Voting Methods

[dr_mabeuse]

I'm curious as to some of the ways people approach the task of voting for stories, because you can approach it any one of several ways.

Specifically, what do the numbers mean to you?
Do you give a merely average story a rating of a 3 or a 4?
Do you take off points for things like mechanics and spelling?
Do you rate stories you might not finish reading?
Do you give 1's to really bad stories or just not vote?
Does content influence your vote, for instance, if you don't like the subject matter, or what happens to the protagonist?
What's your criteria for giving a story a 5?

---dr.M.

 

[damppanties]

I'm curious as to some of the ways people approach the task of voting for stories, because you can approach it any one of several ways.

Specifically, what do the numbers mean to you?
Do you give a merely average story a rating of a 3 or a 4?
Do you take off points for things like mechanics and spelling?
Do you rate stories you might not finish reading?
Do you give 1's to really bad stories or just not vote?
Does content influence your vote, for instance, if you don't like the subject matter, or what happens to the protagonist?
What's your criteria for giving a story a 5?

---dr.M.

Average = 3. But then average in what? It may be average in grammar and spelling but very good with the plot handling, idea, whatever, so that would upgrade it.

Yes, I take off points for mechanics and spelling. I'm talking something like two errors per paragraph.

Sometimes. If I cannot read it, I scroll down and vote a two because it is not readable! Other times, I don't bother.

Have not given a 1 yet. I don't know. I just can't seem to click on that thing. My hands shake.

No, not really. Unless it's something really sick, Then the rating might come down a point. It has not happened yet. (I'd prefer feedback to voting down)

Well, tough one. Too many different reasons. The reasons for the last three stories I gave fives for were:
1. very good writing + good, unusual description for everyday objects, events + good plot
2. it left a VERY good feeling in me after I finished reading it. A totally emotional reaction.
3. The sex was HOT. The rest of the story flowed well too.


More than votes, if I feel I need to tell the author about anything in the story, feedback. I usually do feel the need.


edited because I need to remember to close the paranthesis in the code thingies.

 

[The_Fool]

My mama told me if I can't say something nice, don't say nuthin' at all. If I didn't finish it, I don't vote. If I give it a four, I usually send feedback. If I give it a five, I try to always give feedback.

Three - I finished it, but it needs help.
Four - Not bad. Predictable. Needs technical help.
Five - I wish I'd written it.

 

[Mhari]

I've given 5s, 3s, and 1s. For some reason, 2 and 4 are meaningless for me.

5 = Wow, I loved the whole thing and would want to read anything else the author wrote!

3 = Eh, was okay, but didn't do all that much for me.

1 = I spent most of the time wondering why the hell the story got posted in the first place. Usually features poor writing, bad mechanics, and predictable characters and plotlines.

Never sent anyone feedback. I guess I feel "unqualified" to do that, somehow.

 

[Guest]

Per the rating tool provided I rate Lit. stories the way I rate anything I read. Most stories here rate a 3; for me that means basically well written. I do not take the sex into account anymore than I take content of a great novel (i.e., literature); the worth is in the words and language, and how they are used.

I've given 2's when the writing is plainly crap and it seems the writer didn't care. 2's are 1's for me.

I rarely give 5's, but when I do it's because I think the story should be published between two hard covers. 4's are rare too and you might figure out why I give them.

Perdita

 

[damppanties]

Never sent anyone feedback. I guess I feel "unqualified" to do that, somehow.

There is no qualification required! Some of the best feedback I have received has been about what the reader felt after they read the story (or poem). Sometimes just a 'lovely story' will brighten up a dull day. The explanation next to your 5 would do very well.

 

[Green_Gem]

Voting

I agree very much with Perdita’s voting system and vote similarly. I don’t take the sex into account as the main criteria, but rather evaluate the story as a whole. A story that is basically reasonably well written will get a 3.

If I get through a story that is poorly written and the author hasn’t made much effort to knock it into shape, or the whole thing is just unrealistic, I will vote give it a 2 – so 2’s are basically 1’s for me as well. I don’t give 1 ratings because I think that no matter how mediocre a story is, someone has taken the time to write it and it deserves some credit at least for that.

If I can’t get through a story, I will back click within the first few paragraphs and won’t vote at all. I don’t click into stories in categories that hold no appeal for me, so I don’t vote a story down because I don’t like the subject. I simply don’t look at them at all.

I do give 5’s though, and I give them when a story is really well written and I can engage with the characters. I will often send feedback as well. I seldom vote a 4.

G_G

 

[Pure]

I tend not to vote, esp. in the bad cases, though sometimes an insult to readers has gotten a 2. (You know, the half hr. wonders that are far less than a Lit. page.) The best writings would get a note. Increasingly I think the numbers are meaningless: If someone thinks the story is so damn good as to be a 5, let them say something other than--in effect--"Great! Bye!"

Where I have given a 5, it's for one of two reasons: either it's fine writing in several ways, esp in avoiding cliches and 'purple' prose; or, somehow, it accomplishes its arousal objective and the writing isn't too terrible, iow there's some imagination. The arousal is pretty rare since I've read hundreds of posted stories, a majority eminently forgettable.**

J.

**This is at variance with the folks above, like GreenG who say
//I don’t take the sex into account as the main criteria//. This is a site of pornish erotica or erotic porn, is it not (with a few categories of exceptions)? The only reason I see NOT to take sex into account is where the story is labelled or plainly IS non-erotic, either pure romance or fantasy, for instance.

Since most authors here-- judging by the writing-- are, as a main objective, *trying to arouse, it seems quite appropriate to 'grade' with that as a main, but not sole criterion. Why not, Green G?

 

[Icingsugar]

Very short answers to quite short questions:

Do you give a merely average story a rating of a 3 or a 4?
3

Do you take off points for things like mechanics and spelling?
Yes, if we talk erotic stories, they are supposed to arouse, or at least titillate. Bad grammar and spelling is one of the best ways to break the mood.

Do you rate stories you might not finish reading?
Huh? How can you rate a story if you haven't read it all the way through?

Do you give 1's to really bad stories or just not vote?
1's don't come easily, it have to be both a bad story, poorly told, and obvious that the ambition wasn't higher than that either. But when I spot them, 1 they go.

Does content influence your vote, for instance, if you don't like the subject matter, or what happens to the protagonist?
Example: A long flowery, well written, highly erotic romance story, which ends with "then he took a dump in her face. The end." will get a lower rating. If the content alltogether is not by bag, I don't vote.

What's your criteria for giving a story a 5?That I forget that I'm reading it.

 

[LadyJane]

I definitely give a story a lower vote if it contains grammar/punctuation/spelling errors. I usually don't give 1's or 2's; if I dislike the story that much, I just don't vote (ditto for not finishing a story). A story has to be really good for me to give it a 5 - well written, good characters, good story, and frankly, it has to have good sex scenes...When I give a story a 5, I usually send feedback.

 

[MathGirl]

What's your criteria for giving a story a 5?

Dear Dr M,
4 = Sheep OR garderobes
5 = Sheep AND garderobes
MG
Ps. Well, you asked.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Greetings,

This will come as no surprise to AH irregulars, but I ain't normal. Due to a combination of natural laziness and unnatural bad eyesight, I tend to limit my reading to folks I know, stories that have been recommended or to stories on a TOP list as I to try to fingure out how the hell good writers do their voo-do.

Unllike Ice-man, I will sometimes vote on stories after only reading the opening and closing. If the opening is crap, I'll check the conclusion. Nine times out of ten, it will also be crap. However, I never give one's and seldom click on two unless the story is an insult to the English language plus a waste of reader's time and Lit space.

As for the rest. Three's are average. Four's are above average but with some shortcomings. Five's are superior pieces of writing that I enjoyed reading.

Rumple

 

[Icingsugar]

Re: Re: Voting Methods

Dear Dr M,
4 = Sheep OR garderobes
5 = Sheep AND garderobes
MG
Ps. Well, you asked.

Oh I just gotta write me one of those now...

 

[Green_Gem]

Hello Pure

You asked:

**This is at variance with the folks above, like GreenG who say
//I don’t take the sex into account as the main criteria//. This is a site of pornish erotica or erotic porn, is it not (with a few categories of exceptions)? The only reason I see NOT to take sex into account is where the story is labelled or plainly IS non-erotic, either pure romance or fantasy, for instance.

Since most authors here-- judging by the writing-- are, as a main objective, *trying to arouse, it seems quite appropriate to 'grade' with that as a main, but not sole criterion. Why not, Green G?


Well simply put, I don't read stories here with the specific intention of becoming aroused. In other words I don't click into Lit to get off.

Of course a well written teasing build up or a well written sex scene as part of a story that moves me or that I can get involved in will certainly titillate and may well get a physical reaction from me. If that is the case it would definitely get a 5, but it wouldn't be based purely on the sex. I said I don't use it as the main criteria, but perhaps that's because I'm a female and we sometimes think and view the world differently to men.

G_G

 

[raphy]

perhaps that's because I'm a female and we sometimes think and view the world differently to men.

G_G

Difficult to tell, GG, since Pure's apparently gender-variable, depending on when you speak to it.

 

[Guest]

Hola, Green Gem. Lest you're unawares, you've been christened on the AH in the worst way. I'm once again irked and bemused that Pure chooses to argue (as always badly) with a personal expression.

Welcome though, from me,

Perdita

 

[Guest]

 

[mtnman2003]

Inconsistency of Voting.........

Well, based on the thread so far, it seems that, even the most prolific authors/contributors to lit vary greatly in the forma and use of voting.

When a story is well written, flows according to a high level of acceptable use of language, takes the reader through the scenarios described fluently, with or without sex, I find that I vote the story high.

I do not care for poorly written, jump here to there and back, but many orgasms just don't do it for me. And would vote accordingly. I have found that I now search for authors that I know, stories that have "H" already. Poor stories, use of poor grammar, etc are a big turnoff and cause return to the story list for another alternative!!

I appreciate feedback with stories, and try to give feedback often.

Here's hoping that voting gets some consistency.

Mtn

 

[Sabledrake]

If I don't finish a story, I don't vote. I back-click for a lot of picky reasons including POV, tense, spelling, cited measurements, off-putting opening notes or disclaimers, etc.

If a story holds my interest enough to finish, that means I must like it enough to give it a 4 and maybe a feedback. If I _really_ like it, I'll give a 5 and definite feedback. But, sad to say, I don't have time to read very many.

Sabledrake

 

[Guest]

Re: Inconsistency of Voting.........

Here's hoping that voting gets some consistency.

Hombre de las Montañas,

Your name is familiar and I hope if I've reposted to you before it was kind, or in kind. You speak clearly and I'm simpatico. However I'm negativo in expecting consistency in the ballot box at Lit.

Respeto,

Perdita

 

[jessy19]

I usually give 3's very seldom...for instance if the story is too short or if there is a lot of grammar and spelling errors

I give 4's if the story moved me somehow

I give 5's to any story that got me hot or made my day *s*

Usually if I get bored in the middle of the story i just click off to the next one and don't vote at all

 

[Guest]

It is difficult to find the time to read

as many stories as I feel I should be reading!

I try to read some of the new stories whenever possible, but I usually wind up reading submissions by friends or favorite authors (often the same people) and stories that have been recommended.

If the grammar is poor, the wording is trite, the sexual content is pathetic, it gets a '1' (and I usually can't finish the thing). Often stories with the "I'mmmmm coommmmmmiinnnnnnggggggggg!" sort of dialogue will fall into that category.

I rarely give '2' ratings, though, come to think of it. I suppose if it is evident there was some effort put forth I hate to slam the writer.

A '3' rating goes to average stories. Readable, but perhaps the plot has been used many times before, the sex isn't very interesting, and the situations aren't exactly believable.

I give '4' ratings for well-written, better than average work.

I don't give very many '5' ratings. For that I feel the character and plot development must be impressive, grammatical errors should be nonexistent (although sometimes if the story is quality, those can be overlooked - I tell them to get an editor!) I also think the story should move me in some way. Erotically, or with humor, or perhaps with sympathy or horror. Something. It should provoke a reaction.

I love feedback and I try to send it when possible. (It's tough to send feedback with a '1', though. I mean honestly - where do you start?)

 

[A7inchPhildo]

I'm curious as to some of the ways people approach the task of voting for stories, because you can approach it any one of several ways.

Specifically, what do the numbers mean to you?
Specifically the numbers mean to me that the person who wrote the story is about to be lied to about their story depending on content, category, and title.
Do you give a merely average story a rating of a 3 or a 4?
Average story is normally 2-4
Do you take off points for things like mechanics and spelling?
Not unless I cant get into the story because of it. "i", "i" and unreasonable skews of letters bothers me, not spelling mistakes as easy as it is to correct I am reading the story not playing teacher. Biggest dislike is verb tense and not keeping the facts strait.
Do you rate stories you might not finish reading?
catch22, If I can not finish the story because it is so poor I definitely rate them 1
Do you give 1's to really bad stories or just not vote?
Depends if I feel the writer was trying or just didn't care. If I don't vote I will contact the author and let him/her know why. If it is a seasoned writer who posted out of haste and it is a poor story I take all the serious facts and give it a 1 if needed
Does content influence your vote, for instance, if you don't like the subject matter, or what happens to the protagonist?
Content does matter although I enter with an open mind I will find a story out of my liking to be tiresome to read. There for if it is not a category I like I always mark up one digit 3 becomes a 4
What's your criteria for giving a story a 5?
"Save that for friends only" A 5 story must have some degree of erotica, this is not mother goose site this is literotica so all the non erotica stories I tend to not read. I am not into amature writers. (as the whining and tears start) The story must have good flow/movement. The characters must be vivid and alive. I do not need to reread more than once to maintain my thoughts or to make sure I am not confused. The title is an apropriate title for the story that will get a 5 and certainly at least a thank you feedback

If I do not vote I will generally send feedback explaining why or how the story was to fucked up for even me to read it.I watch if it gets revised I will then read it and vote if not it gets a 1 after a couple weeks. And those of you who have gotten feed back from me know I add my email and user name.

---dr.M.

Good thing they do not have ratings for individual posts!

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I'm curious as to some of the ways people approach the task of voting for stories, because you can approach it any one of several ways.

Specifically, what do the numbers mean to you?
Do you give a merely average story a rating of a 3 or a 4?
Do you take off points for things like mechanics and spelling?
Do you rate stories you might not finish reading?
Do you give 1's to really bad stories or just not vote?
Does content influence your vote, for instance, if you don't like the subject matter, or what happens to the protagonist?
What's your criteria for giving a story a 5?

---dr.M.

3 is average. Deciding what is average is hard considering the range of stories here.

Considering my own weakness in mechanics it would be hypocritical of me to deduct for that unless the errors are glaring and repeated.

I will vote for a story I might not finish reading if I like the story but for whatever reason cannot finish it. I only do this if the story is above average however, I wouldn't low vote a story I didn't finish.

If I think a story rates a one I usually don't vote. I would more likely send feedback on why I thought it was bad.

I do lower my vote for content, but never because the content is disagreeable to me (i.e. I wouldn't lower the vote on a loving wives story in that section merely beacuse I don't like the category). I will lower the vote for interior inconsistancies (ex. the protag is described as dressing in her best red lingerie, goe sout with her beau for dinner, and when they get back to her place and she now has on black lingerie).

A 5 is reserved for those stories that are both well written and moving. I probably give more 5 votes than most since I rarely deduct for mechanics.

-Colly

 

[thebullet]

I guess I'm an elitist because I let the rest of the readership cull my reading choices. When I first started on Literotica I went to the "NEW" section and perused the new arrivals, reading those that appeared somewhat interesting.

Much of the new postings are crap, and I found I was wasting my time. Since then, I usually go to the "Top Lists" section and read from stories that are already highly rated by other readers.

As per voting, I am already looking at stories that others have rated above 4.5. I guess I'm expecting the stories I read to be good.

Of course, everyone has different expectations. I'm no different. If a story moves me, I will usually vote and offer feedback. Rarely, if the story is good except for mechanical flaws, I will offer the author advice. A good story can become a great story if it doesn't self-destruct by improper word usage and obvious spelling errors.

I almost always give only positive votes. I don't have the patience to read through a badly written story, so I don't vote in those instances. The exception is a very highly rated story that I think is crap. Then I have to put my two cents in.

Mostly I rate the story based upon the quality of the prose and the effectiveness of the feelings evocked. Of course, it's easy to be forgiving if the writing quality is poor but the scenes are hot.