Why does noone rate stories?

I think I'd rather someone gave my story a one or two star rating, then not rate it at all. At least that way I'd know the person got past the first paragraph, and that they had an opinion about it. Somehow I'd rather know someone hated it, then think that they couldn't be bothered to read it because it was so dull.

I think that just a count of how many times people have voted would be, not only simpler but also, a better indication of the effectiveness of the piece. In general people would not vote if they hated it and it would get rid of the 1 Star brigade. No one would have to make the difficult decision as to whether to give a good piece 4 or 5 stars - knowing that 4 stars will never allow 5 (it must be a mean average ;-) - and yet it avoids many of the problems of friends and enemies voting for the person instead of their work. Since the system would be simpler it might be possible to add something to limit votes to one vote, per person, per piece. This would stop a lot of the muttering and back bitting from those people who say they don't really care but....

I only rate when something is good. Encouragement is vital, I think.

encouragement IS vital.... I rate when something has that *something* (Liana makes sense again) that leaps out at me. There are certain peoples work that does it for me almost every time, Tom Saunders, Faithless, Stephen Murphy and Fay Mouse for example (Ivoryfishbone and Eddie Gibbons go without saying) and I cant help but hit the button there.... when a new piece comes on (a good example is a recent poem by someone called Britgrrl) i will not only rate it, but usually send an email too (sometimes saying nothing more constructive than "wow - good one") No matter how many times we say "I dont care if I'm one starred, I dont do it for the stars/cherries/recognition", there is a part of each one of us that is thrilled when someone obviously admires the work we do.....

Not True. Some people rate their own many times over.

I didn't think you could do that. I'm sure Andrew Pack said in a thread ages ago that if you tried, you got a cheeky message. I am tempted to try it just once, just to see what the message is!

On a serious note.. I just tend to rate pieces I like.. then 3,4 or 5 depending upon how much improvement I think a piece needs.. ..prefer not to comment if something does not move me.

I don't ussually rate stories/poems anymore. Not because I'am too polite or mean. Just because I don't think a piece of writing can be rated like that. Same way you can't measure qualities like love or peace. Or price a fine piece of craftsmanship. A piece of writing is a unique creation. If you have written something, anything, then you get my respect for having a go. I don't feel right putting a number by it. But that's just me.. not my way of doing things. I don't think after I've read a piece, " Oh that was a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. " Because it was all of those things and much more. I can't define a piece of writing in that way, it feels too methodical or something. If I like a piece I e-mail it to a friend, post it on the discuss writing from abctales forum - or send the person who wrote it an e-mail telling them I liked it. Whether you like a piece or not, is ussually down to personal taste anyway. So if someone rated a piece 2 another might rate it a 5. So it doesn't really mean much. I don't like to rate pieces. So I don't get hung up on ratings. Some people do, so that's fair enough, we're all different.

I'm like you, 1leg - I tend only to rate the pieces that I really like.

beef - I admit I tried it ONCE and got the 'you are cheeky' message. tell ya why. Initially, I got a lot of 5* ratings for a few pieces, I was pleased, then about a week later, someone rated some of them 1* (I guess) a few times so they slumped, and so did I!!! (sob) but I had others where I got a 1* and subsequent readers never rated it. Either they all agreed, or did not bother. So I decided to rate a non-rated story (are you still with me) as a 3* (middle) and see if it went up or down with subsequent readers. It didn't work and so I was CAUGHT!!! I since learned from an old hand its possible to set up a second identity and rate your own stories sthrough that. This seems to me the most pointless (hah!) thing to do. I like 1leg, never rate below 3 (ie I don't rate at all if i think its less) I belive that's nicer - one-star is so disheartening! Good pieces I always thank the writer by e-mail

rating is such a grind. the page hangs. the mood dissipates. the whole thing is cumbersome..i expect you will improve it..i hope so...

Of course the star rating system is open to abuse but what the... I too only rate pieces I like - normally at 3, 4 or 5 stars. Why discourage someone? But do use it people! I know that the ratings I get on my few works mean something to me. Yes, I do have a heart! We're working on a more sophisticated rating system. Any suggestion? In the meantime use what's there if you will. pip pip says he off to the slopes, fast downhill and much on the piste for a long weekend with nothing left to lose (already got rid of the hair).

Are you telling me Peter Noone, that wonderful 70's club singer, is on the site? Perhaps he rates stories because he is a nice chap.

tut, tut, stormy ! after all the advice you gave me!

Most are not worth rating.

Peter Noone - 70's club singer? 60's beat combo surely.

Herman! also one of the Barlow's of coronation st

I have to admit I don't usually rate stuff at all. The reason for this is partly because I feel it would be arrogant of me to assume that my judgement of anothers writing is of any value. Like most people I know what I like but that doesn't mean it's good! Or bad for that matter! Perhaps I should take part in the rating field as some people obviously think it's a bit selfish not to. I'll give it a try.

quite right steven, not only was I decadely challenged, I struggled to define his singing style. you've lost me egriff.

No milk today The milkman's run away He stole the baby's pram And a crate of Co-op Jam. Nexr verse please

Sorry....NEXT verse if anyone knows it?

Herman and the Hermits. Peter Noone was Herman. 'woke up this mornin' feelin fine etc!' Top 10 long ago acted on Corrie. OK?

I really only rate pieces I like, too. I rated somebody twice by accident (back when the site was slow and I didn't think it regestered) So I shall wallow in despair because of this sin. Although, on occassion, if someone submits something really stupid (something they probably came up with in .1 seconds), I'll give them a 1 rating. Of course, that's a judgement call.

I think people might be more likely to rate pieces if the results were only visible to the author. The author could also have the option of making the ratings public. There is no perfect system, but maybe this would encourage more people to give the ratings. As for Herman's Hermits, I was telling someone just a few days ago that I saw them in concert at the Ohio State Fair in about 1965 or 1966, something around there. I also saw the 1910 Fruitgum Company (one hit wonder: Winchester Cathedral) and Bob Hope. I was there exhibiting my clever science project and got to here an after dinner address by Richard Feynman, which I recall vividly to this day. He was an amazing character.

Here are the original words Gabrielle - if you want any others then write 'em yoursel' No milk today, my love has gone away The bottle stands forlorn, a symbol of the dawn No milk today, it seems a common sight But people passing by don't know the reason why How could they know just what this message means The end of my hopes, the end of all my dreams How could they know a palace there had been Behind the door where my love reigned as queen No milk today, it wasn't always so The company was gay, we turned night into day. But all that's left is a place dark and lonely A terraced house in a mean street back of town Becomes a shrine when I think of you only Just two up two down No milk today, it wasn't always so The company was gay, we turned night into day As music played, the faster did we dance We felt it both at once, the start of our romance

I think you'll find it was the New Vaudeville Band who had a one hit wonder with "Winchester Cathedral". Christ, how boring can you get? I saw Hermans Hermits at the @!#$ end of New Zealand in about 1965. Tom Jones warmed up for them. Boy did he warm up! He took his belt off and threw it to the girls moistening around the stage. It was just about as much as the civic officials in 1960's NZ could bear. He did little more but the young kids all went home wet and satisfied. The Hermits had it all over Tom as far as I was concerned because they had neat suits and he was just a Welsh git who ground his groin. Today I might think differently.

I think 1910 Fruitgum Co, did "Simple Simon says".

perhaps no-one rates stories because they're all discussing long-defunct pop groups?

I only ever rate 4 or 5 star. Something has to be really, really exceptional to merit a 5 star, so when I enjoy a piece it nearly always gets a 4 star from me. I don't believe in knocking anyone's confidence by rating twos or threes. Although, having said that I don't mind at all when it happens to me. I once had two buddies spend about a week rating everything of mine they bothered finding with a one star. I'll find a way to get them back. However, I'm pretty tough skinned (they wouldn't have done it otherwise), but I would hate for that to happen to someone unsure of their work or their place in the world. It could stop a great talent from developing. Besides, if I don't like a piece I rarely get past the first paragraph, which could well explain Adharanand's question at the beginning of this thread. I now have to admit to veering from this rule very recently. I came across an author (who shall remain nameless) whose work I found so disgusting - which is saying something coming from me - that I rated him/her a number of one stars. I've never done that before, and probably won't again, but in my opinion this stuff was pants.

Life is so cool! and Karl, chill out! Beauty is in the eye and all that ............... (sips G&T on verandah)

Hmmmm, I think you're right: New Vaudeville Band or something like that. Memory is one of the first things to go, they say, if I recall correctly.