Are you biased when voting on contest entries?

[Extreme Bohunk]

I've been reading the AH stories first, and picking up the others later.

This is my first contest, and it has been great meeting a lot of people
because of it. I think the comments regarding 'competitive authors' w/out
public name calling really shows the class this group has. We know there's
a problem, but nobody feels the need to flame somebody over it.

I vote as objectively as I can, based on the story itself, not who wrote it.
(personally, I wish the scale went from 1-10 instead of 1-5)

Good luck to everyone in the contest!

 

[Selena_Kitt]

21 votes X 4.48 = 94.00

<groan>

THIS is why I'm a writer, so I don't have to DO the math!!!

<---will never admit that my dad was right, that "I might need it some day!" damnit! <grin>

 

[elsol]

Bias is SUCH a strong word... let's instead say that I FAVOR them.

Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[cantdog]

I'm still pretty new to all this--especially the contests and the voting.

What I'm wondering is if there are a bunch of authors out there who are sabotaging other people's stories so that their own stories are more competitive. Do you think so? I'm not suggesting that AHers do this. So far you all seem much more friendly than a lot of readers.

I know I would never intentionally give a decent/good/excellent story a poor rating. But there must be people out there just trying to make their stories win. I don't suppose there's any way to stop them, huh? Kinda sad.

- Lonely

* Someone just voted my most recent story a "1" so I guess I'm a little bummed. It was going pretty strong until that vote. I'll have to develop a thicker skin if I'm going to keep writing and plan to enjoy doing it...

There really isn't any way of stopping them, if they merely want to win, as you say. That's why I don't do contests any more. I believed I saw it happen, the second time.

I read AH submissions in contests first. Absolutely. In fact, I may not even read the non-AH submissions. I read AH submissions outside of contests, also. Not exclusively, but nearly so.

As for the voting, I do it no differently during a contest than at other times. I vote only 5's, or not at all, since no vote at all is less damaging. It takes, as you are no doubt aware, a damn long time and a lot of good luck to recover from a 1 or 2. Threes aren't much better. (On poems especially, since no one seems ever to vote on poems whatsoever.)

I only leave public comments if they are positive. If I would have had to have been negative, I send feedback by e-mail., if enabled, by PM if not. If the author leaves no trail enabled to receive feedback or comments, I shrug and forget it. Some people don't believe anyone else has anything worthwhile to tell them.

 

[Lovepotion69]

Thanks for all your replies. It's been interesting reading your answers, and I wasn't very surprised by them.

I also admit to automatically being drawn towards author names I recognise. It's natural I think. If I've seen the author here at the AH I'm usually curious what he/she has submitted.

As for feedback and voting. I have to admit I'm usually terrible at giving feedback. Really should do something about that. I very seldom give it, mainly only if I REALLY feel compelled to. I'm more prone to voting, and if it's a contest I try to vote on as many stories as possible. I never vote below a 3. Never. (If it deserves below that, I probably have back clicked already.) Mainly I stay around for 4-5 votes.

I admit to reading many of the AH author's stories because I recognise their names, and in some instances I've been curious to see if they're "as good as everyone else says they are". Some have been, others I didn't find that good. I'm sure the same goes for people reading my work.

Even though I've been around the AH for a long time, I'm not as active as in the beginning. I'll honestly say I don't really know any of you very well. I don't think I've formed any friendship with anyone here. This in turn doesn't mean I don't have a feel for who many of you are (apart from the new crowd!). I think that not having a closer connection to an AH:er makes me not favour anyone very much. Good during contest runs, but at times I miss being part of the group...

I usually try to read all contest entries and at least vote. Now, good luck everyone!!!!!