Creating our own categories

[StillStunned]

Can we stick to the thread topic, please? You're never going to agree on who knows Laurel best, so either kiss and make up or take it to DM.

 

[Voboy]

I am certainly impressed with the fact that you feel you can know one's mindset via a dozen or so PMs, especially after we all saw the proof that they can be, shall we say, less than truthful about certain things, and that they can outright claim that the thing we all know exists doesn't exist.

But anyway, please, if you do feel you know her mind, let the rest of us know as well. It would help with understanding this place better, not to mention that it would be a field day for the younger generation of apologists.

Lol.

Why bother? The thread has very clearly run its course. Next stop: a derail.

We'll see whether anything comes of this, but my own reaction is the same as it was: this proposal entails too much work for no return.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

In the previous posts, I pointed out the biggest weakness of this idea - the fact that such a tiny, tiny percentage of Lit readers ever visit the forum (as far as we know)

Anyway, I have an insane idea, one that I know will never happen unless one of the guys who know Laurel really well intervenes.
Sorry, couldn't help myself. I'm all up for kissing and making up with Voboy.

Here goes the insane idea that would negate all the downsides of the O.P.'s proposition. Imagine if on the Category page itself, storyside, Laurel puts the link to the appropriate forum page that covers that category with an explanation: "Here's a link to the forum page where the community fine-sorted many stories that belong to the category. The page is a work in progress and will grow with time, etc."

Now that would make the effort, no matter how great, fully worthwhile. I know it's just wishful thinking, but I can't help thinking that such a solution would impact a huge number of readers and would make all those working on the story lists see the value of their work. We would all make sure to keep everyone honest and free of bias.

Now, when I read this post again, it feels so idealistic. It does sound good though.

 

[SmilingLez]

this proposal entails too much work for no return.

100% agree NO ROI

 

[AwkwardlySet]

One more benefit of what I proposed is that it would inevitably drag many previously uninterested authors to the forum, as they would undoubtedly have suggestions or would just want to push their stories forward. Either way, this place would grow considerably.

 

[Writer61]

One more benefit of what I proposed is that it would inevitably drag many previously uninterested authors to the forum, as they would undoubtedly have suggestions or would just want to push their stories forward. Either way, this place would grow considerably.

How would they know if they don't visit the forum?

 

[AwkwardlySet]

How would they know if they don't visit the forum?

Is that a pun, or did you not understand my idea?

 

[Writer61]

Is that a pun, or did you not understand my idea?

How can that possibly be a pun?

I understood your idea; I was questioning how it would work.

How would authors who do not currently frequent AH know to come to the forum to promote their works? What makes it inevitable?

 

[AwkwardlySet]

How can that possibly be a pun?

I understood your idea; I was questioning how it would work.

How would authors who do not currently frequent AH know to come to the forum to promote their works? What makes it inevitable?

I suspect you didn't fully understand the idea; otherwise, I doubt you would have asked that question.

Anyway, imagine if on one of the Category pages, storyside...


this page, for example, appeared a link, at the top or at the bottom, a link that leads to the AH page where we fine-categorize the Lesbian category.

Everyone opens this category page: readers, authors, everyone, regardless of whether they are present on the forum or not. And if you are an author who publishes in the Lesbian category, you will 100% check out whether the forum page has your stories in any of the subcategories, and if it doesn't, you are 100% going to decide to make a post on the forum and suggest your stories to be included in one of the subcategory pages. It's simply in your best interest as an author.

I can even imagine readers suggesting stories they enjoyed that could be added to certain subcategories, etc.

 

[Omenainen]

It was @Omenainen. I suppose the interest quickly died out. That idea had the same problem - the fact that only a tiny subset of authors visits this place, along with an infinitesimal subset of readers.

Right, I should find that and bump it in case people have made new lists.

Sorry, couldn't help myself. I'm all up for kissing and making up with Voboy.

I promise not to read any stories in the sub-category “AwkwardlySet and Voboy kissing and making out”.

Personally, I imagine the site will eventually publish some sort of catalog of the public lists. This is based on nothing but speculation, but it would make sense considering that the lists are currently not easy to find. Is there even any way to search for lists? I think you need to randomly stumble on an author and then check if they have lists, and that’s not very practical.

 

[TheLobster]

I know @StillStunned likes to solve problems via sticky threads, but like others try to point out, this is probably not the best solution, as the forum is separate from the story side of Literotica.

So instead, why not do it on the said story side?

1. Create a shared account for the personification of Authors' Hangout hivemind.
2. In it, add as many lists as you like for the whichever categorization you deem appropriate.
3. Designate curators, from the pool of trusted volunteers, with whom you share the login credentials and agree which of those lists they're going to manage.
4. Promote the account by leaving comment on every story added to one of the lists.
5. Accrue thousands or even hundreds of followers.
6. ???
7. ...Profit?

Sure, it is a bit of a fragile solution, as one bad actor can ruin it for everyone, but that's where the "trusted" part comes in. At worst, if frequent backups are made, you could just post the last known copy of the catalog in a sticky thread

 

[Writer61]

I suspect you didn't fully understand the idea; otherwise, I doubt you would have asked that question.

OK, I see how that could work to bring non-participating authors to AH. However, I remain sceptical about the feasibility:

1. How would the new sub-categories be agreed upon?
2. It would need changes to both the category and the new story pages.
3. Would the sub-categories be dynamic? If so, how would new ones be agreed?
4. What would happen to the back catalogue? Surely those stories are disadvantaged.

Even if those problems could be overcome, it doesn't address the problem of stories that reasonably fit into two or more categories. Say, one that features lesbians having group sex.

Finally, how would this system be superior to using tags? It's a solution that doesn't require any changes to the site and can be adopted instantly.

 

[ElectricBlue]

For now I’ll just dwell on my story about an anal-loving lactating lesbian threesome exhibitionists who find romance after their first time having sex. Fuck it, I’ll just drop it in Erotic Coupling and call it a day.

Yep, plus one with this one .

 

[THBGato]

I can even imagine readers suggesting stories they enjoyed that could be added to certain subcategories, etc.

I occasionally get message from readers suggesting stories I should add to my lists.

Honestly, I think lists are the way to go. Readers use them. I get messages/comments from readers thanking me for curating them, and also occasionally see comments on stories by other authors that say things like "found you through THBGato." Lists are on authors' profiles so would be much more visible.

Now, if you wanted to try your idea of forum threads, you could promote them by linking to them from your profile bio or even add an author's note at the end of your story with a link: "Enjoyed this? Here's a link to list of other similar stories." That doesn't need site admin to do anything at all.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

OK, I see how that could work to bring non-participating authors to AH. However, I remain sceptical about the feasibility:

1. How would the new sub-categories be agreed upon?
2. It would need changes to both the category and the new story pages.
3. Would the sub-categories be dynamic? If so, how would new ones be agreed?
4. What would happen to the back catalogue? Surely those stories are disadvantaged.

Even if those problems could be overcome, it doesn't address the problem of stories that reasonably fit into two or more categories. Say, one that features lesbians having group sex.

Finally, how would this system be superior to using tags? It's a solution that doesn't require any changes to the site and can be adopted instantly.

All valid questions.

This is the way I would go about it, both from our and from the admin's side.

If I were Laurel and I felt this idea had any merit, I would say: "Create the forum page with subcategories, and if I am happy with what you've done, I will consider adding the link to the category page. Pick one smaller category as a prototype and go from there."

On our side, assuming we pick, say, the SF category as a prototype, we would need to put our minds together about all the relevant stuff - about the subcategories, the criteria, who gets to moderate each one, etc. It would be one big test for the people of AH. If it worked out, we could start the work on the next, and so on.

 

[Writer61]

All valid questions.

This is the way I would go about it, both from our and from the admin's side.

If I were Laurel and I felt this idea had any merit, I would say: "Create the forum page with subcategories, and if I am happy with what you've done, I will consider adding the link to the category page. Pick one smaller category as a prototype and go from there."

On our side, assuming we pick, say, the SF category as a prototype, we would need to put our minds together about all the relevant stuff - about the subcategories, the criteria, who gets to moderate each one, etc. It would be one big test for the people of AH. If it worked out, we could start the work on the next, and so on.

And how is this better than agreeing on a set of primary tags?

Actually, why not get rid of categories completely and make readers focus on tags?

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I occasionally get message from readers suggesting stories I should add to my lists.

Honestly, I think lists are the way to go. Readers use them. I get messages/comments from readers thanking me for curating them, and also occasionally see comments on stories by other authors that say things like "found you through THBGato." Lists are on authors' profiles so would be much more visible.

Now, if you wanted to try your idea of forum threads, you could promote them by linking to them from your profile bio or even add an author's note at the end of your story with a link: "Enjoyed this? Here's a link to list of other similar stories." That doesn't need site admin to do anything at all.

I agree. The lists certainly aren't useless; they do help some readers at least. This idea here is just a much larger-scale project, one that would affect a huge number of readers.

Lists in general would work much better if more authors were as diligent as you with creating and curating lists. But my experience is that only a very small subset of authors makes those, and even then, they often do it to sort their own work into subcategories. I've seen it with very prolific authors more than once. As it is, the impact of lists is still quite small-scale.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

And how is this better than agreeing on a set of primary tags?

Actually, why not get rid of categories completely and make readers focus on tags?

I can't say which would be better in the sense of the outcome, but I am certain Laurel wouldn't go for any radical changes, such as those that require getting rid of categories or introducing major and minor tags, etc. There are many good solutions that could possibly work, but only those that require minimal adjustment on the side of administration have even a tiny chance of being considered.

 

[Actingup]

I'm all for story-side solutions to category and sub-category issues. The biggest issue will of course be pitching something that Site Management feel they could get behind, but we can dream, and we can also have enormous fun debating categories, particularly the pilots that could be used for a proof of concept such as 'Loving wives, non-ironically' etc.

 

[Britva415]

a proof of concept such as 'Loving wives, non-ironically'

If you mean what I think you mean, it would be 100% ironic

What's not ironic is what happened to it. It's something, maybe even unfortunate, but it isn't irony. It's like rai-ai-ain on your wedding day.

Adhering to the written description of the category is absolutely ironic.

 

[Voboy]

...we would need to put our minds together about all the relevant stuff - about the subcategories, the criteria, who gets to moderate each one, etc. It would be one big test for the people of AH...

You seem to be on track to get about ten or fifteen people involved.

I wish you luck in your endeavors.

 

[millamomud]

still missing the category for lesbian space octopods

 

[Writer61]

There are many good solutions that could possibly work, but only those that require minimal adjustment on the side of administration have even a tiny chance of being considered.

= Tags is the way to go

 

[AwkwardlySet]

You seem to be on track to get about ten or fifteen people involved.

I wish you luck in your endeavors.

Nah, I am just shooting ideas. This is StillStunned's initiative. I just suggested some "improvements." Much of this is just wishful thinking, of course. No harm done. And in the very unlikely event that something comes out of all this, I'll help out some, sure.

 

[SmilingLez]

still missing the category for lesbian space octopods

Hmm - multiple non-stop stimulation