No...this is not an angry low score rant.
Hey guys! I'm here to talk about something that I find a bit troubling. Look, I know this is the internet and everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but as far Lush goes; I'm finding more and more well-received/well written stories I'm reading with only one low score of 3 (meaning it's just average) or lower. Y'all know what I mean (a story could get nothing but 5s and a 3 comes). I'm truly starting to believe that this is being done out of spite or trolling because I even saw a wonderful story that gotta Recommended Read get hit with a 3.
Give me some feedback guys...as Lush authors; what do y'all think?
Everyone doesn't have to like everything.
I actually feel that people are too nice when it comes to scoring on sex story websites - Some are scoring on arousal and overall pleasure derived. Others score on friendship basis. Other score based on quality and error free stories.
Very few people give their genuine opinions if that opinion is negative (and a 3 isn't really a negative - it's just 'this wasn't quite my thing')
Now - go to Amazon and publish a story. There - that stings. I wrote my novella and an online friend read it and scored it with 3 stars - but then gave a review full of positives. So I didn't even know how to take it. 3 stars but it was GREAT? LOL
So - whatever. Lift the rug and sweep it under.
Lush is a very author-friendly and writer-positive place, honestly. It was a bit difficult for me to publish my work at places like All Romance - or even post it for critical critique at a writer's workshop - and then see the real opinions come through.
But I'm an author - and I need these critical elements to improve my writing (That's why I actually sought out a good writing community - so I would have unbiased opinion on the quality of my work - I've benefited from it 100%).
So trolling? No - just a few HONEST people who don't happen to like a story here or there. And that's FINE - that's how it's supposed to be.
Nevertheless, Kal-E185 does have a valid point. I have seen, though obviously not experienced this several times. Knowing the author well enough to pass comment, the reasons for the malicious scoring were then forthcoming.
As anywhere on line some nasty trolls lurk out there.
I've gotten 1's out of spite...
One because the poem was written for someone else.
And I knew who scored it like that, because he's my friend.
And same reason for someone else I added.
I unfriended and blocked both and friended and blocked and friended the other one again.
If you deliberately give a low score out of spite, that's not cool at all.
Was going to change my settings to have to leave a comment when scoring but changed my mind.
I know I have had a lot of very low scores to some of my stories and some very negative, nasty feedback from people that don't like me for whatever there reasons.
I will block if I'm insulted or if I see a pattern of people who just low vote me out of spite.
I don't mind if people don't like, but if I have 35 votes of a 5 and somebody gives me a 1-2 there is something wrong with that. I understand if you don't like it. But a 1-2 seems rude with no email as to why you have given such a low score. I'm just an amateur writer. Feedback is critical for my growth. A score does not tell me what I did wrong.
I love to write, I certainly have a lot to learn but it is a fun hobby. I've met some wonderful people on this site who have helped and guided me with my work.
The moderating staff also will help you whenever you need help. I feel my writing has come a long way. A lot of moderators have helped me. Given me tricks to help me with poetry. Given me information to read on how to write stuff. I'm thankful for that.
I understand people don't like my work and that is fine. I'm not going to be insulted or part of score bombing. Sometimes I will put forced commenting on. Other times I will remove the score all together.
If your on the top lists sometimes people will just low bomb you to keep you off.
This is just my situation with scoring and negative feedback. I am lucky that I have people that enjoy what I write. I have the best readers ever. Thanks to all the moderators who have helped me along my way.
Xoxox
"A 1-2 seems rude with no email as to why you have given such a low score."
~Mysteria27
This is my main reason for starting this thread. everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but when you give a well-received/well written story a low score with no explanation or private message to the author it comes off as spiteful. Thank you, Lady M!
Sadly, in my experience, authors don't ACTUALLY want to know why I felt their story deserved less than a 4.
Everyone claims to want constructive criticism, but they really just want people to blow smoke up their ass. Comments of mine have been labeled as negative and unnecessary when all I did was offer an opinion on how the story might have better captured me. I've even seen some of my more critical comments go missing.
Now, when I leave comments, I try to focus on the specific aspects of the story that I enjoyed (there's almost always at least one thing). That way, I'm still being constructive (because if I didn't comment on something, then it wasn't an outstanding aspect of the story) but running a lower risk of offending anyone, which is the last thing I want to do.
I don't think every 1 or 2 vote is "malicious" (which, in itself, if quite a dramatic word)—sometimes people just don't like it. I would NEVER assume someone had given me a low vote out of spite. I like to think I don't do things that would cause others to act so spitefully towards me. A story being awarded an RR doesn't exclude it from low votes from others—an RR is awarded by ONE person.
Bottom line, though, is that some people are cunts on the internet. You just gotta take the good with the bad, and remember that it doesn't really matter what your average score is—it doesn't actually change the quality of your story.
I appreciate comments on my written works, and most have been positive. I do think, as indicted in the sapient observation above that " some people are cunts on the internet" and that may have an impact on some scores, but in the greater scheme of things....WTF???
Interesting - Dani and everyone makes good points.
I've received some low scores and just don't care, now. I've never retaliated in any way. One time I did get hurt but that was because I published a story straight from my own sex life. LOL I think I disallowed voting for a while since I was bothered - but realized 'tough'.
Further - for really low scores it prompts the reader to tell why. I think that discourages some low voters, actually, even if they were truly being honest.
When you choose to published you must toughen up. You cannot act unprofessionally, either, in response. I've seen silly drama ensue with an author at Goodreads when she felt offended by criticism and attacked the critic. Nope - immature.
I'd say there's a problem if you see the same person do it often. But of course, yo ucan only see that if you're constantly back-and-forth checking your vote scores.
I really like this thread. Some of the responses helped me to learn a little more about their writers.
I agree with Clum and Dani, along with a few others.
I respect writers. I personally will not lie on a score or a comment. I hope people that read me don't do that as well. I get two and three's with no explanation often. I can predict who, most of the time. (Hmm, found your post very interesting.) It doesn't make me angry. I feel sorry for people who obsess over their scores. Some of the best work on this site has low scores and will never be most read. This isn't highschool and I think that it is unreasonable for you to honestly think that everyone is supposed to like what you write. I ask for input and I respect good criticism. I like to discuss my writing and others. I respond to my emails. I take it seriously and I really want to develope as a writer. I respect other good writers and enjoy exchanging with them. I find that the better writers are very open to discussion. They welcome an opportunity to discuss their scoring. They leave comments that really help. They want to discuss the good/bad/ugly of it all. Since I've been on Lush, I've seen some writers evolve because they care and listen. You can't listen to everyone, you can't care what everyone has to say. I'll read their work and weigh their words.
Some people don't want to evolve. I was pretty much told by one writer, that I enjoyed reading actually, that if I wasn't going to give her a five then don't read her or score her. I stay away from those kind of writers. They don't want readers, or good stories, they want blind followers.
I'm not a catty person, and my conscience would never allow me to insult or hurt someone with a comment or score just for the sake of that. That is low. And there are some low people here. The good out weighs the bad though. It out weighs it a lot. PM'ng is a beautiful thing when it comes to giving and getting "advice".
I've sat through plenty of writer's workshops and it can get brutal. But, that's what you sign up for. Not everyone here is trying to get that published work. Not everyone is trying to take their writing up to that next level. They are just sharing. That has to be respected too. Doesn't mean you lie to them though or that they should want you to, but respect them. That means a lot.
All of us have to do our part not to undermine the benefit of having a scoring system.
)) and kisses on the cheek to all of you. ~~~Your Sassy Friend?
