What does targeted, sweep-evading, story vandalism look like?

[EmilyMiller]

Thanks to @Cacatua_Galerita for suggesting a good chart-based approach to visualizing this area here.

I don’t track voting on all my stories, and sometimes I do it at the beginning and then stop (though I keep an eye on voting even if I no longer update my spreadsheet). But here are partial voting patterns on five of my most recent stories.



I’d draw your attention to the pairs of 1️ votes in red ellipses. This same pattern being repeated across multiple stories is not explainable by a stochastic process, it’s a clear signature of malign intent.

In all of the above cases, the pairs of one bombs continued after I gave up tracking them. And, as the real views / votes dry up over time, virtually all of the later votes are pairs of 1️s, regularly appearing each morning and - in particular - if any of my recent stories ever claws its way back over 4.5.

The result is that between 12 and 20% of the votes on these stories are 1️s. And the story ratings are sadly between 3.84 and 4.25. With that high a percentage of one bombs, it’s not mathematically possible to break 4.5, which is of course the intent of the vandal.

None of the above malicious votes have ever been swept. They are cast in a manner which is sweep-proof. But I challenge anyone to argue that these votes are anything but intentional, motivated vandalism.

I have informed the site multiple times, but there has been no action. I no longer publish here as a result.

I now read that is happening to other people - @MelissaBaby has mentioned it only yesterday.

It could happen to you next.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

In all of the above cases, the pairs of one bombs continued after I gave up tracking them.

How do you know if you stopped tracking?

They are cast in a manner which is sweep-proof.

Yes, someone says the magic words before hitting the 1 and the vote becomes invisible to sweeps. : /

I have informed the site multiple times, but there has been no action. I no longer publish here as a result.

Yes, for months, you've been leaving. Why do you care to go to this great detail of analysis if you have decided months ago to stop publishing here?

 

[TheRedChamber]

It could happen to you next.

I've noticed that 1-bombs tend to come in pairs. I suspect it happens to (nearly) everyone.

Just be grateful for all the 5 stars in those charts.

 

[SimonDoom]

It's happened to me.

Shrug.

 

[MrPixel]

Just be grateful for all the 5 stars in those charts.

Doesn't excuse the malicious 1s. It's the weirdness of statistics math that they have so much impact on the supposed "quality" rating.

This is one of several reasons I no longer publish here.

 

[TheRedChamber]

Doesn't excuse the malicious 1s. It's the weirdness of statistics math that they have so much impact on the supposed "quality" rating.

This is one of several reasons I no longer publish here.

Just...why waste time caring? If everyone gave my score one I'd be upset and if no-one else on the site ever got one bombed apart from me I'd be upset. But we all know it happens, and somehow we seem to discuss nothing else. The graph shows a lot of people like Emily's stories. Great.

 

[Hampshiregirl]

I'm something of a newbie here. When my first few stories were published, I was very interested in the ratings that they achieved.

I'm pushing 30 stories now, and have honestly stopped looking closely at ratings. I mean, you're bound to notice them a little bit, but I write for my own pleasure more than anything.

I submit my efforts for publishing because I hope that others will enjoy them. If they don't, it's no big deal. If folk wish to maliciously one-bomb, so be it.

I have had some lovely personal messages though, and some interesting conversations, which I consider far more important than ratings.

HG xx

 

[EmilyMiller]

A general point. If anyone thinks it impossible to evade sweeps, I’m more than happy to illustrate just how to do this on one of your stories. It’s childs’ play.

I’d of course rectify my downvotes after the next sweep fails to remove them and my point is thus accepted as valid. But really anyone with a few braincells can figure this problem out.

 

[OddLove]

I collect a decent amount of 1-stars with each story. It's really hard to know if it's vandalism or just someone who doesn't like my story for a valid reason. In the back of my mind I will usually suspect it's a 'hater' who has a personal problem with me, but I'm also painfully aware that in order to feel 'certain' of that, I would have to believe "My story is objectively great, and there's absolutely no reason to rate it 1-star" which sounds insane... so I try not to let my mind wonder that way... though it still tries, constantly.

 

[Statius]

A year or so ago I made a suggestion that Lit do away with stars and give the red H through some sort of ratio between reads and . I was skewered and crucified for it; and since getting dog piled I deleted the post. Now I'm in the camp of @SimonDoom and @lovecraft68. So be it. Resistance is futile. Writing is what matters.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Please point out what stochastic process lead to ultra-frequent pairs of 1️s. There is a Field’s Medal available here for making a major breakthrough in statistics.

As an aside, and not for the first time, I worry about the state of our education system.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I also kinda worry about people conflating the patterns I’ve highlited above with the random and sporadic one bombing that everyone gets all of the time. That has a totally different profile. These are not complex concepts.

 

[alohadave]

Thanks to @Cacatua_Galerita for suggesting a good chart-based approach to visualizing this area here.

Can you share your method for determining the votes? I use an estimation method that is very fuzzy.

 

[OddLove]

Can you share your method for determining the votes? I use an estimation method that is very fuzzy.

I'd also like to know. If there's a program that can keep track of that it would be interesting to see if I get pairs, and if I do, how far apart are they. Cause if they're like within ten minutes of each other, super sus.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I also kinda worry about people conflating the patterns I’ve highlited above with the random and sporadic one bombing that everyone gets all of the time. That has a totally different profile. These are not complex concepts.

Girl, you have no fucking clue what it means to get troll voted. You are one of the most successful writers in the AH by views and scores with legions of fans and not just respect but tons of smoke blowing from colleagues here. Yet all you do is whine, moan and bitch about trolls and how you refuse to write here anymore because Laurel and Manu won't suck you off. News flash: they don't suck anyone off, okay? Deal with it. There are people here who will hit me with a couple of 1s the moment that my story goes live just to make sure that my story falls on its face the moment it steps out there. You don't have a goddamn clue what a troll is. Suck it up, buttercup.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Other than my cheating stories, I suspect all the ones I get are just people who hate my writing. Now I don't care much about the one votes, a one and five are the same for me. A person either hates vehemently or loves it equally as much. Those are the best votes for me. When that happens, it means I'm still an acquired taste and haven't chased votes. I worry when everyone loves my work.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Pink, I love you, but chill... We all have our own little quirks.

Girl, you have no fucking clue what it means to get troll voted. You are one of the most successful writers in the AH by views and scores with legions of fans and not just respect but tons of smoke blowing from colleagues here. Yet all you do is whine, moan and bitch about trolls and how you refuse to write here anymore because Laurel and Manu won't suck you off. News flash: they don't suck anyone off, okay? Deal with it. There are people here who will hit me with a couple of 1s the moment that my story goes live just to make sure that my story falls on its face the moment it steps out there. You don't have a goddamn clue what a troll is. Suck it up, buttercup.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Can you share your method for determining the votes? I use an estimation method that is very fuzzy.

I don’t estimate. I count. In low vote frequency categories, you can see the votes coming in. Worse case I have two votes to figure out and they could be a 3 and a 5 or two 4s. But that doesn’t happen very often and has little overall impact. Normally the change in the rating can only be explained by one value in the range 1 - 5. And I record that.

My spreadsheet calculates the running average as I add each new vote and I can cross-check. When regular suspicious votes get swept (I’m not talking about the pairs of sweep-proof votes here), I can take out votes until I match the resulting score. This isn’t rocket science, anyone vaguely numerate could do the same.

Obviously my approach wouldn’t work in a high voting category (e.g. Romance), or a high view category (e.g. Loving Wives).

 

[pink_silk_glove]

When regular suspicious votes get swept (I’m not talking about the pairs of sweep-proof votes here),

Oh I understand now. The only votes that get swept are the ones that confirm your theories. : /

 

[EmilyMiller]

As to why anyone would choose to do this. Well I think there is ample evidence to show how some people behave on this very thread. Jealousy. Obsession. Antipathy. Insecurity. Anger management issues. Grudges. God complexes. Boredom. Just because they can.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

As to why anyone would choose to do this. Well I think there is ample evidence to show how some people behave on this very thread. Jealousy. Obsession. Antipathy. Insecurity. Anger management issues. Grudges. God complexes. Boredom. Just because they can.

You can talk to me face to face. I'm right fucking here. Obviously it's me because I'm the only critic here.

How fucking dare you accuse me of that? And how fucking double-dare you accuse me like that passively? Say it to my fucking face or shut your big coward mouth.

 

[big_cane_sugar]

It's sad that people would spend their time trying to prevent someone else's stories from getting too popular. What weird, pathetic behavior.

I know this is easier said than done, but it seems like it would be a good idea to try not to care about what people like that do. Once when I was still young I insulted an older cousin who shrugged and told me, "I don't care what kids say." I actually don't think he meant it (LOL) but he tried, and when he said it I realized it was a great attitude. Later, as an adult, I've noticed some adults caring too much about what kids think. Seems like until the age of 16 or so everyone's naturally a troll; conversely, online trolls are either children or childish.

They suck.

 

[SimonDoom]

I was once a skeptic, of sorts, about the alleged phenomenon of targeted 1-voting, but I've become satisfied by the work of people who are better with numbers than I am that it exists.

But why keep talking about it? What is the point? The site has made it very clear what its priorities are, and it's not going to change them based on anything we say here. My view is that the site is justified in taking that position, however annoying it may be to us as authors.

I think harping on this issue constantly creates an unhealthy climate of grievance and unfairness, which is unjustified. No author here has been "done wrong" in any meaningful sense, because the thing people are complaining about doesn't actually matter at all. It doesn't stop you from writing, it doesn't stop you from finding readers who like what you do, it doesn't stop you from building a base of followers, it doesn't stop you from getting positive feedback. It doesn't stop you from growing as an author.

The attitude seems silly and entitled to me. "I want my high score, and how dare you take it away from me!" You're not entitled to anything. Nobody cares. Nobody should care. This is all completely unimportant.

You're entitled to think differently. But why choose to think in a way that makes you unhappy and aggrieved? It IS a choice. I choose to focus on what I can control. It gives me both artistic satisfaction and peace of mind.

 

[EmilyMiller]

On vote counting. I often see the first of a pair of one bombs hit my score and can predict that the second will follow shortly. I’ve PMed people with this prediction and been proven right. You can’t predict a stochastic process like that, but human behavior (or an automated script) is often predictable.

 

[Gamblnluck]

Where did you get the data for the vote distribution? I've seen the overall/calculated rating but not how or when the votes occurred.