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

[RejectReality]

Sweeps are a method, details undisclosed, by which the site scans for votes that appear to be illegitimate. Sweeps are run, generally more than once, during the final days of contest. As RejectReality as pointed out several times recently, since the site ceased holding monthly contests, there appears to be an uptick in one bombing, because there is no regular sweep of all stories anymore.

How can a vote that has to be recorded to count, become unavailable to the site? Your Mr. Data, explain to me how the voting results can change without changing the number of votes cast.

I think it may well be that someone is engaging in a targeted attack on Emily, but if the problem is systemic, why has no one else reported it?

When my Vaentines Day story took a nose dive, I did not ring the fire alarm, I asked Laurel to look into it, and she did.

The whole database may be affected by any sweep, regardless of what group of work the sweeps are targeting. It's just that the monthly sweeps were contest sweeps, which cut much deeper, and find more fraud, which is then nuked throughout the story file. ( They most likely wipe out some legitimate votes as well ) The themed contests only examine 100 or so stories, as opposed to a full month worth of submissions. It's a huge difference as far as the amount of incoming data.

 

[RejectReality]

The difference here, I don't complain about it on the forum. I don't give a shit what scores my stories receive. I'm not bothered about being trolled. My one red H was trolled off finally.

Good thing you don't care, because most of your work is in Loving Wives, which is a hive of scum and villainy. If anyplace on Lit needs a sign that says "Beware of trolls", it's LW. The rest of your scores are probably getting nuked by the miscreants that dwell there in an effort to discourage you from writing and "polluting their category" with more ( whichever camp hates you depending upon the theme of the story )

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Surprisingly, being hammered down from 4.10 to 3.90 is not overly traumatic. It’s so evident that the votes have been manipulated that is almost farcical.

Get back to me when you've been bombed from 4.6 to 1.8 in a single afternoon.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

here, a ton of people are saying, yes, its hackable, yes, its massively influential, but also, how dare she complain about it!

But she's not trying to discuss the issue. She just wants everyone to agree with her. Look how many people who counter her stance that she just personally takes a shit on rather than engaging them.

Furthermore, I'm not user how new you are around here but she's spent the past three years being a spammy little drama queen here. This thread is just more of that. I actually agree that there is organized trolling going on. If you look at the math in several threads about this lately, it looks pretty obvious that there is systematic downvoting, whether it's scripted or just someone with way too much time on their hands to watch the scores all day, or more than one troll.

However, my point is that Emily is just startijng another thread to toss her toys out of the pram again (the same ones that she tossed out last month and the month before and after the crowd left she secretly picked them back up again) and get attention and the sympathy of her sycophants.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

you keep saying that to me. I keep responding - I dont even know what sweeps means.

Then you really ought to stay out of an argument about a system that you don't engage with and don't understand.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

You come in and say: I dont have condition A. look, im in perfect health.

I have condition A. I've been trolled far worse than she ever has.

 

[TheRedChamber]

Ah, lovely, now I'm getting bombed. 8 stories lost their H's and a many others dropped since I last checked. I've not published for weeks so things have been dormant up until this Blitz.

My stories are the same quality they were yesterday so [shrug]

 

[BobbyBrandt]

The scores are meaningless in the sense that the vast majority of writers believe them to be. The vast majority of writers believe that a good score means that they wrote good. That's completely false, so in that sense, the scores are meaningless. What the scores do indicate is how popular your story was with the crowd reading that category. If one looks at scores strictly that way, then yes, they do have some value.

But hardly anyone looks at scores that way. The vast majority seem to think, "I scored high, yay! I' done good!" or "I scored poorly, I'm bummed, I suck at this and maybe I should quit," or "I scored poorly, with chapter 4, I guess I should bail on chapter 5 because I'm not getting enough roses for my efforts." In that sense, interpreting scores is foolish and silly.

The problem that I believe a lot of writers on Literotica have is that this site is their only source for validation. Hence, scores here mean far more to them.

I, and many others can weigh the scores received here against external rating sources (such as sales on other sites) and conclude just how much disparity that there frequently is. For example, I have one story here that has received several industry accolades at book festivals, (including the 2025 Los Angeles International Book Festival) as well at other author events.

Should I be concerned that it isn't on a top list here? Hell no.

 

[OddLove]

Ah, lovely, now I'm getting bombed. 8 stories lost their H's and a many others dropped since I last checked. I've not published for weeks so things have been dormant up until this Blitz.

My stories are the same quality they were yesterday so [shrug]

I believe it's happening to several people in this thread now. My entire catalog got bombed within a day after disagreeing with people here. The OP and others here have warned "It will happen to you too" to everyone who questioned or disagreed with the OP.

This is a great opportunity to see if the sweeps will handle it.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

The problem that I believe a lot of writers on Literotica have is that this site is their only source for validation. Hence, scores here mean far more to them.

The problem is that they are writing for validation. They are writing specifically to get something back for their efforts rather than to give a story. Which is totally okay to do but the vast vast majority don't understand the nature of the exchange and so are disappointed when they don't get back what they want.

They say, "I'm giving this story for free and the readers aren't giving back enough appreciation." What they fail to understand is (and I get smeared a s a cunt and having my catalog bombed over saying this) that they're not giving it for free. They are giving it with an expectation of getting back feedback/applause/score or whatever (each writer a little different expectation). That's not free. Free is no expectation in return.

First, there are tons of folks who think free only means money. It doesn't. I gave you a story, you give me a score or a comment or a fave etc. That is a contract. The writer expects a contract. The problem here is that publishing a lit story is not a contract because no contract is solicited. "Before you read this, you must agree to leave me a comment or a vote." That would be soliciting the contract but no one does that here. So the story is given out for free and then the writer is miffed that he didn't get paid (in likes/faves/scores/etc). Well, it; his own fault because he does not understand that there is no contract. He gave it free. And even if there is one of those author's notes at the top stating, "this mfm story contains some m/m action, if you don't like that hit the back button now," jive, the reader is under no obligation to accept those terms because the site does not restrict readers. And it shouldn't restrict them because that is the main reason why this site has always had the traffic that we all love (and some of us take for granted).

Second, you have the writers who say, "Oh, I don't expect anything. All I want is some common courtesy and good manners, etc" Say that again. "Oh, I don't expect anything. All I want is ..." stop right there. All I want is, is an expectation. These people do expect something even if they don't realize it. They expect to be treated fairly/kindly/respectfully/etc. But again, there is no contract here, so one cannot expect to be paid in kindness/decency/respect/etc. In the specific case of Duleigh (and I'm not picking on him, as easy as it may be, but he is on record more than once stating this, I'm not making this up, so he makes the best example) he fully expects that he is owed an explanation for any downvote and a named account so that he can track down this negative person and get to the bottom of this downvote. He is on record in this very thread that he believes that he is owed special level of treatment from the Admin since he is a 'professional writer' that brings in the traffic with his superior content. Well, he's not owed a damn thing from the readers nor the admin. There is no contract when you sign up (other than to obey site rules). You make an account and you publish for free and people read you for free. That's it. Somehow he feels that this means that he is owed something in return. He's not owed anything. And the reason that he gets his knickers so tangled over downvoting and negative feedback is that he does not understand that there is no contract here, he does not understand the difference between a contract and a gift, and he does not truly understand what free means. His expectations are way off. And when I first tried to point this out to him some years ago he flipped the fuck out on me and called me the worst. Then he wonders why I don't like him. (shrug) All right then. Well he's just never going to learn how this all works and he can stay more important than everyone else. Meanwhile there may very well be lesser writers here who figure this out and actually improve their craft and enjoy their time here more than he does.

So my advice has always been to give your story, put it out there as a true gift with zero expectation, and if you get something back, awesome, and if not, fine. Anything that you get back is found money. Somebody read you. You wanted a reader. You got a reader ... for free! Someone leaves a comment, "It was so-so, cool character, not enough sex 3/5." You wanted feedback, you got some .. for free! People pay editors and beta readers you know? "This was really cool but I didn't believe the ending." That's valuable feedback ... for free. If you don't like it, why are you here?

We spend all thi stime and sweat to write these stories for free. And people spend their time reading them and sometimes give a vote .. for free! It's a good deal, very fair. But it took you 75 hours to write it and the reader reads it in 2 hours. Writing is much harder work. So 1000 people hit the story in the first week and if 50 of them actually read it, that's 100 hours of reading your 75 hours of writing. That's just the first week and the story will be there for years. It's very very VERY good deal for you, mr writer.

 

[EmilyMiller]

This is specifically for @MelissaBaby - it was in part your post on this subject that prompted me to speak up.

You said:

“My story is getting multiple one bombs every night. It went from 4.85 at the end of the contest to 4.44 this morning. It is now my lowest rated story.

“I have contacted Laurel twice to no avail.

“I will not be entering any more contests until the site does something to address this bombing problem.”

At least at one point, you were less sanguine than you appear to be now.

Maybe the third time was the charm, or the site just took a while to respond. But it now seems you had 23 malicious votes removed. Good for you . I agree this is how it ought to work.

But this site is full of people saying that they contacted the site and nothing happened. Maybe it’s your experience of getting help that is the outlier. At the very least it’s just one data point.

You had a problem, contacted the site more than once, and they eventually did something. I have had a problem since October (getting worse in November) last year, contacted the site more than once, and they did nothing.

Now I first contacted them when site management appeared to have gone AWOL for a month or so. Perhaps that’s the issue. Or perhaps it took them an hour or fix your problem and mine is so widespread that it would take half a day and they don’t have the time. Who knows? All we can deduce from these two events is that the site’s response to reported issues is variable. Big news, right?

Now, you appeared to be somewhat discombobulated in the post I quote above, I relate. I know you put a lot of care and craft into your stories. I assume your Valentine’s entry took months to write - you’ve mentioned to me letting work marinate more.

Six of my stories that are being hit much harder than yours and for much longer took me just under a year to write. Just like you, I think I’m allowed to be annoyed when they are willfully sabotaged.

Now let’s do an exercise in empathy. Something I know you have lots of based on your life experiences and professional calling. Go back in time to just after you posted the message I quote above. Now use your excellent imagination project forward.

What if the site had done nothing? What if months went by and your story kept being one bombed and you contacted them again and the site still did nothing? How would you feel? I think I can guess.

Indulge me and let me repost the chart from my first post:



To someone with even a basic understanding of statistics this is a smoking gun. It’s irrefutable evidence of malign, manipulative activity - on a repeated basis. This is not a matter of opinion, it’s facts, it’s actual data. There is no other interpretation.

And recall that the above stories were posted in October and November. They have been subject to the Winter Holidays sweep. They have been subject to the Valentine’s sweep. And none of these malicious votes have been swept.

These stories get next to no views now, they are old. But still they get voting activity and it’s all 1️ and 2️. There were 14 such votes across the seven stories yesterday. Even in a scenario where a story is accruing nothing but low votes and there is no accompanying increase in views, the Valentine’s sweep did nothing. The April Fool’s sweep will do nothing.

Why do I claim that smart one bombs exist? The data says they do. It’s as simple as that. And I have other authors tell me that they have experienced the same, just few are as suicidal as me and they don’t talk about it publicly for fear of it getting worse (or the friendly reaction of the hyena pack).

The exhibit above proves malicious voting. The fact that none of the malicious votes have been removed despite two sweeps having occurred proves that some one bombs are sweep proof. These are facts not speculations. Data doesn’t lie.

More broadly, I understand exactly how to sweep-proof votes. It’s really not that hard if you just think about it a bit. It doesn’t take a genius level intellect to figure it out.

Finally, is my experience unique? Well not based on what other authors have told me in PMs. But let’s pretend that my experience is indeed unique.

So what happens when every single one of my stories has a 1.x rating? Will these well-adjusted and pleasant people just go back to being delightful human beings? Or will they have a taste for blood and move on to the next victim? What does human nature suggest to you?

What do some of the comments on this thread suggest to you? And by the way I get the same types of comments in other scenarios, it’s really got little to do with the subject matter. The hate is the point.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone. And I’ll go further. I predict it will happen to others.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Six of my stories that are being hit much harder than yours and for much longer took me just under a year to write. Just like you, I think I’m allowed to be annoyed when they are willfully sabotaged.

The story was not sabotaged. The score may have dropped but not a single comma was changed in the story.

How much are you here to write stories and how much are you here to get scores? 50/50? 75/25? 15/85? You can't be fully both. The sum of the two numbers cannot exceed 100%. If you are here more for scores than for sharing stories, then why should anyone read you? For the burden of fluffing you? I'm sure that my point flies straight over your ego but at least others might understand.

 

[MelissaBaby]

This is specifically for @MelissaBaby - it was in part your post on this subject that prompted me to speak up.

You said:

“My story is getting multiple one bombs every night. It went from 4.85 at the end of the contest to 4.44 this morning. It is now my lowest rated story.

“I have contacted Laurel twice to no avail.

“I will not be entering any more contests until the site does something to address this bombing problem.”

At least at one point, you were less sanguine than you now appear to be now.

Maybe the third time was the charm, or the site just took a while to respond. But it now seems you had 23 malicious votes removed. Good for you . I agree this is how it ought to work.

But this site is full of people saying that they contacted the site and nothing happened. Maybe it’s your experience of getting help that is the outlier. At the very least it’s just one data point.

You had a problem, contacted the site more than once, and they eventually did something. I have had a problem since October (getting worse in November) last year, contacted the site more than once, and they did nothing.

Now I first contacted them when site management appeared to have gone AWOL for a month or so. Perhaps that’s the issue. Or perhaps it took them an hour or fix your problem and mine is so widespread that it would take half a day and they don’t have the time. Who knows? All we can deduce from these two events is that the site’s response to reported issues is variable. Big news, right?

Now, you appeared to be somewhat discombobulated in the post I quote above, I relate. I know you put a lot of care and craft into your stories. I assume your Valentine’s entry took months to write - you’ve mentioned to me letting work marinate more.

Six of my stories that are being hit much harder than yours and for much longer took me just under a year to write. Just like you, I think I’m allowed to be annoyed when they are willfully sabotaged.

Now let’s do an exercise in empathy. Something I know you have lots of based on your life experiences and professional calling. Go back in time to just after you posted the message I quote above. Now use your excellent imagination project forward.

What if the site had done nothing? What if months went by and your story kept being one bombed and you contacted them again and the site still did nothing? How would you feel? I think I can guess.

Indulge me and let me repost the chart from my first post:

View attachment 2600659

To someone with even a basic understanding of statistics this is a smoking gun. It’s irrefutable evidence of malign, manipulative activity - on a repeated basis. This is not a matter of opinion, it’s facts, it’s actual data. There is no other interpretation.

And recall that the above stories were posted in October and November. They have been subject to the Winter Holidays sweep. They have been subject to the Valentine’s sweep. And none of these malicious votes have been swept.

These stories get next to no views now, they are old. But still they get voting activity and it’s all 1️ and 2️. There were 14 such votes across the seven stories yesterday. Even in a scenario where a story is accruing nothing but low votes and there is no accompanying increase in views, the Valentine’s sweep did nothing. The April Fool’s sweep will do nothing.

Why do I claim that smart one bombs exist? The data says they do. It’s as simple as that. And I have other authors tell me that they have experienced the same, just few are as suicidal as me and they don’t talk about it publicly for fear of it getting worse (or the friendly reaction of the hyena pack).

The exhibit above proves malicious voting. The fact that none of the malicious votes have been removed despite two sweeps having occurred proves that some one bombs are sweep proof. These are facts not speculations. Data doesn’t lie.

More broadly, I understand exactly how to sweep-proof votes. It’s really not that hard if you just think about it a bit. It doesn’t take a genius level intellect to figure it out.

Finally, is my experience unique? Well not based on what other authors have told me in PMs. But let’s pretend that my experience is indeed unique.

So what happens when every single one of my stories has a 1.x rating? Will these well-adjusted and pleasant people just go back to being delightful human beings? Or will they have a taste for blood and move on to the next victim? What does human nature suggest to you?

What do some of the comments on this thread suggest to you? And by the way I get the same types of comments in other scenarios, it’s really got little to do with the subject matter. The hate is the point.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone. And I’ll go further. I predict it will happen to others.

Thanks for that thoughtful reply. I know how I feel when I get bombed, and I can empathize with you going through much worse. All through this thread I have reiterated that I don't doubt the veracity of your account.My main issue is the claim that has been made several times in this thread that the entire scoring system is corrupted. I just don't think that's true.

I can only form my opinions with the information available to me. I do not know any method by which someone can auto-bomb on a large scale undetected, nor have I heard from anyone else who has had this happen to them. That is not to say I don't believe you, but that's not evidence before me. If I seem less sanguine now, that's because from my personal perspective, the problem was solved.

And if what you say is 100% correct, this is still a problem that, as painful as it may be to the victims, has only affected a handful of the thousands of authors who publish here. It may be an existential crisis to you, but it is not one for the site.

Why did I get a sweep and other's didn't? I don't know. Perhaps because when I did not get a reply here, I DMed the Literotica account on Bluesky and asked there. Maybe Laurel has a grudge against you for some reason. Maybe "Mommy just likes me best."

 

[Gommage]

 

[EmilyMiller]

My main issue is the claim that has been made several times in this thread that the entire scoring system is corrupted. I just don't think that's true.

I’d put it differently, and maybe less dramatically. I think the scoring system is wide open to abuse and manipulation.

My concern, not that I expect to be believed, is that the pattern of low level manipulation I have seen since at least Valentine’s 2025 has become much more regular / prevalent; which suggests automation.

The case for automated vote suppression is bolstered by the top lists phenomenon. You have mentioned that your average rating has declined from 4.80 - 4.82 to 4.77 (maybe it went up again after the site killed the 23 malicious votes you received).

Automation makes it easier for the malign to target who the fuck they please.

I don’t have the same solid data to back up my suspicions about automation, but it does fit the pattern. I actually hope I’m wrong in this speculation, as it would indeed break the scoring system in time.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Three more 1️ votes on three of the seven stories so far today. Watch this space!

 

[MelissaBaby]

I’d put it differently, and maybe less dramatically. I think the scoring system is wide open to abuse and manipulation.

My concern, not that I expect to be believed, is that the pattern of low level manipulation I have seen since at least Valentine’s 2025 has become much more regular / prevalent; which suggests automation.

The case for automated vote suppression is bolstered by the top lists phenomenon. You have mentioned that your average rating has declined from 4.80 - 4.82 to 4.77 (maybe it went up again after the site killed the 23 malicious votes you received).

Automation makes it easier for the malign to target who the fuck they please.

I don’t have the same solid data to back up my suspicions about automation, but it does fit the pattern. I actually hope I’m wrong in this speculation, as it would indeed break the scoring system in time.

One of the reasons I remain open minded on the issue is that AI has opened new possibilities for mischief making. But if you can find these trends, the site certainly can as well. If the problems proliferates, they will have to do something about it.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I'm sorry. I do not. You are not a patient. Emily is suffering from condition A. she has a theory about what is causing condition A.

dozens of people here are saying: condition A does not matter.

it matters to Emily, who wishes not to have condition A.

You come in and say: I dont have condition A. look, im in perfect health.

that's great for you, but its not super relevant as data. im sorry if that makes you feel dismissed. I do not mean it that way at all. its just that you dont seem to have condition A.

And you aren't even willing to consider the fact that hypochondria is a thing...

 

[Kelliezgirl]

even if they do, I have heard a lot of people argue that they matter in the moment. that if they get swept later, they have already done their damage.

I thought you didn't even know what the sweeps were?

 

[EmilyMiller]

they will have to do something about it.

It is to be hoped so, certainly.

I don’t see much happening around the top lists manipulation as yet, but maybe they have a plan.

 

[metropolinational]

This thread is just more of that. I actually agree that there is organized trolling going on. If you look at the math in several threads about this lately, it looks pretty obvious that there is systematic downvoting, whether it's scripted or just someone with way too much time on their hands to watch the scores all day, or more than one troll.

excellent. perfect.
the rest of your post is ad hominem towards Emily. why not DM her about it and you two can argue? Or if you REALLY must do it in public, why not make your own "I hate Emily" thread. why derail this one? don't you see how that is rude to those of us who want to discuss something YOU AGREE is an actual problem?

 

[metropolinational]

I thought you didn't even know what the sweeps were?

heh. ok, if you want to, please start a flame thread and let me know. we can exchange yo mamas at each other like its September, 1993. otherwise, know that I've not blocked you. as a free speech absolutist, I never block anyone. but I think responding to flame bait in other people's threads is wrong. I should control myself better than I have in here so far.

you can also DM me, of course, but its definitely more fun in public, I get it.

 

[EmilyMiller]

This is a helpful resource:

https://www.highconflictinstitute.com/who-are-high-conflict-people/

 

[OddLove]

heh. ok, if you want to, please start a flame thread and let me know. we can exchange yo mamas at each other like its September, 1993. otherwise, know that I've not blocked you. as a free speech absolutist, I never block anyone. but I think responding to flame bait in other people's threads is wrong. I should control myself better than I have in here so far.

you can also DM me, of course, but its definitely more fun in public, I get it.

That's you're response for being called out on your tactical ignorance whenever it's convenient for you to not understand something?

What a widdle baby.

 

[metropolinational]

What a widdle baby.

again, same for you, please start a flame thread and I will be happy to engage on and off when I have time. looks like, finally, an actual conversation has started here, so I will not respond further to ad hominem. However, you are not blocked. just do it elsewhere. I positively love flame wars and such. hopefully see you there.