Do you vote on your own stories?

[dct10538]

I have. I did it only to counteract the serial one-star bomber that usually comes in about an hour or less after the daily story drop.

 

[GemmaGemmaGemma]

I humble myself with a 3

 

[Writer61]

I'd lobby to remove any story in which half the comments are the author replying to every single one.

That's harsh.

I usually reply to anyone who makes a sensible comment; not doing so feels rude. I would rather that the count excluded mine, but it is hardly a significant metric.

 

[lovecraft68]

That's harsh.

I usually reply to anyone who makes a sensible comment; not doing so feels rude. I would rather that the count excluded mine, but it is hardly a significant metric.

My point is based on the comment that any author who votes on their own story, the story should be removed.

To me, that's ridiculous because how much difference does it make and for all we know they could get swept at some point. But regardless of intent when someone replies to every comment it inflates the stories stats but also bumps it in the searches because of the extra activity.

Is it that big of a deal? No, but if someone is going to act like a single vote matters then this would also.

I also feel as if its a bit of a waste because I don't think people come back to see if an author replies and there's no notification of it.

 

[Writer61]

My point is based on the comment that any author who votes on their own story, the story should be removed.

Then why refer to comments when you mean votes?

 

[Erozetta]

I've given myself 1s before.

 

[Writer61]

I've given myself 1s before.

Why post something you rate as 1?

 

[Erozetta]

Why post something you rate as 1?

It was for a contest and I wanted no shot at winning.

 

[Writer61]

It was for a contest and I wanted no shot at winning.

Then why enter?

 

[Erozetta]

Then why enter?

Because I wrote something that fit.


For what it's worth, at least one of the 1s I gave myself got swept and I should've asked friends to give me a 1 as well.

 

[Writer61]

Because I wrote something that fit.

Well, OK, I respect your choice, but it doesn't compute in my head.

 

[Voboy]

But regardless of intent when someone replies to every comment it inflates the stories stats but also bumps it in the searches because of the extra activity.

To me, replying to comments is about intent: people who do so aren't generally doing it to beef up their stats. They're doing it because they're used to interacting online, and it seems rational for them to do so. I've done it occasionally, and I like that writers feel comfortable doing so.

I also feel as if its a bit of a waste because I don't think people come back to see if an author replies and there's no notification of it.

More than once, I've had people come back and reply to me again. Otherwise I'd feel the same way.

 

[Erozetta]

Well, OK, I respect your choice, but it doesn't compute in my head.

Is it really so hard to fathom entering a competition where a friend is also entered and you don't want to be competition to your friend, but you do want to participate in the competition because you have a work that fits and you know it'll give you more reads and potential for responses?

Or that you feel like your scores are inflated and you try to move the needle more to where they should be with the single vote you're allowed?

 

[Voboy]

Then why enter?

I never enter to win.

It's fun when it happens, but on the list of reasons to enter contests, "winning" is waaaay down low for me.

 

[Writer61]

Is it really so hard to fathom entering a competition where a friend is also entered and you don't want to be competition to your friend, but you do want to participate in the competition because you have a work that fits and you know it'll give you more reads and potential for responses?

Entering for exposure makes sense.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Is it really so hard to fathom entering a competition where a friend is also entered and you don't want to be competition to your friend, but you do want to participate in the competition because you have a work that fits and you know it'll give you more reads and potential for responses?

Or that you feel like your scores are inflated and you try to move the needle more to where they should be with the single vote you're allowed?

Or that you want the exposure from the contest, but are wary about sharing the necessary contact information with the site if you win.

 

[Writer61]

To me, replying to comments is about intent: people who do so aren't generally doing it to beef up their stats.

Exactly this.

Replying is a) polite and b) potentially helpful to the commenter. I recall one who asked for more about a character, and I told them he would appear again later in the series.

As for beefing up stats, I like comments, but the number is of minimal value. Has anyone ever read story X because it has more than story B?

 

[Cacatua_Galerita]

Do AH authors vote on their own story?



Dexter* says, “It’s fifty-fifty.”

At least, that is the current result (13 vs 13) from a 2009 poll asking OP’s question.

Other threads on this subject:

• Voting for your own submissions
• Do you vote on your own stories?
• In a quandary~ to vote or not to vote

I’ll draw your attention to this comment by the late KeithD/sr71plt:

In a rare discussion board post some years ago, Laurel said an author's own vote counted, so officially it's OK. I've had my doubts they go unswept, because I've thought I'd seen them be swept when I tested it out. Now, I'll vote to counter the habitual zapper vote when my story first posts**, but I suspect that's just a temporary stopgap and the vote gets swept eventually.

I also tried voting on my own story after reading an earlier similar thread. It worked, the stats changed. A few days later a single vote was swept from my story. I presume it was my own.

Apart from that experiment, I don’t vote on my own stories.


* Dexter is an Australian pop culture reference from our “Perfect Match” TV game show (based on the US show “The Dating Game”).

** Another instance of early 1-bombs… Unsurprisingly, Keith’s sr71plt account also shares that “one special follower” I mentioned in a different thread. His KeithD account never published to Loving Wives, so didn't attract that particular follower's attention (but I'm sure Gay Male has its own unique trolls).

 

[Britva415]

I've given myself 1s before.

Why post something you rate as 1?

It was for a contest and I wanted no shot at winning.

Then why enter?

Because I wrote something that fit.

Well, OK, I respect your choice, but it doesn't compute in my head.

 

[Britva415]

I hit 5️ with all 10 of my sockpuppets to get that 🅷 on day 1

 

[MK_Whimsy]

I didn't know you could. Now I'm paranoid that I'll accidentally rate it while scrolling and be like, "Oh come on, that was at least a three!"

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Then why enter?

I enter for the additional exposure to all of my stories and for the community that develops around the competition.i mean, just look at what @EmilyMiller did for the limerick thread.

 

[SmilingLez]

Is it really so hard to fathom entering a competition where a friend is also entered and you don't want to be competition to your friend, but you do want to participate in the competition because you have a work that fits and you know it'll give you more reads and potential for responses?

Or that you feel like your scores are inflated and you try to move the needle more to where they should be with the single vote you're allowed?

If you and your friend's story was based the exact same theme, I would agree with you. However, you are not in competition with other authors, you are seeing if/how your work resonates with readers. I decided to go for the trifecta -750 words, Valentine's Day, Pink Orchid - to challenge myself (first) and to see if my story connects with readers (second). The contest/competition was something I really didn't care about. I am more shocked that my story, Her Orgasm, has over 16,600 views and it's only been live for 13 days

And by the way, there is something called a tie

 

[Erozetta]

If you and your friend's story was based the exact same theme, I would agree with you. However, you are not in competition with other authors, you are seeing if/how your work resonates with readers. I decided to go for the trifecta -750 words, Valentine's Day, Pink Orchid - to challenge myself (first) and to see if my story connects with readers (second). The contest/competition was something I really didn't care about. I am more shocked that my story, Her Orgasm, has over 16,600 views and it's only been live for 13 days

And by the way, there is something called a tie

Well, there's also the fact that I've won a competition and never want to run the risk of winning another.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

I don't generally think about it. I have done it to two or three of them.