Votes going down?

[GloriaWill]

Why would the vote count for a story drop? One day it was 60 the next day 56, isn't a vote a vote?

 

[sr71plt]

The site does sweeps of votes it considers bogus (on an unrevealed formula). It does this more frequently at the end of periodic contests. The Vantentines Day contest just ended. Thus, the votes you lost are ones the site considers bogus. As these are mostly zap votes and the story rating goes up, it usually works to the author's advantage.

 

[GloriaWill]

Okay, thank you.
Gloria

 

[CopperSkink]

<---rating went up on Valentines story, but votes fell far below the required twenty-five to qualify ::S

 

[elfin_odalisque]

For contests, 'sweeps' are more frequent than for normal postings. I think with the old comments system you could vote on the stars then vote again effectively with the comment thermometer. At least that has gone.

I believe the sweeps ensure that only one vote is recorded per IP/ISP which is a pain if several people share the same connection. Also, people here have said that the sweep system eliminates troll votes which makes sense when so many contest entrants are surprised when their votes go down but their score goes up.

Publicity is the lifeblood. If you want some votes come begging for them on SF or Og's contest support thread on AH. Well known writers attract attention with their name but the rest of us must hustle.