We could all learn something from SamuelX

[Comshaw]

Interesting...not the premise of the thread but the reactions to the posts in the thread.

As far as the premise, I've never read any of Samuel's work, so I really can't express an opinion on it. As far as learning something from him, I've expressed an opinion on that before. My take on it, I can learn something from almost everyone I come into contact with. It may be just a verification of a thing I already do or believe, but even a small nugget like that is worth a listen.

Do I think LC's take on it, that we should learn to be less invested in what other's think of our work, an "I don't give a flying fuck what you think" attitude? Maybe. For me what Samuel can teach me is more along the lines of learning to be less sensitive to trolls, less vested in the judgement of others via scores and comments. That does not mean I'm going to dismiss all my scores and thumb my nose at comments. I'll be honest, I like a nice high score or a warm fuzzy comment. And yes I'd be sad or upset if one takes a nose dive because some asshole decided to 1 bomb a story.

Through my life I've always projected an outward persona of a stoic tough guy, that "I don't give a fuck what you think" look, while inwardly a word could cut me deeply. So working on being less obsessed with scores and such, being a bit more on the "so what" side helps me to desensitize myself a little. So when a cowardly anon decides to do something like a 1 just because, I have a choice. If I have something I can do about it I will. If not, if there is nothing I can do, with a snarled, "Fucking asshole coward!" I'll walk away from it. For me that's a difficult thing that took a lot of practice to do. But it is much better for my well-being than letting it eat at me.

As to the reactions in this thread, Woofta! After a while, after reading numerous posts by those who post, I begin to understand the personalities behind the words, begin to differentiate between what was written and intent. As I said, interesting and educational.

Comshaw

 

[SimonDoom]

I'll check it out definitely. I confess that, while being a big fan of English humor in general, (Only fools and horses, Black Adder), Monty Python I've always found so so. I do believe I was missing plenty of cultural references due to living somewhere else entirely

Monty Python isn't for everyone. But check out that sketch, especially in light of some of the nonsense arguments we have here.

The other sketch that comes to mind is the Dan Akroyd/Jane Curtin Saturday Night Live Point/Counterpoint sketch ("Jane, you ignorant slut"). It's easy to find as well and maybe even more applicable to what goes on here.

 

[lovecraft68]

Monty Python isn't for everyone. But check out that sketch, especially in light of some of the nonsense arguments we have here.

The other sketch that comes to mind is the Dan Akroyd/Jane Curtin Saturday Night Live Point/Counterpoint sketch ("Jane, you ignorant slut"). It's easy to find as well and maybe even more applicable to what goes on here.

Classic SNL is so hard to beat. When it first came out I was in middle school and it was all the rage to stay up and watch it, but a lot of the humor was over my head. I go back and watch them now and they've lost nothing over time.

 

[lovecraft68]

good4dagoose

I wouldn't be surprised if the poster had removed the comment themselves. It seems to be someone who likes to stir things up, and maybe enjoys leaving people behind bewildered by what that was all about. The behaviour looks somewhat familiar.

Edit:
The account is gone now; Loves Spam

If that was you know who he must have created some ids before because the date was 2021

 

[RejectReality]

Now say Lit did that. You would click to vote and be shown Grammar, story, 'hotness' and the final vote is an aggregate of the individual votes. So I get a 5 for the story, a 5 for hotness, but a three for grammar and my total score is...

That could lend some weight to the scores because it factors in more than "yeah loved it, no, hated it"

That won't happen to we have this. A system that is easily gamed, allows anon to run around bombing with impunity, the same for cheerleading with 5's blasting stories on top lists, pushing stories up on top lists...scoring based on "I don't like when a woman calls herself a slut" personal prejudices, knee jerk reactions to an opinion expressed etc...

Nothing here, other than the rare insightful comment, is an indicator to the talent of a writer so when people talk improvement here, it comes from continuing to writer and get better through trial and error, and there is some good advice to be had here in the terms of actual writing, but very little from the readers is going to help you get better. Pandering to the people who say "next time they should..." is not making you better, it cheapens your gift

Won't work. This was tried on SOL, and the bulk of the multi-faceted votes were identical. Instead of giving it a single 9 with a standard vote, it was 9 for plot, 9 for technical quality, and 9 for appeal. The few people who did vote with nuance based upon the stated categories weren't enough to move the needle. After a few years, it was removed for being extraneous. ( and thus unnecessary bloat to code and load )

The overwhelming majority of readers in this space vote emotionally, not critically. Nothing anyone does is going to change that.

Members only voting doesn't stop cheerleaders or trolls either. The reduced number of votes means that people wishing to game the score can do so more easily, as every vote has more power to move the needle. When you reduce the need to cast multiple votes to affect the outcome, it's harder to establish patterns of abuse. On Lush ( prior to moving to like only scoring ) the angst was for 4-bombs. A single 4 could move you from the #1 position on a toplist to #139 and page 4. As you can imagine, it's easier to explain away a series of 4 votes than 1s.

The more you limit the pool of voters, the more influence each and every one can have. Inevitably, it's the trolls and cheerleaders who are more willing to jump through hoops than the casual reader.

And authors, who ( unless they're engaging in shenanigans ) tend to vote in an all or nothing fashion because they know how it feels to have a low vote devastate a story, and are unwilling to do it to anyone else. That contributes to score inflation, which makes it even easier to eviscerate a story while maintaining a plausible reason for the vote.

As to the subject at hand, it's obvious SamX gets what he desires out of his Lit experience. I have my own opinion about what that desire is, and I don't think it's fuck-it-all, but... *shrug* You can never know for sure what's going on in someone's head.

 

[lovecraft68]

Won't work. This was tried on SOL, and the bulk of the multi-faceted votes were identical. Instead of giving it a single 9 with a standard vote, it was 9 for plot, 9 for technical quality, and 9 for appeal. The few people who did vote with nuance based upon the stated categories weren't enough to move the needle. After a few years, it was removed for being extraneous. ( and thus unnecessary bloat to code and load )

The overwhelming majority of readers in this space vote emotionally, not critically. Nothing anyone does is going to change that.

Members only voting doesn't stop cheerleaders or trolls either. The reduced number of votes means that people wishing to game the score can do so more easily, as every vote has more power to move the needle. When you reduce the need to cast multiple votes to affect the outcome, it's harder to establish patterns of abuse. On Lush ( prior to moving to like only scoring ) the angst was for 4-bombs. A single 4 could move you from the #1 position on a toplist to #139 and page 4. As you can imagine, it's easier to explain away a series of 4 votes than 1s.

The more you limit the pool of voters, the more influence each and every one can have. Inevitably, it's the trolls and cheerleaders who are more willing to jump through hoops than the casual reader.

And authors, who ( unless they're engaging in shenanigans ) tend to vote in an all or nothing fashion because they know how it feels to have a low vote devastate a story, and are unwilling to do it to anyone else. That contributes to score inflation, which makes it even easier to eviscerate a story while maintaining a plausible reason for the vote.

As to the subject at hand, it's obvious SamX gets what he desires out of his Lit experience. I have my own opinion about what that desire is, and I don't think it's fuck-it-all, but... *shrug* You can never know for sure what's going on in someone's head.

I wasn't suggesting they try it, just giving an example of a method that in theory-key word-would give readers more specifics to vote on, rather than hmmm great idea, meh grammar what's more important to me.

I think, and this is only tire kicking its never going to happen, if you eliminated anon you would be cutting down on bombs and nasty comments, issue is you'd lose votes and comments from the sane anons and there's a lot of them.

As for Mr. X, I think there's a method to the madness, but it still requires not caring what the scores look like, unless the low scores are seen as a success in a Bizzaro world way

 

[lovecraft68]

I might be wrong, but I seem to remember that MixLatin was also from that year.

Funny that AntonBruckner is still around. He did remove all of his 'Favorites', though. Or could it be that BonoBeowolf also left the building?

You had to mention that name......
Oh, look he already deleted his post....but so did someone else, who isn't a troll....is this forum glitching?

 

[lovecraft68]

It's his first post. It won't last.

And then, their style and opinions remind me of someone who'd been active for a much longer time...



History repeating?

Something I noticed was aside from Tilan a GB member who'd been gone awhile reappeared here and made some similar posts. GB is alt central so who knows?
Must be nice to have that kind of time on your hands.
Then again what are we doing with ours?

 

[Comshaw]

Won't work. This was tried on SOL, and the bulk of the multi-faceted votes were identical. Instead of giving it a single 9 with a standard vote, it was 9 for plot, 9 for technical quality, and 9 for appeal. The few people who did vote with nuance based upon the stated categories weren't enough to move the needle. After a few years, it was removed for being extraneous. ( and thus unnecessary bloat to code and load )

The overwhelming majority of readers in this space vote emotionally, not critically. Nothing anyone does is going to change that.

Members only voting doesn't stop cheerleaders or trolls either. The reduced number of votes means that people wishing to game the score can do so more easily, as every vote has more power to move the needle. When you reduce the need to cast multiple votes to affect the outcome, it's harder to establish patterns of abuse. On Lush ( prior to moving to like only scoring ) the angst was for 4-bombs. A single 4 could move you from the #1 position on a toplist to #139 and page 4. As you can imagine, it's easier to explain away a series of 4 votes than 1s.

The more you limit the pool of voters, the more influence each and every one can have. Inevitably, it's the trolls and cheerleaders who are more willing to jump through hoops than the casual reader.

And authors, who ( unless they're engaging in shenanigans ) tend to vote in an all or nothing fashion because they know how it feels to have a low vote devastate a story, and are unwilling to do it to anyone else. That contributes to score inflation, which makes it even easier to eviscerate a story while maintaining a plausible reason for the vote.

As to the subject at hand, it's obvious SamX gets what he desires out of his Lit experience. I have my own opinion about what that desire is, and I don't think it's fuck-it-all, but... *shrug* You can never know for sure what's going on in someone's head.

And this is the whole point, the ultimate aim of writing and posting a story is it not ? While it's okay and I think needed that a reader will spot misspelled words, misused punctuation, the technique used and give a good critique on that point, it's not the reason I post a story. If they get grabbed by the plot, transfixed by the characters, immersed in the story to the point of missing or dismissing those kinds of mistakes that's the ultimate aim. To manufacture such a strong emotional connection to the story and the characters that the mistakes pale in comparison, that's my aim.

Comshaw

 

[djrip]

BonoBeowolf removed his membership because of you. All his stories were H rated.

Wtf

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Monty Python isn't for everyone. But check out that sketch, especially in light of some of the nonsense arguments we have here.

The other sketch that comes to mind is the Dan Akroyd/Jane Curtin Saturday Night Live Point/Counterpoint sketch ("Jane, you ignorant slut"). It's easy to find as well and maybe even more applicable to what goes on here.

I watched them both. Monty Python one was hilarious, I must admit.

 

[lovecraft68]

Talking Monty Python, this means its time to invoke Kumquatqueen's Star Wars rule.

"Those were the scores you were looking for."

 

[Bramblethorn]

Monty Python isn't for everyone. But check out that sketch, especially in light of some of the nonsense arguments we have here.

The other sketch that comes to mind is the Dan Akroyd/Jane Curtin Saturday Night Live Point/Counterpoint sketch ("Jane, you ignorant slut"). It's easy to find as well and maybe even more applicable to what goes on here.

Python is patchy - it was fairly experimental for its day, and like most experiments it has a lot of misses among the hits. For somebody trying it out I'd strongly recommend a "selected highlights" version, or going for well-recommended individual sketches, rather than trying to watch a full series.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Python is patchy - it was fairly experimental for its day, and like most experiments it has a lot of misses among the hits. For somebody trying it out I'd strongly recommend a "selected highlights" version, or going for well-recommended individual sketches, rather than trying to watch a full series.

Or start with the movies, then watch the TV shows once you've acquired the taste.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Or start with the movies, then watch the TV shows once you've acquired the taste.

Actually yes, that's probably better advice. For my money "Life of Brian" first.

 

[Euphony]

Python is patchy - it was fairly experimental for its day, and like most experiments it has a lot of misses among the hits. For somebody trying it out I'd strongly recommend a "selected highlights" version, or going for well-recommended individual sketches, rather than trying to watch a full series.

Consistency in quality was difficult with all the sackings going on. To say nothing of all the llamas running about.

 

[lovecraft68]

Men, men, men, men, men....wait, okay, off the Python for a second.
Considering a couple of people here mentioned 'data' from readers to improve, I thought I'd do this. Now that lit screens comments they show up a few at a time on the activity page, then eventually you can see them live on the story, seeing that takes time sometimes they go further down the page to where you have click show more, and by then I forget I had comments and probably never see many of them.

But I made sure to keep checking today, so here are my most recent three

On All I want for Christmas is mom

anonymous about 6 hours ago
One of the best I have read. Please keep it going

Story was written in 2014...its not going to keep it going, and I'm sure this was only the best story they read until they clicked the next one.

On How do we look baby-gee...wonder what category

Anonymous about 6 hours ago
Disgusting. Just pure evil throughout. Absolutely no love in that drivel. Made to satisfy a hardcore BDSM kink and nothing more. Like the cheap whore it makes itself to be

Okay, I guess what to take from this is the same crowd that cackles over violent BTB stories doesn't like bondage. But nothing to take seriously considering the malice.

On Family Affair ch 3

Anonymous about 6 hours ago
This is like the a nasty buffet of sloppy seconds. The fact that you guys get hard to this makes me think you'd get hard to anything. Disgusting.

Classic case of someone who doesn't like taboo stories commenting on a taboo story. Also no details so possible didn't even read it.

Three comments, one a rah rah yay vote with nothing to offer other than it needs a sequel(like every other story every written here) and two trolls.

Now to me comments, although sadly rarer than votes are indicative of votes, the same not so insightful criteria used to give nothing resembling useful feedback is the same way people vote 1 or 5.

Not to say we don't get some decent comments or people who vote based on more than a 'it was great, it sucked" but the norm tend to be more of the example I gave. Maybe I'll make sure I check comments and play a game with myself to see how many before I get something of substance.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Consistency in quality was difficult with all the sackings going on. To say nothing of all the llamas running about.

Fortunately, the people responsible for the sackings have now been sacked.

 

[SimonDoom]

Fortunately, the people responsible for the sackings have now been sacked.

But the llamas are still running about. Cuidado, cuidado.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Personally, I see nothing to admire about this anarchist or those who condone his "attitude".

IMO, his lack of respect for his own work is emblematic of behaviors pervasive within our society today. Someone should care about apathy.

 

[lovecraft68]

Personally, I see nothing to admire about this anarchist or those who condone his "attitude".

IMO, his lack of respect for his own work is emblematic of behaviors pervasive within our society today. Someone should care about apathy.

And you know that he has no respect for his own work? You've had conversations with him?
You can say you have no respect for it, that's the opinion you're entitled to, but you can't speak for him or project your feelings onto his. I'm impressed this thread made it this far before someone started whining about society. Maybe someday the side that keep saying how awful it is will realize its because of them and their endless Puritanical judgement of anyone with differing views(which this thread is a perfect example of) but I'm digressing.

Caring about apathy is an oxy moron. But let's talk about reader comprehension where a bunch of defensive thin skinned people take a comment about trying not to get obsessed with numbers and make it in an absolute and personal attack.

I haven't given much of a damn about my scores in years. Let me know if you'd like to borrow some Blue W's or red h's or some favs. I have plenty to spare because apparently my attitude of my story gets written my way with no concern over what Reader X is going to vote on it, and I do fine. Granted, I'm not as polarizing as Samual X, I don't use erotica to push personal platforms or issues But he chooses to and that is his right, and again, your negative reaction and name calling will make me as again, who's the problem?

But if you write in LW everything is polarizing. My next to last story is in LW and sitting at 2.80 with comments about how nasty the story was and how could anyone like any of the characters.

They're right, the characters all have impure motivations because that's what I wanted.
I like the story, and I respect the story because I put a lot of work into making it the way I wanted it. The readers did not respond favorably. Meaning? That if a similar idea strikes me

 

[Bramblethorn]

Personally, I see nothing to admire about this anarchist or those who condone his "attitude".

Anarchist?

He's writing stories, not overthrowing a government.

IMO, his lack of respect for his own work is emblematic of behaviors pervasive within our society today. Someone should care about apathy.

I've read a few of his stories, and while they weren't to my taste, I never got any impression of "lack of respect for his own work". It's pretty clear that there are things that matter to him in writing, and he works to achieve those things, just that "get a five-star vote from Bramble" isn't one of them.

 

[lovecraft68]

Someone who shows zero concern for what others think of him is called a psychopath, but SamuelX is probably not one, because psychopaths don't waste their time on free writing.

On the other end, you can find people with narcissistic disorder (not to be confused with narcissistic traits that can be found in any artist) who are consumed by low self-esteem and self-loathing and obsessively seek external validation.
No matter what they achieve in life and how proud they seem to be of their peacock feathers, nothing will ever fill their sense of emptiness or soothe their inner restlessness. It's quite tragic, really.

Quoting this at 12:38 to see how long before the poster deletes it.

 

[FifthEstate]

I am very late to this conversation and I haven’t read every post, but my issue with SamuelX is that his daily (often multiple daily) submissions move other legit stories, written by newer or caring authors trying to find readers, through the system and the all-important first page of “New” stories board at a pace that wouldn’t be the case if he actually gave two-fucks about anybody but himself.

I publish heavily in the IR category where he regularly clogs the system with his crap uh…work. It doesn’t affect me personally as I’m fortunate enough to have developed a pretty supportive following, but it’s the newer authors, many of whom have painstakingly written, rewritten, and edited their stories only to have them published on the same day as 3 of SamuelX’s doesn’t give two-fucks submissions, who suffer. It’s bullshit! He spends an hour on each entry, while they may have spent two or three months on their single submission.

It’s one thing to not care what anyone else thinks, but it’s another entirely when that attitude directly affects others. I personally have zero respect for what he does…

 

[Bramblethorn]

I am very late to this conversation and I haven’t read every post, but my issue with SamuelX is that his daily (often multiple daily) submissions move other stories, often written by newer or caring authors trying to find readers, through the system and the all-important first page of “New” stories board at a pace that wouldn’t be the case if he actually gave two-fucks about anybody but himself.

I publish heavily in the IR category where he clogs the system with his crap—sorry but IMO that’s what it is. It doesn’t affect me personally as I’m fortunate enough to have developed a pretty supportive following, but it’s the newer authors, many of whom have painstakingly written, rewritten, and edited their stories only to have them published on the same day as 3 of SamuelX’s doesn’t give two-fucks submissions, who suffer. It’s bullshit! He spends twenty minutes apiece on each entry, while they may have spent two or three months on their single submission.

It’s one thing to not care what anyone else thinks, but it’s another entirely when that attitude directly affects others. I personally have zero respect for what he does…

In the past 12 months, there were about 1060 stories posted to Interracial. Of those, 54 stories came from SamuelX - about one story a week, or 5% of the total for the category.

(Across all categories: 51551 stories published, 163 by SamuelX, putting him at about one story per two days and about 0.33% of all new stories. His long-term average across the 19 years he's been on Literotica is about the same.)