Quote by KimmiBeGood

I’m guessing because the others passed you in that time period. Kat and Annie have huge followings! I don’t doubt when their suggested stories get nice renewed interest. So, should Lush have date parameters on what can be a Trending story? I don’t think so. I think it just starts down a rabbit hole… just my opinion.

Honestly, I have no opinion on how the story trending banner should work both now and in the future...

At the moment, I would suggest the only thing that needs to be established is how the current story trending banner works and ask the following: Is it broken? If yes, can we live with it, or is it worth investing to make the changes?

Only those in authority (LS shareholders) can answer those questions. Whether they make them public, well, that's another question.

Quote by KimmiBeGood

I looked at Kat’s profile and like she said above, she suggests older stories on her profile. One she mentioned has that trending older micro listed as one of the two suggested reads if you scroll to the bottom of that story, probably drawing attention to it again now.

Good morning Kimmi, I experimented with doing this earlier in the week with an old micro... It got 5 or 6 likes, 1 comment, hit number one on the trending banner for a few hours and then dropped completely off... 🙄

Maybe scrolling down the story makes a difference, but it is a micro, so not much scrolling to be done. As for views making a difference... I doubt that, as these stories are too old to get many views.

Quote by kistinspencil

In case anyone is interested, the Trending banner for Microfiction now has a single recent story and nine that are more than two years old. Most have been on for more than a week and six of those have likes/comments far below new stories. Since the "read" is basically hidden, there is no telling if they are actually getting seen or if they are simply being favored as plump authors. My sorrow goes out to those who are trying against the game.

I am interested, Kirstin, and I appreciate the update. 😊

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

Well, OK, David, but I'm not sure Kat will understand…

🤣🤣 Though, I have the feeling she might! 😎

As it is 8 am, I had popped in for a cuppa... but having seen the line-up! 😳 Please, could you make it a double malt whisky? You might also need to resuscitate me in about 45 minutes! 😜

Quote by Daisychains261

How come mutilation and death are outlawed yet there are countless stories published with people dying.. or is it only if they die whilst having sex? In which case the unacceptable content you linked is very badly worded and misleading

The links I posted are all I know that exist for guiding us mere mortals trying to write here as to what is acceptable and what isn't. Some are very clear, but yes, I agree, the guidelines have inconsistencies, as do the moderators. As they have told me on more than one occasion, we are only human, which is a good thing. 😊

When I chat with mods, they are always helpful. 😊

I know that dying while having sex is not allowed. The rest you mention is a good question, although I expect that if someone in authority answers your question, the word 'context' will come up.

I wasn't upset when I heard I had to change my story, and it saved a sausage. I actually chuckled, as a year ago, the rules were relaxed so we could do the Whodunit comp. There was plenty of gore and death in those stories. 😊

Quote by Daisychains261

If we can't debate on a forum, where do we debate then? Or do we not question anything ever?

I questioned plenty... trust me, the admins are probably sighing already when they see this. 😊

What I should have said, Daisy, is let's keep this thread for the 75-word comp. If you search the forum, you will find plenty of suitable threads and some answers. If you post on them, your question will take it to the top of the forum queue and people will see it.

Quote by Daisychains261

I think the mods are a bit over the top. How can you have a horror story without gore? It's like erotica for the Disney channel. Are we not all adults? And just because the sausage is chopped off doesn't mean they are dead.. Bobbiting anyone? Or is that against the rules too?

Hi Daisy, let's keep it light here and not have a debate. The moderators do a fantastic and thankless job.

Here are the two links to the rules for us authors to follow, or at least try to! The change I made was easy to do. 😊

Unacceptable Content | Lush Stories

Before You Submit A Story | Lush Stories

I just remembered to give Kat a thought. It's her daughter's big day... 😀😎 and she is buying the drinks... 😜😈

Line them up, Bear... 🍺🍺🍺

A large cup of Yorkshire tea, please, Bear. ☕️ Thank you.

I have just been tapping away, working on my next story. Dull over here at the moment, although the story is slowly emerging into something worth reading. 🙄😈

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Attention you bunch of scary, nasty, wicked, disturbed, talented fuckers: I love a great mutilation as much as the next gal, but I’ve been told it violates Lush content rules about sex and death. I’ll contact you if I’m told by mods yours is too graphic, and you can tone it down.

Thank you for your understanding. Let’s keep it fun and within site rules.

I was one of those scary, nasty, wicked, disturbed, (and especially) talented fuckers who have been asked by the moderators to change their story, which I have done. 😊 So the Frankenstein monster is in, and hanging 'censored' sausage is out... Apparently too graphic. 🙄

So, you might want to take another look at my revised effort on page 1... and either unlike it or, hopefully, keep the like.😊

Quote by techgoddess

Loaded up the cars in Alabama! Now we are caravaning to Atlanta. Wedding week is well under way! My girl is organized, calm, and radiant. And I couldn't be more proud or excited! 🥰❤️

I love that we have this day with just the two of them and the two of us. Others start to arrive later tonight, but this afternoon has been so special.

I think I said the drinks were on me on Friday, but what the heck, bearkeep, start my tab today. 🍻🍺🍷🍹🍸☕

Thank you for your generosity, Kat... enjoy your time with your family. ❤️

I am sure you will all enjoy your daughter's special day. I will raise a glass on Friday, and will give you an across-the-Atlantic thought. Have fun... relax and above all... enjoy. 😊🍺😘

Quote by fuzzy1954

Morning Bear and our English friend this lion wondering how close are you to Dover?

Morning Lion, I'm not close at all, about 150 miles west, but right on the coast. 😊

Any reason why you ask? Not catching one of the small boats over? 🤣

Thank you for opening up, James, on a dull early autumn morning here in Southern England. 😊 The trees' leaves are now beginning to change down here in the south. Although the grass seems to have gone ballistic. It needs to be cut every five days at the moment.

I'm taking my wife out tonight for a romantic meal, so maybe it is hump day for the retired me, too. 🙄😈

A cup of your finest Yorkshire tea, please. Thank you. 😊

Quote by kistinspencil

And there you are, leading the pack, with Pumpkin Sex Party from a comp a few years back. Lovely to get (ob)seen once more.

Thank you for letting me know, Kisten. 😊 It has now disappeared from the trending headline (8:45 am UK time).

Yesterday morning, as per Kat's suggestion, I put a link to that story on my profile page. The story received 5 new likes and one new comment in 24 hrs. It seems that was enough to make it the number one trending micro story for a couple of hours, but not enough to keep it on the banner for 24 hours! 🙄 To me, that does not make sense, but hey-ho! 😀

FYI: Kirsten, when I logged on this morning, 9 am UK time, your 'Her Rights of Passage' microfiction story was number two on the trending banner... 😊

Quote by techgoddess

Great football yesterday! The Lions and the Bucs both won! Woo-hoo!

All the wedding plans are set! We will pack tomorrow and leave at 4 am on Wednesday to drive to our daughter's house, from where we will make the 2-hour trek to the hotel near the wedding venue.

I can't believe my girl is getting married on Friday! She sent out detailed schedules for us (she's SO organized). I got my nails done. Now, if all the things I ordered from Amazon show up tomorrow in time to be packed, I'll be a happy camper!

To celebrate, all drinks are on my tab this Friday! Enjoy!!

I am excited for you, Kat. Have a wonderful time. 😊

Quote by fuzzy1954

Hope you watch or at least tape it

You don't want to upset our Kimmi

.

I certainly don't want to upset our Kimmi...

"Come on, Jaguars, Come on Jaguars..." 😜

"What, Carl!"🙄

"I thought she said earlier that she likes cats"

"Oh... Not that type of cat?" 😳

"Come on the Chief's, Come on the Chief's"

"Don't worry, Carl, she never will notice!" 🤣

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

I have no idea how the algorithm works, but if I was calculating it, that's how I'd do it. Likes and reads and stuff = currently story du jour.

Thank you, WW, and I agree with you. 😊

However, I do suspect that is not exactly what is currently happening, and I guess it's not a priority. But next time you chat to the development team, ask them how the algorithm exactly counts trending stories or for that matter, views. I suspect that no one will be able to tell you! ... If they can, I owe you a 🍺 or 🍷.

And there I was thinking that my steampunk story was still trending because it was absolutely brilliant!!! 🙄🤣 He says modestly! 😎

Seriously, though, WW. Thank you for taking the time to answer, and just to clarify... Are you saying the stories which appear on trending banners are (as Fox and Kimmi have suggested), purely down to the number of likes they are currently receiving?

The Chief's game is being shown live in the UK. 😊 but note the time... 1 am. 😲

Tue 7th October Kansas City Chiefs @ Jacksonville Jaguars

NFL - Week 5, Sky Sports Main Event (01:00), Sky Sports NFL (01:00)

I just checked my Steampunk story, The Open Purse, which was published on the 6th June, and I was surprised to see it was still trending. 😊

Note: I have not had a single like for it since June/July. I was even more surprised that it now had nearly 1,000 views. Last time I looked was some months ago; it was still in the 400s.

I have just received a like for my microstory titled "Freedom". Maybe it will pop onto the trending banner. 😜

Quote by kistinspencil

I got three likes and two comments yesterday, but no banner spot. A story from 2022 did get added. I've had old pieces get recent likes and comments, some with several, for whatever reason. None have ever been seen as "Trending."

And some seem to be glued in place. Verity_100's cute "Husband Asked For Role Play" from 2021 was recently on for more than a week. She hasn't written anything since that year and I don't think she's even been on site at all this year.

That is interesting, Kistin. I haven't received any likes since Saturday, when I know I received quite a few, plus a few comments. No idea if I made the trending banner, though... I guess my story is maxed out, but I do hope it is explained, and you receive your answer. 😊

Quote by Obsolete_Fox

It's my understanding that the stories showing up on the banner are those that have most recently received likes. The site isn't randomly generating older stories to feature as trending. If your story were to receive several likes today, then it would be back on the banner.

You might be right, Fox. 😊 I honestly don't know.

Hopefully, Kirsten will get her answer... alternatively, anyone reading this could click the like on our stories, and we see if they magically appear on the trending banner. 🙄😜🤣

Thank you for opening up Rumpies, Bear... I was gasping for a cup of English Breakfast tea. 😊

At the moment, it's a beautiful day down here in the south of England... I will step outside soon and finish off doing the work I was doing yesterday in my back garden. Then a little writing. 😊

Kirstin, you're right. 😊 I have believed for some time that the algorithms have been "wonky" for a while, not just the one you mentioned, but also the one that counts story views...

As you know, by chance, my Freedom microfiction story was published two stories before your Her Rite Of Passage story. It has now been up for 5 days and has 41 likes from 373 views. Not as good as your story, Kirsten, but with a better than 1 in 10 likes-to-views ratio, which, for me, is exceptional.

However, my story is not currently included on the trending banner either. 😳🙄

I also had it the other way. A story I wrote 9 months before (no link as it is I/F, and I know that you (among others) don't like that genre), but it is called "The Two M's". In the summer, I started to have lots of likes for it.

When I clicked on that genre, though it was 9 months old, it was trending on the banner. It only lasted one or two days. It is by far my most liked story; however, I have no idea why that suddenly happened.

Now that the competition has closed, I make a final tally of 113 entries. 😊

I send my best wishes to those who entered and thank those who read, liked, and commented on the stories.

Quote by KimmiBeGood

“Morning, Rumpies,” I whisper.

Am I the only person to get a concussion from her cat? 🐈 🙄

Splitting headache. One inch gash in temple. Still not sure what happened. I assume I sat up to adjust covers right as Butters was hurdling me from the nightstand to her spot on the bed by the window box. A very hard hit to my head. Blood on my face. A loud cry from Butters. A louder cry from me. Not sure what caused the gash—her claws or the contact.

A painkiller please, Bearkeep, in liquid form…

Kimmi, hugs from across the Atlantic. 🐈 🤗

Good morning, Rumpies. Thank you for opening up, Lion. A cup of strong Yorkshire tea for me.

As the drizzle falls outside, it is a partial day of writing, having now first drafted (or is it draughted?) the first two parts of my next story – Cash in Hand 4. Tonight we're out with friends and family, so it will be time to put the keyboard away.

As the Obsession competition comes towards a close, I am pleased to say that I have read, liked, and commented on all 112 (so far) entries. 😳😊 It has been a pleasure to do so.

I have also Judged! them (I have wanted to say that, as that is the title of my entry). What I would like to mention is that this is the strongest list of contenders in the 10 competitions that I have Judged!. See what I did there! 🙄 Sorry! 🤣

However, IMHO, two stories stand out. One was so twisted it made my toes curl; the other was so well-told and Americanised that it became perfection.

If you read them, you will know the two I am referring to... Have fun, and enjoy the weekend... 😎

Quote by Seeker4

And I have secured a stash of premium ouzo for the bar. If you've never had it, it is worth a try. Very strong but they often water it down here so you have that option.

You should also try the Raki, Seeker4. The only issue is that the locals tell you that you need to drink 3 glasses before you start enjoying it. 😳 The issue then is that you will probably already be sitting on the floor. 😕🤣

Enjoy your holiday. 😎

Quote by Milik_the_Red

I'm considering a change to my long-standing user name of Milik the Red. I used that for years as it gave me a necessary anonymity from my professional life

Well, you know how I feel about the name, David! 🙄🤣