Winter Holiday 2024 Contest Support and Seasonal Story Discussion Thread

[ChloeTzang]

I lost four votes. They appear to all be in the range of 3-5, and my score didn't change.

edit: Spoke to soon. Lost four more votes and the score went up by 0.01.

Mine jumped by 0.62

Go figure. I have devoted followers rotflmao

This, young 'uns, is how you come out of nowhere. Build a following of devoted fans and equally devoted trolls. Get either 5 stars or 1 stars with little in between and the sweeps will eliminate all the ones, propelling your score to unimaginable heights. Lol.

I can say this because there is no way my entry will embarrass me by winning. Its not that good lol so I can laugh at myself

 

[FreyaGersemi]

the sweeps will eliminate all the ones,

Does it? That doesn't seem right. So if a reader really doesn't like a story, then their opinion doesn't matter? I know your comment was humorous, but do all the 1-star ratings get tossed? That doesn't seem right. How about the readers who just blindly rate 5-stars? Why is their rating more valid? I'm asking honest questions, not trying to be snarky. You seem like you know a lot more about what's going on here than I do.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Mine jumped by 0.62

Go figure. I have devoted followers rotflmao

This, young 'uns, is how you come out of nowhere. Build a following of devoted fans and equally devoted trolls. Get either 5 stars or 1 stars with little in between and the sweeps will eliminate all the ones, propelling your score to unimaginable heights. Lol.

I can say this because there is no way my entry will embarrass me by winning. Its not that good lol so I can laugh at myself

I just saw that, but wasn't going to mention it, lest it attract one bombers. But it certainly proves what we've been saying.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Does it? That doesn't seem right. So if a reader really doesn't like a story, then their opinion doesn't matter? I know your comment was humorous, but do all the 1-star ratings get tossed? That doesn't seem right. How about the readers who just blindly rate 5-stars? Why is their rating more valid? I'm asking honest questions, not trying to be snarky. You seem like you know a lot more about what's going on here than I do.

The sweeps don't eliminate all ones, only those it deems fraudulent. However, don't speculate in public how the process might work, just be satisfied it does. Sweeps can eliminate dodgy fives, as well.

 

[SimonDoom]

Does it? That doesn't seem right. So if a reader really doesn't like a story, then their opinion doesn't matter? I know your comment was humorous, but do all the 1-star ratings get tossed? That doesn't seem right. How about the readers who just blindly rate 5-stars? Why is their rating more valid? I'm asking honest questions, not trying to be snarky. You seem like you know a lot more about what's going on here than I do.

I think your doubt is correct. They don't get rid of all ones. That would make no sense and would eliminate at least some votes that readers, however possibly benighted, genuinely thought were deserved. I believe EB is right that the method, whatever it is, is designed to eliminate fraudulent votes of whatever number.

 

[FreyaGersemi]

The sweeps don't eliminate all ones, only those it deems fraudulent. However, don't speculate in public how the process might work, just be satisfied it does. Sweeps can eliminate dodgy fives, as well.

That would make more sense (and be more fair). Sometimes, I've noticed the score on one of my stories lose a couple of votes and drop in rating, lose a couple of votes and rise in rating, and lose a couple of votes and stay the same. So, the sweep just removes fraudulent votes? That makes sense. Thank you!

 

[ElectricBlue]

That would make more sense (and be more fair). Sometimes, I've noticed the score on one of my stories lose a couple of votes and drop in rating, lose a couple of votes and rise in rating, and lose a couple of votes and stay the same. So, the sweep just removes fraudulent votes? That makes sense. Thank you!

Correct. You don't want fans trying to be helpful, just as you don't want trolls who are not.

 

[Bassytian]

Basically: everything is made up and the points don't matter.

That’s right, the points are like acting lessons to a pornstar, they don’t matter. I loved that show

Anyway, I know I’m still a contest newbie but the scoring system seems to be quite complicated. I’ve seen posts from Literotica veterans that indicate even they scratch their heads about it. However complicated it may be, it does seem to be fair at least.

 

[WriterPerson314159]

More sweeps! I have to go click through the 180 stories again!

 

[AlexFourways]

I have had a number of votes cleared from the contest entries (and definately one from another story) sending them from Druid 4.48 to 4.62 & Waitresses 4.28 to 4.55 which makes them both [HOT] which is enough of a win for me!

On detecting fraudulent votes, I can think of several possible mechanisms, and I am not a computer officianardo. /DELETED ON ADVICE THAT SPECULATION ON SWEEPS IS NOT APPRECIATED/ If read, please redact your memory!

Of course I could be 100% wrong. I have a saying "I reserve the right to be wrong" and in this case I won't even put in the normal "(proved)" just before wrong!

 

[ChloeTzang]

I think your doubt is correct. They don't get rid of all ones. That would make no sense and would eliminate at least some votes that readers, however possibly benighted, genuinely thought were deserved. I believe EB is right that the method, whatever it is, is designed to eliminate fraudulent votes of whatever number.

Oh definitely - and I have no idea how the sweeps figure out the fraudulent ones vs the genuine dislikes - it is what it is and I shall not speculate either - coz I would have no idea. LOL. But as you can see, those sweeps do have a disproportionate impact when you have low # of votes and attract trolls

So fear not - my stories serve as an example to you all of what happens when the one star bombs are removed! There IS hope ......lol. Just not for my story in this competition

 

[NotWise]

I have had a number of votes cleared from the contest entries (and definately one from another story) sending them from Druid 4.48 to 4.62 & Waitresses 4.28 to 4.55 which makes them both [HOT] which is enough of a win for me!

On detecting fraudulent votes,

We're encourage to not discuss or even speculate about the mechanisms of the sweeps. After all, the trolls read these posts, too. You don't want to give them instructions on how to defeat it.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Does it? That doesn't seem right. So if a reader really doesn't like a story, then their opinion doesn't matter? I know your comment was humorous, but do all the 1-star ratings get tossed? That doesn't seem right. How about the readers who just blindly rate 5-stars? Why is their rating more valid? I'm asking honest questions, not trying to be snarky. You seem like you know a lot more about what's going on here than I do.

LOL. I exaggerated a little, there's no way all of them would be removed but the sweeps seem to be pretty good at getting rid of the trolls one star bombs.

I can say all this because I no longer worry about the trolls or the one star bombing - the trolls deserve their little thrills too. I've won enough of the comps here to know I can do it so now I write for fun and not to compete - I leave it to others to enjoy the thrill - and if I win anything, it's by accident and not design LOL.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I just saw that, but wasn't going to mention it, lest it attract one bombers. But it certainly proves what we've been saying.

I am happy to provide a living example. LOL. I've attracted enough over the years that if really makes no difference and I've grown a rather thicker skin. I shall serve as the decoy.....

 

[AlexFourways]

We're encourage to not discuss or even speculate about the mechanisms of the sweeps. After all, the trolls read these posts, too. You don't want to give them instructions on how to defeat it.

Done! Thanks.

 

[WriterPerson314159]

More sweeps! I have to go click through the 180 stories again!

I saw some jockeying around, but not a ton. There are 12 stories at 4.8 or above now.

 

[WriterPerson314159]

I really liked your story, @MelissaBaby!

 

[MelissaBaby]

Correct. You don't want fans trying to be helpful, just as you don't want trolls who are not.

My husband and my beta reader each read my next-to-the-last draft, then I make any final changes and submit. They both vote once it is online. They go right to the last page and presumably give me fives. I assume that those look like fraudulent votes in whatever system makes those decisions. But they've read the story and in my opinion, they are legitimate votes.

I would never complain about that though, it's just the way things go. Their votes are still beneficial to me, as they get me the red H quicker, which in turn, attracts more readers while the story is still on the new list.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I really liked your story, @MelissaBaby!

Thank you!

 

[Voboy]

I lost some votes, but I'm not sure how many; my days of breathlessly tracking each numerical twitch passed long ago. I seem to have gained about .07. Not bad; this story hasn't really found much of an audience, which doesn't surprise me greatly. There was no category where it really fit; it's a Loving Wives story as "loving wives" is supposed to be, so there's no real home for it these days.

 

[alohadave]

Does it? That doesn't seem right. So if a reader really doesn't like a story, then their opinion doesn't matter? I know your comment was humorous, but do all the 1-star ratings get tossed? That doesn't seem right. How about the readers who just blindly rate 5-stars? Why is their rating more valid? I'm asking honest questions, not trying to be snarky. You seem like you know a lot more about what's going on here than I do.

Details are unknown, and too much speculation is discouraged, but I've had 5 star scores swept from stories.

It's not just 1 votes that are removed.

 

[taytay4eva]

I've lost votes and jumped up in score, so I'm calling that a win. Heck, an OLDER story that I published not to long ago ALSO jumped up in score! Now I have TWO certified "Hot" stories

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I've lost votes and jumped up in score, so I'm calling that a win. Heck, an OLDER story that I published not to long ago ALSO jumped up in score! Now I have TWO certified "Hot" stories

Who knows what's going on. I lost two votes and jumped .02 in score then gained three votes and dropped .03...Go figure.

 

[Actingup]

Who knows what's going on. I lost two votes and jumped .02 in score then gained three votes and dropped .03...Go figure.

It means that somebody is obsessive enough to hit you just after a sweep. Urrgh. Off to the troll dungeon with them, where the pain outweighs the pleasure but they can't bring themselves to leave....

 

[AlexFourways]

Apart from the effect below this morning I have seen a jump in the rate of daily views for both my Winter stories 72 to 106 and 132 to 245 and I can't imagine it is because of my Android story! Also my other recent [HOT] story also seemed to have a bit of a spike in readership, but not watching that very closely.

I have had a number of votes cleared from the contest entries (and definately one from another story) sending them from Druid 4.48 to 4.62 & Waitresses 4.28 to 4.55 which makes them both [HOT] which is enough of a win for me!