Why don't people vote?

[lovecraft68]

Just wondering why you think most readers don;t seem to vote. When I look at the "control" page I can see views and votes. When I first started the views really excited me but I wondered why so few voted. It was then explained to me that a view is simply someone clicking on it, they could read a paragraph if that and jump off so votes are what to look at. then someone said the average person doesn't vote. Is that true? most of my stories are getting around 8,000 views but maybe 50 or so votes I mean there has to be more than 50 reading it. My thing is if I invest the 15 minutes to whatever it takes to read a story why not another five seconds or not even to vote? usually the only time I don;t is if the story really sucked because I can;t ever give anyone a 1 whether I liked it or not the person worked hard on it and I don;t want to be a jerk lowest I'll go is a three and sometimes I feel bad with that. anyways just wondering what anyone else thought.

 

[Carnevil9]

You pointed out the reason I don't vote: most of the stories I read here suck, and I don't feel it does the author any good to collect low votes. If it is good and I finish reading it, I'll always vote a 4 or a 5.

 

[sr71plt]

Most came just to read and be aroused or at least entertained. There's no requirement that they vote, so most of them don't.

I sometimes get fan mail--either by PM or by e-mail--and it's still evident that that the one who took the time to send a message didn't vote on the story.

 

[TE999]

Just wondering why you think most readers don;t seem to vote. When I look at the "control" page I can see views and votes. When I first started the views really excited me but I wondered why so few voted. It was then explained to me that a view is simply someone clicking on it, they could read a paragraph if that and jump off so votes are what to look at. then someone said the average person doesn't vote. Is that true? most of my stories are getting around 8,000 views but maybe 50 or so votes I mean there has to be more than 50 reading it. My thing is if I invest the 15 minutes to whatever it takes to read a story why not another five seconds or not even to vote? usually the only time I don;t is if the story really sucked because I can;t ever give anyone a 1 whether I liked it or not the person worked hard on it and I don;t want to be a jerk lowest I'll go is a three and sometimes I feel bad with that. anyways just wondering what anyone else thought.

It's quite simple actually, when you give people something for no charge, more often than not they wont even thank you.

 

[kromen]

You get fifty votes? Count your blessings.

 

[lovecraft68]

You get fifty votes? Count your blessings.

Yeah well it's the incest section. I'm up to chapter 24 the early chapters got like a 100+ and a lot more views I guess I'm at the "24 chapters that's to much reading to start!"

 

[lovecraft68]

It's quite simple actually, when you give people something for no charge, more often than not they wont even thank you.

You know, I think you really just nailed that! Makes complete sense now! Another thing I forgot to mention is even when your on a fav's page they don;t vote. many feathers is in 2000+ fav's pages and gets 400 votes so 75% of people who read all his stuff don;t vote!

 

[sr71plt]

Yeah well it's the incest section. I'm up to chapter 24 the early chapters got like a 100+ and a lot more views I guess I'm at the "24 chapters that's to much reading to start!"

That's to be expected too. The voting typically goes down as the chapters build up--with often a large vote on the last one. Some won't then put in a vote until they'd read the last chapter. The vote rating often goes up, though, because someone who doesn't like the series probably won't stick around for 24 chapters.

 

[lovecraft68]

That's to be expected too. The voting typically goes down as the chapters build up--with often a large vote on the last one. Some won't then put in a vote until they'd read the last chapter. The vote rating often goes up, though, because someone who doesn't like the series probably won't stick around for 24 chapters.

Didn't think of it that way! as a matter of fact I have wondered why the vote number and rating have been really consistent over the last 7 or so. Probably be even higher if I didn't have a couple of personal trolls. They have been around so long that I even know they always vote between 12 and two.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Chapter twenty-four! No wonder the votes have dropped. I have two Chapters in the 'New' status in I/T and the first Chapter has 441 votes and the second Chapter has 292 votes. And they were posted two days apart! I could only imagine if it took week(s) between Chapters what the vote count would be.

 

[favoritesgoddess]

You pointed out the reason I don't vote: most of the stories I read here suck, and I don't feel it does the author any good to collect low votes. If it is good and I finish reading it, I'll always vote a 4 or a 5.

This. And it's rare that I find a story I like enough to finish, so I rarely vote.

 

[Weird Harold]

most of my stories are getting around 8,000 views but maybe 50 or so votes I mean there has to be more than 50 reading it.

If you're averaging a 1:160 votes to views ratio, you're doing very well. IIRC, the last time somebody tried to do a statistical analysis, the site average was 1:1000 or so.

There's a lot of reason people don't vote ranging from they didn't finish the story to they don't want to get their mouse sticky. There's not really any way you can improve the ratio -- although some authors do beg for votes and comments in a closing author's note, I have no idea how effective it is.

 

[LizzyDark]

If the story did its job, then the person probably has other, more pressing concerns to deal with.

If the story didn't do its job, then the person probably has other, more pressing concerns like looking for a story that will do the job.

I think your audience also matters a whole lot. If you're after the graphic, getting guys off sort of stories, you can't really be surprised when the guys you just help get off then get disoriented, start thinking of sandwiches or roll over and go to sleep rather than giving you a star rating. I'm not really sure what the views to ratings are on my story--probably no better, but I'm assuming a lot of people just aren't into the fact that my story is actually a story and not wall to wall porn, so they probably never even get past the first few paragraphs, thus, few ratings.

 

[sr71plt]

If you're averaging a 1:160 votes to views ratio, you're doing very well. IIRC, the last time somebody tried to do a statistical analysis, the site average was 1:1000 or so.

There's no "one statistic serves all," though. There's a great disparity across the categories on likelihood to either vote or comment.

 

[Weird Harold]

There's no "one statistic serves all," though. There's a great disparity across the categories on likelihood to either vote or comment.

Yeah, that is why I characterized it as "tried to do a statistical analysis."

 

[lovecraft68]

If the story did its job, then the person probably has other, more pressing concerns to deal with.

If the story didn't do its job, then the person probably has other, more pressing concerns like looking for a story that will do the job.

I think your audience also matters a whole lot. If you're after the graphic, getting guys off sort of stories, you can't really be surprised when the guys you just help get off then get disoriented, start thinking of sandwiches or roll over and go to sleep rather than giving you a star rating. I'm not really sure what the views to ratings are on my story--probably no better, but I'm assuming a lot of people just aren't into the fact that my story is actually a story and not wall to wall porn, so they probably never even get past the first few paragraphs, thus, few ratings.

I think you're right there. I do have an involved (for pron anyway) story and many of my chapters nothing erotic happens on the first page so if their skimming their just going ot jump off. No coincidence that a couple I did start with a sex scene were voted a bit higher. so that's it! Write backwards!

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I only award 5's. Anything less is ignored.

 

[lovecraft68]

I only award 5's. Anything less is ignored.

Well I'll give you credit then for voting if you think it's great but not trolling if you think it sucks. Personally like I said earlier if a story blows I'll leave it be rather than "crush" someone. I've read some authors bio updates where some of them are just about ready to quit over shitty votes. A little sensitive if you ask me, but that's just me I don't mind some abuse here and there. It doesn't even have to be constructive. I'll take a good old fashioned you suck! Or seeing I'm in the incest category with a brother and sister who are into S&M I'll even take "You're sick!"

 

[lovecraft68]

Chapter twenty-four! No wonder the votes have dropped. I have two Chapters in the 'New' status in I/T and the first Chapter has 441 votes and the second Chapter has 292 votes. And they were posted two days apart! I could only imagine if it took week(s) between Chapters what the vote count would be.

Yeah you know I am actually going to break off my series for the next week because I am going to write a one shot brother sister story that I am going to enter into the Valentine's day contest and I'm curious to see how many votes it will get as it's not a high chapter number. last one I did was a mother son I wrote because I lost a bet and that one got around 180. I've only been writing since May so hopefully I'm starting to get more of a following.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Well I'll give you credit then for voting if you think it's great but not trolling if you think it sucks. Personally like I said earlier if a story blows I'll leave it be rather than "crush" someone. I've read some authors bio updates where some of them are just about ready to quit over shitty votes. A little sensitive if you ask me, but that's just me I don't mind some abuse here and there. It doesn't even have to be constructive. I'll take a good old fashioned you suck! Or seeing I'm in the incest category with a brother and sister who are into S&M I'll even take "You're sick!"

I let a professional look at my stuff, and about half the time her verdict is THIS BLOWS. Maybe 40% of the time I get a thumbs=up; and thats a respectable batting average....400.

Awarding scores less than 5 invites whining, especially since most LIT posters want an ATTA-GIRL! and a plastic trophy. They couldnt care less about improvement. I dont waste more time on them.

 

[lovecraft68]

I let a professional look at my stuff, and about half the time her verdict is THIS BLOWS. Maybe 40% of the time I get a thumbs=up; and thats a respectable batting average....400.

Awarding scores less than 5 invites whining, especially since most LIT posters want an ATTA-GIRL! and a plastic trophy. They couldnt care less about improvement. I dont waste more time on them.

You're right there as well the people who say your stuff rules are of course absolutely right and the people who say they wouldn't wipe their ass with it are of course wrong or mean or hurtful! I hate it when someone states they want and are open to feedback but get upset at what they get back. To me adversity makes you better and constructive negative comments make me work harder. I will admit anonymous negative feedback does aggravate me. If you want to blst me fine but man up and let me know who you are. These are the people that received to many swirlies in life and need to strike back.

The only negative remark i ever got that pissed me off was after my first chapter. The brother in my series is a lawyer in Providence RI. I mention that he works for a firm but is one of the best prosecutors in the private sector. Someone e-mails me that there is no such thing as a private prosecutor and because I'm making things up he will no longer read the series. Well first off I did research it and RI has a law that if a plaintiff feels the state is not representing him fairly or has been compromised that they can bring in a private attorney only stipulation is that they have to work with a state appointed official as co-council. So first off I wasn't making it up but couldn't tell him as of course he didn't give a name. second of all this is a fiction (and erotic fiction at that) site. Fiction suspends reality or it would be non fiction and bottom line this is a sex site if you're that high brow what the hell are you doing here? Sorry that rant just kind of slipped out! I think I'd have rather had you suck in that case.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

True.

I came across something like that the other day. The author made what I thought was an inaccurate claim, but he was right.

 

[lovecraft68]

True.

I came across something like that the other day. The author made what I thought was an inaccurate claim, but he was right.

Maybe it's me but I tend to take things for what their worth. I mean if it was a glaring inaccuracy it might annoy me but in general I'll just roll with things if I like the story. It's about staying within your limits. As i said the brother in my series is an attorney. I am not all I know about law is watching some Law and order marathons. Because of that I do not get into his job and start quoting so and so vs so and so says.... In fact my chapter I'm working on now describes a high profile case he won that all the behind the scenes things affect the storyline as in the blackmail, back stabbing and other shit. I describe the trial from the sister's point of view and do it as if she's "reading an article" this happened that happened, but stay away from all courtroom affairs except where to describe how he embarrassed a witness. In general it is better to be thought a fool then.... well you know!

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I've been thru 100s of trials and seen some bizarre shit done by judges and lawyers. I've also seen a few lawyers and judges perform magic with almost nothing to work with.

 

[lovecraft68]

I've been thru 100s of trials and seen some bizarre shit done by judges and lawyers. I've also seen a few lawyers and judges perform magic with almost nothing to work with.

So are you in the legal profession?