I'm just curious as a writer who has a fairly anonymous avatar on a site in which chatting is obviously a big part of things. Does anyone think that writers who have a sexy female avatar tend to get higher story scores in general? I notice that a lot of writers with avatars who are obviously cribbed photos from amateur sites tend to get way more votes than writers who post under male or asexual avatar types. A lot of the comments I see at the end of such stories are of the type that say "Oh, I bet you enjoyed that! I would like to do "x" to you." Or just "Wanna talk about this later?" I guess these things are to be expected but it makes me wonder if some people are at an advantage/ disadvantage depending on whom the reader thinks is writing the tale.
So I ask: Do you take the presented avatar in mind when you read a story? Does it affect the way you read a tale? Is the supposed attainability of an author make for a more engaging story?
I don't post this as an invitation for flames and I certainly don't consider my stories as above re approach, but I've seen some terrible stories get incredible scores due to an avatar that was cribbed from some amateur site and an author profile that claims to be an "oversexed 18 year old who is also bi-curious." If there were a trope for site profiles, that would sound a huge alarm!
I don't think that the avatar has much to do with the scores...I used to have a bunny with shades....still had the same kind of scores...
Seems that the ones who are reading and scoring the stories are less inclined to score based on one's avatar, more on the merit of the story. They are the more mature ones who come on a sex site and actually read the stories rather than to just go for the quickie in the chat rooms...
I have to say, I tend to read the story if it sounds interesting or good rather than look at the author. If I find an author I like, I tend to read all their posted stories as time permits.
i judge on talent half the time i dont even realize if the author is male or female
While the AVA may attract attention, it's only an extension of the "Sex: Female" part of the profile.
There are guys hoping to cyber or hook up. If they don't know it right from the outset, they soon enough learn that voting and leaving comments get the attention of an author. It may not get them to first base, but it gets their foot in the door.
Most guys would rather have a sexy woman tell him a story than a guy. They're going to gravitate toward females, and a female avatar is the first signpost. If it's a sexy one, that's even better. If it seems like it could be a real pic of the author, even better. If there are pics in the profile that seem to back up it's the author - jackpot!
Female authors - on average - tend to flesh out the characters more in their stories. There are only so many ways to write "insert tab A into slot B" and it quickly becomes bland unless there's more to the story than the fucking. Women do that more frequently on average than male writers. So for people here to read and be turned on, they're going to gravitate toward females ( and female avas )
It makes a difference, but it's not all about the picture itself. There are deeper reasons, and they're not all shallow or conscious.
Different people have ideas of what makes a good story not everyone has set ideas and what works for some may not for others.
Honestly I dont think a hot avatar is going to help you get higher score. I think a good title that will draw in a reader, or maybe the genre of the story my help. Also people who are talented get higher views. But i doubt a girls avatar that has huge tits gets more views on her stories then a gal with a cute bunny.
Bottom line.... talent gets the views. Not her avatar.
I'll admit firsthand sometimes I'll read the intro to a story because of the username and avatar... But only if I find it interesting.
And then maybe I'll read the story.
And then maybe I'll vote and/or comment.
It doesn't have to be a sexy avatar to catch my attention though.
I suppose you could just liken an AV to a book cover, couldn't you? In that an eye catching one is more likely to pique your interest and get you to take a look...
for me no
i read by title first and what the tags might be
or if the author is a friend or someone who's work i admire
or even if the subject i can really feel
but to say i might only get votes because i am passable looking sort of offends me(though i am most likely taking this the wrong way)
that is saying my words are less than my face
and to me...no face is better than a beautifully written story or poem
i love your avatar...a smile gives so much!!
I know that the sex of the writer has little to do with how I vote on a story. Two of my favorite writers on here are male. One poster commented that women tend to flesh (pardon the pun) out a story more than males do, in many cases I agree with that. I am following a lot of writers on here, the vast majority are female, but by no means all. I look for content of the stories, if they can keep me reading past the first thrust then I'm hooked. I want more than a wham, bam, thank you mam story.
I try to read all that are published. If your able to get past the review then you have IMHO accomplished something.
It's only kinky the first time.
If you write well written stories that people enjoy, you will pick up a following. Packaging does sell, but good work will get you repeat readers and good votes.
I think all you blokes make a good point. While the sexy avatar and the bullshit profile definitely brings them in, it's the talent and skill that keeps them coming back for more.
Let me tell you this though, the donkey doesn't work for shit.
My latest story is a racy little piece about what happens when someone cute from work invites you over to watch Netflix and Chill. When I first posted stories on Lush (I was 18 and I had deleted my Lush after a few months), I was only getting 5 votes total and about 1,000 views and I had a nice avatar of my ass. Now I'm 21 and I have 30 votes and over 4,000 views on my Soccer Coach story. I became a better writer, it's not because of the avatar.
I read stories based on their subject matter. Nothing to do with who's written it, or what they look like. If it looks like my kind of story I'll start reading. If it doesn't grab my attention in the first few paragraphs I'll. Stop. Simples.
I don't think that the avatar is that important. Some user names might be off putting which is one reason I changed mine from something that was associated with disease to something more saucy. I do wonder about age though, and whether the younger people who make up a large proportion of Lush membership are actually repelled, however subconsciously, by the idea of older people enthusiastically enjoying sex.
I wanted to go back and redo the research I did last time but it looks like the four-bomber was back in operation last week - stories getting 50-odd votes and only three comments - so the data will be pretty much useless.
There's no evidence at the moment to suggest that female avatars alone get better comments or votes but it would seem that they do get more attention
Warning: The opinions above are those of an anonymous individual on the internet. They are opinions, unless they're facts. They may be ill-informed, out of touch with reality or just plain stupid. They may contain traces of irony. If reading these opinions causes you to be become outraged or you start displaying the symptoms of outrage, stop reading them immediately. If symptoms persist, consult a psychiatrist.
Why not read some stories instead
NEW! Want a quick read for your coffee break? Why not try this... Flash Erotica: Scrubber 
) to get me to read their work. I won't read it at all if I got a mass message or saw the advert on my blog. I will read it because I like the title or tags, or the first few sentences.
I don't have an answer but I am more drawn to certain categories and some people on here write their asses off so I read it. That is all I can say.
(I'm just kidding on both counts, btw)
