toplists rant

[Guest]

So ok, I am a geek and I write bad fantasy, that makes me almost a conspiracy theorist that believes in signs...

The top lists are a mixed blessing. They bring a lot of reads and new readers, but also a lot of bad attention. It seems that the professional trolls now understand that the sweeps will eventually remove the bad votes, specially around contests, and their "patterns" are becoming more sophisticated. One story in the contest/top list, etc., and all my stories suffer.

I understand this is goal oriented thinking but, I write for others to read. Being systematically down voted by people who have nothing to do is very damaging.

frustrated,

Maharat

 

[rgraham666]

*HUGS*

You'll get used to it. Remind yourself that the troll sweeps often take care of the problem.

That happened with my most recent story. It's pretty much been on the second page since I posted it. Troll sweep, and bingo, it's in the top ten.

I figure it will stay there until about three hours from now.

 

[Guest]

*HUGS*

You'll get used to it. Remind yourself that the troll sweeps often take care of the problem.

That happened with my most recent story. It's pretty much been on the second page since I posted it. Troll sweep, and bingo, it's in the top ten.

I figure it will stay there until about three hours from now.

I don't want to publish the method, but it includes serially bombing all my stories along with the top list entry. Seriously, I am a speed reader and I wrote the stories, but for someone to read over twenty stories on the 500K range would have to take...days!



Maharat

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

They aren't reading. IF they were they might realize what good stuff they are maligning. That is assuming they know how to read or how to appreciate good writing.

All they care about is doing damage. They are the Lit equivalent to vandals and hooligans. With the exception that some graffiti artists actually make metro rides more interesting. Trolls just scorch and run.

Word of mouth of good stories will do more than top lists, and their 1 bombs will soon roll off your back.

*hugs*

 

[Guest]

They aren't reading. IF they were they might realize what good stuff they are maligning. That is assuming they know how to read or how to appreciate good writing.

All they care about is doing damage. They are the Lit equivalent to vandals and hooligans. With the exception that some graffiti artists actually make metro rides more interesting. Trolls just scorch and run.

Word of mouth of good stories will do more than top lists, and their 1 bombs will soon roll off your back.

*hugs*

Thanks!

I am thinking of adopting your last sentence as a mantra.

Word of mouth ...



Maharat

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Thanks!

I am think of adopting your last sentence as a mantra. Word of mouth ...



Maharat

please do. I'm really beginning to realize that people who appreciate talent and talk it up do more for a work than any other method of advertising. Any feedback I get on my work, either writing or database design or what have you, I am now responding with gratitude and a "tell a friend".

After I polish up some of my rushed pieces, I even have some real life friends I want to introduce to my work to get them talking it up.

 

[Recidiva]

They aren't reading. IF they were they might realize what good stuff they are maligning. That is assuming they know how to read or how to appreciate good writing.

All they care about is doing damage. They are the Lit equivalent to vandals and hooligans. With the exception that some graffiti artists actually make metro rides more interesting. Trolls just scorch and run.

Word of mouth of good stories will do more than top lists, and their 1 bombs will soon roll off your back.

*hugs*

That's been my main experience of Lit. After the rather shocked surprise at the virulence and resilience of trolling, that's why I'm at this site and not any other particularly for publication.

The forums here provide a chance to get to know people well enough to know to respect their opinion when they give criticism or praise.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

That's been my main experience of Lit. After the rather shocked surprise at the virulence and resilience of trolling, that's why I'm at this site and not any other particularly for publication.

The forums here provide a chance to get to know people well enough to know to respect their opinion when they give criticism or praise.

rats, I was trolling for bad cyber sex and pictures of boobies.

Now I have to give criticism and praise too?

 

[Guest]

rats, I was trolling for bad cyber sex and pictures of boobies.

Now I have to give criticism and praise too?

Nice thumb.

Very erect.

 

[rachlou]

So ok, I am a geek and I write bad fantasy, that makes me almost a conspiracy theorist that believes in signs...

The top lists are a mixed blessing. They bring a lot of reads and new readers, but also a lot of bad attention. It seems that the professional trolls now understand that the sweeps will eventually remove the bad votes, specially around contests, and their "patterns" are becoming more sophisticated. One story in the contest/top list, etc., and all my stories suffer.

I understand this is goal oriented thinking but, I write for others to read. Being systematically down voted by people who have nothing to do is very damaging.

frustrated,

Maharat

It's annoying, but it happens to us all. I know how frustrated I get when I post something new and within hours, the 1-bombs fall. Think of it as troll-love. If you were insignificant in the Lit world, the trolls would ignore you. It's a twisted kind of compliment.

Ignore it and take more heed of the feedback than the votes, and the senseless down voting will cease to bother you.

 

[Recidiva]

rats, I was trolling for bad cyber sex and pictures of boobies.

Now I have to give criticism and praise too?

Yes, my ego demands it.

 

[Guest]

Nice thumb.

Very erect.

Yeah, though I will never get over that other AV with the pinned down girl...

*sighs*

Maharat

 

[Guest]

Yeah, though I will never get over that other AV with the pinned down girl...

*sighs*

Maharat

OOoh, yeah.

I liked that one, too.

 

[Oblimo]

Think of it as troll-love. If you were insignificant in the Lit world, the trolls would ignore you. It's a twisted kind of compliment.

'Tis true. Nothing says, "You've arrived," like having your own posse of haters.

I'm jealous.

 

[Recidiva]

'Tis true. Nothing says, "You've arrived," like having your own posse of haters.

I'm jealous.

I was kinda happy the first day I saw every story get 1 bombed in a row.

All the anonymous hateful feedback.

I felt special.

 

[Handprints]

I was kinda happy the first day I saw every story get 1 bombed in a row.

All the anonymous hateful feedback.

I felt special.

I felt their timing was particularly special: they picked the day my second story appeared. It managed a truly spectacular 1.2 rating for a couple of days. Very heartening for the authorial ego.

Thank God for gin and the sympathy of blondes...

H