Kind of hard to say either way. I think other authors are more likely to vote though. A lot of readers don't even join the site. They just read. I know I didn't join until I had to because I wanted to post a story.
What I can say for certain is that if you have a low vote count, say under 15 a story, then the voters don't find your stories very compelling. Not compelling enough to give it a vote anyway. Since most every story here has above a 4.9 score I would say that anything below that isn't too hot. 4.6 is getting on the low end of quality.
I always have a low vote count, because poems don't grab men like a stroke story does. Logic says, there are those who think giving a low scores demeans the writer. It funny how some people think. If its worth being verified then it should be no less than 4.5.
I'm not sure they are more likely to give a lower score, but on the rare occasions that I notice that someone has given a lower score on something of mine and can pin down who it was, it usually tends to be a non-writer in my experience. I think maybe there is not the same appreciation on the part of some non-writers for how much time and effort is spent on bringing these stories to life - for free - to entertain people. And yes, good scores and comments do feed the ego and encourage more writing. We're all human, and it's nice to be appreciated for what you do.
And the red and white avatars, no. That's just people that haven't bothered to create an individual av and has no bearing on whether they write or not.
Writers can't know what a reader scored??
I've NEVER got this kind of concern...
(One of my Best Friends here is OBSESSED with NUMBERS...)
I couldn't give a flying fuck...
Once it POSTS, it has FUCK ALL to do with me... (Some of what I think is MY BEST never gets hit!!!)
I'm a WRITER, so I don't know what it would be like to be JUST a reader... But most people, (Me Included!!!) are just readers too!!!
I don't think it matters.
xx SF
i can't speak for all, but i voted YEARS before becoming an author and i never scored low. if i took the time to score and comment, it was because i TRULY enjoyed the work.
I don't think it's a case of readers giving lower votes. After doing a quick count up, I've come to the conclusion that votes lower than 5 are extremely few and far between as a whole on the site.
Of the 30 stories on my homepage there is a combined total of 282 story votes. Those votes are as follows:
Votes of 1 -- 0
Votes of 2 -- 0
Votes of 3 -- 1
Votes of 4 -- 11
Votes of 5 -- 270
It's not a matter of readers voting lower, but more a case of very few people voting lower than a 5.
I think it takes time to build a fan base. Sometimes, readers are looking to follow writers who they enjoy reading. They might be less inclined to read stories from new writers who they are not familiar with.
I write on other sites where the votes are anonymous. The same stories that are here that I put elsewhere are scored much lower on those sites. I have built a strong fan base here which has taken a lot of hard work and a lot of time.
I also know there are people here that love to down score popular writers. They love to give the stories 1, 2, 3's. They get so much pleasure from doing that and then they delete their accounts. I get bombed all the time. I just giggle. The scores really only get you to be on the top lists.
I have always said the views are what tells the story. If you have views, you're getting read.
I find mostly the avatars that are red and whites always are the ones that throw the low scores. Most people are very generous and give 5's and lots give 4's.
Hope that helps,
Mysteria
xo
I am one of the just readers ( I write comments but so far, no stories.) And never have thought to give low scores. As Mysteria says, I choose first the known authors (like she is) and enjoy their work. Then look for new ones, first my friends, then others. I think giving lower scores is bad thing and the ones doing it mostly are because they are anonymous and leaving site. I think if you don't like what you reading, move forward, each story has its own fans and if someone doesn't like it that doesn't mean is bad. Even more, why someone gives 3 or lessmif they can't even try to write? Maybe they give those scores just because they are frustrated. I mean, if you resd it, then it wasn't so bad. And if you didn't read it, how can say something about it.
The voting only helps stories become top stories or top poems. That is the only purpose of votes.
Now, the views give you famous stories and legendary stories.
I myself would rather just focus on the views.
My friends most of the time don't even read my work. I do blog to my fans and followers what my latest story or poem is. I do not do mass mailings or any of that.
I don't have cyber sex with people and rarely visit the chat rooms. I have worked hard in 2 years 8 months to build a fan base. It takes a lot of time and hard work. I do suggest that people become omnium writers. That would get your stories looked at more if you decided to write in all 39 categories. This helped me develop my fans.
Readers love variety. Poem writing is great but that only attracts a certain reader. The readers on Lush Stories are looking for stories. They have all kinds of interests. I love to think of topics that are way out of the box. I like to keep my readers engaged with the crazy thoughts that I come up with.
In the past I have written fantasies and stories out for my fans by request. I love to make people happy.
Hugs,
Mysteria
xo
OK this is how it works for 95%+ of all votes cast on stories here:
1) The message voters are intending to convey -
5 = I liked your story or you, maybe both
Anything else = I dislike you personally
2) How that message is understood by the author -
5 = You're an amazing author/poet
Anything else = watch your back, you have an enemy hell bent on maliciously destroying your writing career
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 answer your question, I'm a reader but not a writer and I rarely leave a score below 4...
... however I would like to add that this is partly down to how offended writers get if you score anything less than 4. In my opinion the rating system on this site is broken and people leave 5's regardless of how good or bad the story actually is. For example, I rated a story a 4 recently and logged on to Lush later that day to find a scathing message from the author who was furious with the low score. I argued that 4 wasn't a bad score but they were having none of it!
In some cases I genuinely think it's better to leave no rating than give your actual opinion.
Unfortunately, scoring becomes a popularity contest. It's pretty obvious. I feel if a story is verified, it should be no less than 4. One doesn't have to care for it, because writers have different styles. I write because I wish to and I don't play the patronizing game for fame. What is to be had by being a Lush celebrity? Its all a matter of truth.
do you have a red and white avatar?? 
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