Discussion Thread - 10th Annual Literotica Reader's Choice Awards

[scouries]

QUOTE yourSin And, if anyone wants to PM me with instructions on how to shorten up these lengthy quotes, I'm half-way teachable.

Quotes are not my strong point!

QUOTE ace I have fully discussed here the reasoning of the only vote I've made in this "contest"—

Yes you did! Which was good. But why always the “ramblings” and “probably more than once” type of comment. You do it every time – but you don’t have to – everyone knows where we stand.

QUOTE MF My personal opinion is that Lit should do away with the contest thingy all together. I do think there are too many flaws in the entire process altogether as it now stands….

Just my own personal thoughts here. But this...this is getting sad and too fucking ridicules for it to continue on as it has been. I actually wish Laurel would just close off this thread and remove it, and let whatever outcome comes from it this year to complete. Then hopefully rethink the whole thing for next year.

Closing the thread is one option. But then we’d have what we had last year – look at last years “Discussion Thread” (there wasn’t any discussion). This thread allows all of us to express our opinions about the contest and the nominated stories. To challenge a flawed process. To articulate a different vision if you have one. Real competition always requires an animated discussion.

The sad reality about this contest MF is that so few people participate in the voting.

The thing about any Awards process is that it invites discussion of the merits or lack of merits of the winners and losers. Look at the Academy Awards and the mountains of press and publicity that surrounds it. Its grown so colossal that its spawned a whole other group of competing Award shows – The Critics picks, the Peoples picks and on and on.

The problem isn’t this thread – it’s the fact that so few people are willing to rock the boat. To say out loud, "That story shouldn't have been nominated. Or accepted. How could it possibly have been called one of the four best stories submitted in that category over the past year? It makes no sense. Somebody definately should look at the process that produced this sorry list." Or point out how deserving one entry is compared to the rest.

Why aren’t the numbers of VIEWS, VOTES, COMMENT and SCORE provided for every story?

LITEROTICA has some 25,000 stories submitted to it every year. And yet its always the same small group who nominate and vote for each other and win and then pat themselves on the back.

The pilot expressed the opinion I’ve held of these things since I first discovered the LITEROTICA contests way back in late 2005 –

QUOTE ” I think the contests have become what they have because of the slowly developing realization of what they always were--in terms of how easily they could be--and were being--manipulated all along given their sieve-like construction. The results were convincing as long as those who knew what was happening with them could play "just pretend."

Don't think it serves any purpose, though, to just pretend along with the manipulators and let them present themselves and their stories as being what they aren't.

If I’ve helped even in the slightest way in fostering that “slowly developing realization of what they always were” and making it more difficult for a certain group of self satisfied insiders to “just pretend” then it’s been well worth it.

The next step of course is improving how the contests work. Of commencing a real dialogue…

… but change will upset the status quo…

I’m james r scouries and I’ll repeat, I believe its time for a little integrity around here…

[size=+2]Dolphins wish these AHers would follow LAURELS instructions…[/size]

 

[sr71plt]

The pilot expressed the opinion I’ve held of these things since I first discovered the LITEROTICA contests way back in late 2005 –

Wow. There was someone posters called the pilot here before I arrived? Gee, who knew?

 

[michchick98]

Quotes are not my strong point!

That's obvious and the way you do it now makes so much more work for yourself.

The problem isn’t this thread – it’s the fact that so few people are willing to rock the boat. To say out loud, "That story shouldn't have been nominated. Or accepted. How could it possibly have been called one of the four best stories submitted in that category over the past year? It makes no sense. Somebody definately should look at the process that produced this sorry list." Or point out how deserving one entry is compared to the rest.

The problem, as you've agreed with me, with doing this is you're bound to offend someone. I think we already have enough drama here now without someone getting (even more) pissy about why their friends didn't vote for them.

Why aren’t the numbers of VIEWS, VOTES, COMMENT and SCORE provided for every story?

Because no one besides you cares.

LITEROTICA has some 25,000 stories submitted to it every year. And yet its always the same small group who nominate and vote for each other and win and then pat themselves on the back.

Uh, isn't your pal sarahhh leading in her category? Last time I checked she was. So did she pad her votes? Did she create hundreds of alts to vote for her? I mean, you claim that's what everyone else is doing and it's not cheating as far as you're concerned, so why wouldn't she?

And with all the loyal readers and fans you have, how come you only got a few nominations? I mean, you claim to be Literotica's #1 author, yet you can't get nominated in a Reader's Choice Awards contest for more than one or two categories and you can't even come close to winning special contests or monthly contests.

More jealousy showing. If you actually took the advice of people who were genuninely trying to help you make your writing better (instead of insulting them) perhaps you'd be nominated for more categories and win more contests.

I’m james r scouries and I’ll repeat, I believe its time for a little integrity around here…

Once more with feeling: YOU FIRST!

[size=+2]Dolphins wish these AHers would follow LAURELS instructions…[/size]

Why? You didn't. You posted on one of the voting threads when she said not to. And it's not the AHers who are completely to blame for this thread being off-topic. You and Freddie and sarahhh have been hurling insults at everyone since day one.

 

[bsergi1]

The reason I voted for Freddie, the Bostonfictionwriter, King of Literotica, Most Influential Writer of 2009, and Most Influential Poet of 2009 is because of his series of stories of Sex with my sister-in-law Samantha, and his series on watching my neighbor (forgot the exact title). I was glued to the screen to see what was going to happened next. He always leaves a cliff hanger. I like it! Its the kind of stuff that makes me want to "buy another book".

If you have the time now, you should all switch over and read the chapters. They are quick, fun, and well written.

The poet vote, just came next.

If he asked me to be his Queen, I would accept (lol).

 

[TxRad]

MC, scouries nominated himself for best male character and that's the only nomination he got, period.

The categories are not set by nominations but by the stories that have the highest scores throughout the year. Period.

More smoke blowing by our number one bullshit artist.

 

[Boxlicker101]

(snip)
The problem isn’t this thread – it’s the fact that so few people are willing to rock the boat. To say out loud, "That story shouldn't have been nominated. Or accepted. How could it possibly have been called one of the four best stories submitted in that category over the past year? It makes no sense. Somebody definately should look at the process that produced this sorry list." Or point out how deserving one entry is compared to the rest.

Why aren’t the numbers of VIEWS, VOTES, COMMENT and SCORE provided for every story?
(snip)
[

Some things, such as Most Influential Writer, etc. are voted on only by members of Lit., and do tend to be popularity contests, and subject to ballot box stuffing. However, the top stories in specific categories are more objective. Every month, something is nominated in almost every category. These are supposed to be the stories, etc. posted that month that had the highest score by the 15th of the following month. The scores result from reader voting in the months they are posted. At the end of the year, the four or five highest scores among those nominated are chosen to compete and they are voted on by members of Lit.

It would be possible to stuff the ballot box during the month a story is posted, and again after nomination, but more trouble than it is worth. The prize is only a gift certificate from Amazon, but the W in the author's index is kind of nice. Even so, it would be quite hard to manipulate the readers' voting and the Lit. member's voting, because votes by alts would usually be swept.

 

[Angeline]

The reason I voted for Freddie, the Bostonfictionwriter, King of Literotica, Most Influential Writer of 2009, and Most Influential Poet of 2009 is because of his series of stories of Sex with my sister-in-law Samantha, and his series on watching my neighbor (forgot the exact title). I was glued to the screen to see what was going to happened next. He always leaves a cliff hanger. I like it! Its the kind of stuff that makes me want to "buy another book".

If you have the time now, you should all switch over and read the chapters. They are quick, fun, and well written.

The poet vote, just came next.

If he asked me to be his Queen, I would accept (lol).

So your vote for "Most Influential Poet" was based on the "stories" written by your choice for "Most Influential Writer"?

Thank you for being so dismissive of a category that means a great deal to the poets who invest much time and thought in the poetry they write, post and support at Literotica. Yes, I'm a nominee and no I'm not winning, not by a long shot. That's as it should be in my opinion because I wrote very little here in the past year. I didn't nominate myself and I'm flattered that enough people did to get me into the competition. All that is more than good enough for me.

My only hope is that voters support the person they believe has been truly the most influential poet during the past year. To me, that means the person who has written quality poetry and been active in supporting poetry at Lit. I have my own opinions about who on the nominee list has written quality poetry and who hasn't, but that is very subjective so I won't get into who I think is or isn't a good poet. I do however know that two poets on the list, Wicked Eve (who is currently in first place) and Tzara do a great deal to support poetry at Lit. I feel qualified to say that because I'm here every day, I read the new poems, I see who is active on the forum. Eve offers comments on new poems pretty much daily--in fact, she has been doing that not just for the past year, but ever since the comment feature was added. She regularly welcomes new poets to the forum, gives feedback and (detailed) crititque and encourages people to publish their work here and elsewhere. Tzara is very active on the forum, goes way out of his way to help other poets and is always coming up with challenge ideas and new approaches that promote poetry at Lit. In my opinion, that is influential.

These awards have always been more a popularity contest than anything else. And it's also true that most people nominated, at least in the poetry categories, recognize this and don't need an award to know they've contributed toward something that is important to them--or that they're appreciated by their peers. The campaigning and caterwauling, not to mention the demeaning personal attacks that that a few here have tried to pass off in this thread (and elsewhere) as "discussion" speaks worlds more about them than it does those they've so desparately tried to tear down. And I for one am thrilled to see that the voting thus far (in both the most influential poet and writer categories) is favoring the nominees with both genuine talent and unselfish support for the art they practice.

Oh and for the record, "Angeline" has three alts, but none of them have voted. Feel free to check on that.

 

[WickedEve]

I like what you said in your post, Ange.

Tzara, PandoraGlitters, UnderYourSpell, vampiredust, and Angeline are good choices on the Most Influential Poet list but don't really have a shot now that this nonsense has taken over. I really dislike being part of this "war," and I have spent less time at Lit because of it. I will be very glad when it's over.

 

[Many Feathers]

Ditto that...

I like what you said in your post, Ange.

Tzara, PandoraGlitters, UnderYourSpell, vampiredust, and Angeline are good choices on the Most Influential Poet list but don't really have a shot now that this nonsense has taken over. I really dislike being part of this "war," and I have spent less time at Lit because of it. I will be very glad when it's over.

What you said...on the writers side too.

 

[Angeline]

I like what you said in your post, Ange.

Tzara, PandoraGlitters, UnderYourSpell, vampiredust, and Angeline are good choices on the Most Influential Poet list but don't really have a shot now that this nonsense has taken over. I really dislike being part of this "war," and I have spent less time at Lit because of it. I will be very glad when it's over.

Yep, I know how you feel. It's always sort of uncomfortable to be nominated because so many others write great poems and do much for the forum and aren't nominated. I chose you and Tzara as examples, but I could have said similar things about Under Your Spell, Vampiredust, and Pandora Glitters. All are fine poets and all support poetry at Lit in many ways. But so have Champagne and Annaswirls and Bijou and Tristesse and etc., etc. But I'm glad you're winning (and hope you do win) because it's for the right reasons. I'll be glad when it's over and we can just do our thing without this cloud hanging over our head--something I might add that was started by Laurel for the best of reasons but this year at least has gone really badly astray. It's almost shocking to see how craven some people are about it.

 

[TxRad]

Eve, sandman,

That's just what these guys want, for the good writers and poets to stay away. Scouries even said so when he started his first thread in the Feedback Forum. His main objective is to bring down the AH and Lit. So staying away just helps him.

I'm as sorry as anyone that this has to happen.

 

[michchick98]

I'll be glad when it's over and we can just do our thing without this cloud hanging over our head--something I might add that was started by Laurel for the best of reasons but this year at least has gone really badly astray. It's almost shocking to see how craven some people are about it.

The Survivor Contest last year and the Reader's Choice awards have been essentially dragged through the mud.

Yes, I'll admit that the monthly contests as well as the Reader's Choice is basically a popularity contest, but it's been turned into and ugly hateful thing by a few people here.

When someone nominated looks to their friends for votes, they're accused of creating hundreds of alts to "steal the contest" away from someone else. Of course, that only happens when the person who STARTED all the hateful, racists posts begins to fall behind in the voting.

It's sad, really that so many good authors are leaving Lit because of these people.

 

[sr71plt]

It's sad, really that so many good authors are leaving Lit because of these people.

Oh, they're leaving. Can I have their parking spaces?

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

So your vote for "Most Influential Poet" was based on the "stories" written by your choice for "Most Influential Writer"?

Thank you for being so dismissive of a category that means a great deal to the poets who invest much time and thought in the poetry they write, post and support at Literotica. Yes, I'm a nominee and no I'm not winning, not by a long shot. That's as it should be in my opinion because I wrote very little here in the past year. I didn't nominate myself and I'm flattered that enough people did to get me into the competition. All that is more than good enough for me.

My only hope is that voters support the person they believe has been truly the most influential poet during the past year. To me, that means the person who has written quality poetry and been active in supporting poetry at Lit. I have my own opinions about who on the nominee list has written quality poetry and who hasn't, but that is very subjective so I won't get into who I think is or isn't a good poet. I do however know that two poets on the list, Wicked Eve (who is currently in first place) and Tzara do a great deal to support poetry at Lit. I feel qualified to say that because I'm here every day, I read the new poems, I see who is active on the forum. Eve offers comments on new poems pretty much daily--in fact, she has been doing that not just for the past year, but ever since the comment feature was added. She regularly welcomes new poets to the forum, gives feedback and (detailed) crititque and encourages people to publish their work here and elsewhere. Tzara is very active on the forum, goes way out of his way to help other poets and is always coming up with challenge ideas and new approaches that promote poetry at Lit. In my opinion, that is influential.

These awards have always been more a popularity contest than anything else. And it's also true that most people nominated, at least in the poetry categories, recognize this and don't need an award to know they've contributed toward something that is important to them--or that they're appreciated by their peers. The campaigning and caterwauling, not to mention the demeaning personal attacks that that a few here have tried to pass off in this thread (and elsewhere) as "discussion" speaks worlds more about them than it does those they've so desparately tried to tear down. And I for one am thrilled to see that the voting thus far (in both the most influential poet and writer categories) is favoring the nominees with both genuine talent and unselfish support for the art they practice.

Oh and for the record, "Angeline" has three alts, but none of them have voted. Feel free to check on that.

With all due respect, I have no doubt that you are a very talented poet. However, the contest is for the Most Influential Poet in 2008.

You didn't submit any poems in 2008. Did you really expect to win a category where you didn't even submit a single poem? I'm surprised you were even nominated.

Moreover, you submitted only 2 poems in 2007 and 2 in 2006.

Hey, I'm the first to admit that I'm no poet, but I did write 21 of them in 2008 alone and 48 in 2007.

Pardon me for thinking that I should beat a poet in the Most Influential Poetry conctest of 2008 who didn't even submit a poem for consideration. Or does this contest have special rules that counts all poems, even if they were written 3 and 4 years ago?

Perhaps, they should change the name of the contest to the Most Influential Poet for all eternity.

 

[Tzara]

Oh, they're leaving. Can I have their parking spaces?

Literotica encourages the use of public transportation.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

Just because I support the arts doesn't make me an artist. I'd actually have to paint a picture to be considered an artist.

Just because I like cars doesn't make me a driver. I'd actually have to have a license to drive.

Just because I like dogs doesn't make me a good dog owner. I'd actually have to have a dog.

Hello?

Admittedly, just because you do a lot to inspire other poets on the poetry board doesn't make you the most influential poet, Angie. You needed to have written...a poem.

There's always next year. Good luck.

 

[sr71plt]

"Influential" is gaged in effect on reader or writer--to move something in them from one point to another. It can be in what they are doing in the forum--or from the base of the Web site in some way--it doesn't have any ipso facto relationship to unit production in the given year. It can be a positive or negative influence. This year, both possibilities seem to be on offer.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

"Influential" is gaged in effect on reader or writer--to move something in them from one point to another. It can be in what they are doing in the forum--or from the base of the Web site in some way--it doesn't have any ipso facto relationship to unit production in the given year. It can be a positive or negative influence. This year, both possibilities seem to be on offer.

C'mon, get real. You need to write a fucking poem to be considered the most influential poet. Even you are that friggen stupid.

 

[sr71plt]

Literotica encourages the use of public transportation.

I never saw Virginia Woolf on a bus.

 

[sr71plt]

C'mon, get real. You need to write a fucking poem to be considered the most influential poet. Even you are that friggen stupid.

Umm, no, you don't. I explained why in my posting. I'm not surprised you missed it.

But, I'm happy that I qualify in your view--I wrote exactly that in 2008--one fucking poem.

Or would you prefer the other answer? Obviously you don't "have" to do that, because you've pointed to a couple nominees this year who didn't. And they are in the finals.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

"Influential" is gaged in effect on reader or writer--to move something in them from one point to another. It can be in what they are doing in the forum--or from the base of the Web site in some way--it doesn't have any ipso facto relationship to unit production in the given year. It can be a positive or negative influence. This year, both possibilities seem to be on offer.

Ah, there you go reading from Literotica's Most Influential Poet's rule book, the rule book that doesn't exist.

You make up all your rules as you go along, don't you and then spit them out, as if you own the fucking site.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

Umm, no, you don't. I explained why in my posting. I'm not surprised you missed it.

But, I'm happy that I qualify in your view--I wrote exactly that in 2008--one fucking poem.

Or would you prefer the other answer? Obviously you don't "have" to do that, because you've pointed to a couple nominees this year who didn't. And they are in the finals.

Only...you weren't nominated...Mary.

 

[Tzara]

I never saw Virginia Woolf on a bus.

Well, perhaps not. There apparently is, though, a Virginia Woolf bus.

 

[sr71plt]

Well, perhaps not. There apparently is, though, a Virginia Woolf bus.

Cute. That might send me into the river with bricks in my pocket too.

 

[sr71plt]

Only...you weren't nominated...Mary.

No. No one wanted to play a joke on me that week, I guess.

You only need a little poke over the top. You might start more threads smugly trumpeting your victory. Does that qualify as premature ejaculation?