The Official Valentine’s Day Contest Support Thread 2026

[EmilyMiller]

Just be warned that it is not just contest entries that can be victimized.

Good luck

Of the eight of mine that have been targeted, only the last (currently at 3.86 FFS) was in a comp.

Anyone thinking, “This is someone else’s problem,” or, “it’s just prima donnas whining about scores regular authors would dream of,” they will come for you at some point.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I think when scores go south for writers who start out with 4.5 and above, it's hardest on them. High expectations, at some point, turn into major disappointment, especially if they write for high scores, trying to hit every reader's cream dream.

Of the eight of mine that have been targeted, only the last (currently at 3.86 FFS) was in a comp.

Anyone thinking, “This is someone else’s problem,” or, “it’s just prima donnas whining about scores regular authors would dream of,” they will come for you at some point.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I think when scores go south for writers who start out with 4.5 and above, it's hardest on them. High expectations, at some point, turn into major disappointment, especially if they write for high scores, trying to hit every reader's cream dream.

It’s gone on for as long as I have been here, and no doubt for a long time before. It’s now industrialized, which is new.

 

[MillieDynamite]

For industrial-strength scores, just follow these simple steps, kowtow to every kink, give all sycophants their deepest desired fantasy, sprinkling in a smidge for the trolls, and you'll be a 4.5 queen or king.

It’s gone on for as long as I have been here, and no doubt for a long time before. It’s now industrialized, which is new.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

My Valentines story went from 4.88 when winners were announced, and has dropped .02 every other day to 4.7 with no end in sight. I am getting 2 votes on every drop in an otherwise quiet story.

Even sweeps are a temporary solution because the trolls can start back the next day. And I agree with Emily - targeting seems likely. I am re-tweaking my April Fools story to avoid that contest and go into Tainted Love. If things continue this way, I will submit stories but turn off scoring.

I think something is definitely going on. It looks like most of our highest scores have dropped, some by quite a bit, and all in the last few weeks. Some of mine that have had the same scores for over five years have suddenly dropped, and are still dropping.

So, I don't think it's a one-bomber going after every high rated story. It's far more likely that it has something to do with the site, especially since a lot of writers no longer have anything scoring above 4.84, which seems a little odd.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I think something is definitely going on. It looks like most of our highest scores have dropped, some by quite a bit, and all in the last few weeks. Some of mine that have had the same scores for over five years have suddenly dropped, and are still dropping.

For several years, the average score on my stories was consistently somewhere between 4.80-4.82. As of today, it is 4.77.

 

[EmilyMiller]

a lot of writers no longer have anything scoring above 4.84, which seems a little odd.

It’s not a leveling down that applies to all stories. I’d provide examples (mine and other people’s) that refute this. But why give people easy targets to trolls?

 

[Voboy]

It's far more likely that it has something to do with the site, especially since a lot of writers no longer have anything scoring above 4.84, which seems a little odd.

Indeed it does, especially once you realize it generally only applies to stories over 100 votes.

Whether it's a site function or a bunch of bots, trolling? Hardly matters. It's undeniably artificial, either way.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I think we are conflating the targeted trashing of certain works / authors and the broadbasee top-lists phenomenon (as seen most clearly in Lesbian Sex). The same type of script can effect both of course.

 

[Jorunn]

It is the regular and steady “walk down” that seems most odd. A site issue would seem more likely if this were only a one-time drop. My vote count is increasing by 2 on every hit. Something is adding low votes.

 

[TheLobster]

Indeed it does, especially once you realize it generally only applies to stories over 100 votes.

I believe it was Melissa's story which sat on the Letter & Transcripts toplist whilst having fewer than 100 votes; and it had a high score that warranted its position. But the moment it crossed the 100 votes threshold, it reportedly got hammered down.

This convinced me that the phenomenon is likely not an external actor.