep

so right gauche, if you don't like the heat, keep out of the kitchen, and don't shoot the chef for your mistake.

if i start reading something i don't like the subject matter of, i switch off and wouldn't dream of voting any way, up or down, so unfair to do so.

anyone who casts a vote for any reason other than genuine like or dislike of the content, is not only cheating the author, but their own integrity as well.

I think we all agree that dislike for the subject matter is not cause for a low vote. It's when the writing itself is terrible. That's where my own curiosity lies.

 

[LorriLove]

Re: Re: yep

I think we all agree that dislike for the subject matter is not cause for a low vote. It's when the writing itself is terrible. That's where my own curiosity lies.

oh if the writing's terrible, whether or not i like the content, i'd vote it down to shit. but the writing can't be that bad if it's posted on literotica cos they check everything surely. someone i know had a story rejected cos of a couple of missing commas.

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Re: yep

i'd vote it down to shit.

Lorri, I love your singular expressiveness, such a breath of fresh air.

Perdita

p.s. ask your friend if he'd like a few commas, I'm very generous with my punctuation.

 

[LorriLove]

Re: Re: Re: Re: yep

Lorri, I love your singular expressiveness, such a breath of fresh air.

Perdita

p.s. ask your friend if he'd like a few commas, I'm very generous with my punctuation.

he said he'd lick your comma any day hun, oh!!!... sorry you said "like" giggle. (he told me to say it, honest, giggle)

 

[Guest]

Ooh, Lorri. A new term for my, you know. My comma.

Thanks, love. P.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

It's a question of style vs. content. My votes are almost entirely based on the style of the piece rather than the content.

---dr.M.

 

[kellycummings]

Re: Re: Re: yep

oh if the writing's terrible, whether or not i like the content, i'd vote it down to shit. but the writing can't be that bad if it's posted on literotica cos they check everything surely. someone i know had a story rejected cos of a couple of missing commas.

The technical aspects of the writing can be perfect and it could still be shit. If the writer keeps using the same words over and over or has no sense of time and place or any number of things then it is poorly written. The story itself might be good but if the author writes like a remedial english student then the piece will suck.

 

[gauchecritic]

hmm

The technical aspects of the writing can be perfect and it could still be shit. If the writer keeps using the same words over and over or has no sense of time and place or any number of things then it is poorly written. The story itself might be good but if the author writes like a remedial english student then the piece will suck.

We've had this particular discussion too.

In the correct circumstances poor grammar (maybe not spelling) can be used to great effect, two of the best stories I've ever seen on Lit were not written in an 'authorly' style. Poor phrasing, bad construction and virtually non-existant punctuation. Written in fact, as the spoken word.

They were (to me) more real than almost anything else I've read at Lit. They didn't preface the story with 'this is a true story' but because of the way they were written I felt as though they were telling me episodes from their life.

Or professionally take "Flowers for Algernon" Part of this book is written in the style of a less than remedial student, who takes part in an experiment to increase his intellect. As the student's intellect grows so does the vocabulary in his 'diary' painting a much better picture of his growth than the author writing "He grew brainer by the day."

Gauche

 

[lucky-E-leven]

I, personally, think that a one or two vote is useless for the purpose of sending the message "This Sucks!" unless it is accompanied by some piece of feedback. I don't vote anything unless I've read it through, but in the event that something is either awfully written or the content is awful, I normally try to find something constructive to say. In the past, it has been well received and appreciated, despite the fact that I essentially said, "This Sucks!"

~lucky

 

[Guest]

My thoughts echo much of what has already been posted.

I rarely give 1 votes; when I do so it is because of lack of organization, style, grammar or skill. But I force myself to finish the story before I vote.

If I don't like the story content I won't vote. That just wouldn't be fair to the writer.

(AND now I'm awfully curious about 'dita's comma!)

 

[KarenAM]

I've been in writing groups where I've seen writers destroyed by criticism, so if I really don't like a story I usually won't finish it and therefore won't vote on it. If I do finish it and can give constructive feedback that I feel will help the author improve, I send them a private message with my comments. Stores may be bad, but they're bad for reasons, and pointing these out privately and constructively is the best way to get an author to take your advice, in my experience.

I also don't expect perfection; a story can have mistakes and still earn a high vote from me if the author has obviously put effort into writing something more than a sex scene. Sincere effort should be rewarded just as quality is.

 

[A7inchPhildo]

Re: hmm

We've had this particular discussion too.

In the correct circumstances poor grammar (maybe not spelling) can be used to great effect, two of the best stories I've ever seen on Lit were not written in an 'authorly' style. Poor phrasing, bad construction and virtually non-existant punctuation. Written in fact, as the spoken word.

They were (to me) more real than almost anything else I've read at Lit. They didn't preface the story with 'this is a true story' but because of the way they were written I felt as though they were telling me episodes from their life.

Or professionally take "Flowers for Algernon" Part of this book is written in the style of a less than remedial student, who takes part in an experiment to increase his intellect. As the student's intellect grows so does the vocabulary in his 'diary' painting a much better picture of his growth than the author writing "He grew brainer by the day."

Gauche

I could not have said it better than that! Some of the best stories on Lit are very poor in the grammar and proper use of words.
*Edited to say ~Sometimes I even try to mimic that style of writing excluding improper use of words.~

To me the vote seems to be a gesture toward the monthly prize. I think it can provide some insight as to how a story performs after many votes have been given.

If for some reason I am going to back click out of a story I do not vote. However if it is in acategory I like to read I am going to send feedback explaining why I did not vote and why I did not like the story. How else can a new author learn?

Voting a story to death by ones does not help that person to write a better story the next time. It may make them never write again.

I don't find it a compitition to be the best only author, to me the more the merrier. But if a story sucks bad enough to deserve a one then they need a little help, not just a hindering low score.

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: hmm

Voting a story to death by ones does not help that person to write a better story the next time. It may make them never write again.

If I give a story a 2 (my 1) it's because I do not believe that author cares about writing a better story the next time, or ever. It's just my opinion, but that's what a vote is.

Perdita

 

[A7inchPhildo]

Re: Re: Re: hmm

If I give a story a 2 (my 1) it's because I do not believe that author cares about writing a better story the next time, or ever. It's just my opinion, but that's what a vote is.

Perdita

LOL Perdi,

I also use the one for that purpose. I tend to use it more on established authors who don't care, or are more interested in a contest than the story. More so that, than newbies.

 

[minsue]

This is the least helpful poll I've ever seen! A tie does not give me the answers I'm looking for here, people.

 

[Guest]

Aw, Min, you expected answers? real data? results to analyze? Our thoughtful comments mean zippo?

I'm, well, ... uh ... Oh, yeah - I don't care. But I voted.

Perdita

 

[minsue]

Aw, Min, you expected answers? real data? results to analyze? Our thoughtful comments mean zippo?

I'm, well, ... uh ... Oh, yeah - I don't care. But I voted.

Perdita

The thoughtful comments are wonderful, but they're all over the place. I was hoping for a consensus from the majority and a nice pat answer. I suppose I'll have to go back to thinking for myself. It's a dangerous exercise.

- Mindy