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lilyqueen777
explanation to the rating system...
i don't know...but i hate it when people rate my work but don't explain why...example would be calling a poem illiterate...which doesn't make sense because...well illiterate means i can't read...and i know i can read =/


so why not let people explain why they choose their rating...that would benefit the author a lot, and help the author improve his or her writing.
Posted at 2006-11-24 21:22:47
Rous First off, illiterate just means uneducated, in the broad sense, so it means reading AND writing, not to mention general use of grammar.

"2 a : showing or marked by a lack of familiarity with language and literature b : violating approved patterns of speaking or writing
3 : showing or marked by a lack of acquaintance with the fundamentals of a particular field of knowledge "

If #2 is an actual definition, then most of the people on the web could be described as illiterate. Just check out any chat room or forum. LOL

Secondly, you do not get an actual review with a rating because, well, the rater does not need to give one. It reduces the effort of explaining why they think it is illiterate. Most of the sites I belong to do not have anonymous rating. And, the one other site that does, has no bearing on the visibility of your story, so most people ignore the system. Another site, and you know this one, allows the author to actually rate the reviewer. I like that system much better.

Signed comments make the poster more responsible for their opinions. Anonymous rating allows them to say what they want with almost total impunity. I find that irresponsible, but I am in the vast minority. I believe that if your name is attached to your post, you will be more thoughtful of what you write. Of course, proven by some flames I have seen and received, this is not always true. However, I think it is for the majority of intelligent respondents.

And, you must also realize that some raters do leave a comment with your story; you may not always know it because the rating is not connected to the review. If I leave a rating (which is rare, for obvious reasons) then I feel compelled to actually write words explaining my opinion. On the other hand, I do feel the necessity to rate ratings with which I disagree.

Now, all of this is my opinion, but I hope it helps.
Posted at 2006-11-25 04:40:07
Ithilwen Actually, it is not about reducing the effort. It is not about laziness in the least. It is about anonymity.

On other sites, where the rater has to leave a review, people can "revenge rate." They can go to the rater's stories and rate them down for reasons other than merit. Ficwad's system sidesteps that problem.

Also, Lily, consider that the ratings aren't for you. The rating system and search engines are set up to help _readers_ find the stories that they want -- or don't want -- by adjusting the filter.
Posted at 2006-11-25 20:53:50
Ithilwen On a more general note, here is admin SunTyger's explanation of the rating system.

http://www.ficwad.com/forum.php?action=viewtopic&topicid=306&offset=60
Posted at 2006-11-25 20:55:53
lilyqueen777 oh i understand all that jazz...but as a writer i would like to know how to improve...anyhoo how could a poem be considered a mary sue? im still slightly confused but whatever.
Posted at 2006-11-26 13:03:42
Rous "Actually, it is not about reducing the effort. It is not about laziness in the least. It is about anonymity."

Never said it was about laziness. I said it reduced the effort of actually explaining yourself. And, since you can make an anonymous review, it pretty well precludes the whole argument for anonymity. So, it is about people not actually communicating. Call it what you will, it is unproductive, as opposed to lazy. Better?

"On other sites, where the rater has to leave a review, people can "revenge rate." They can go to the rater's stories and rate them down for reasons other than merit. Ficwad's system sidesteps that problem."

Yep, seen that happen at OSA, and the person was banned from the site for doing it. It does not go unnoticed. If you were to do away with the whole rating system then that would really sidestep the problem.

"Also, Lily, consider that the ratings aren't for you. The rating system and search engines are set up to help _readers_ find the stories that they want -- or don't want -- by adjusting the filter."

Maybe the ratings are not for you, but I take them seriously, especially when they affect my story. And, as with reviews, ratings are subjective. The bottom line is that it is only opinions, for the most part. And, most will tell you that they are not here to help you, they are only here to read your story and rate it up, or into oblivion.

As for a poem being a mary sue, I figure it would take an idiot to do that. Poems are highly subjective. It is nigh impossible to divine exactly what the poet is trying to say with 100% certainty. You can read almost anything you like into a poem. So, what idiot would call it a mary sue?
Posted at 2006-11-26 20:07:32
Ithilwen Okay. No, the ratings are not about "reducing the effort" of explaining a rating. It does seem to make it easier for people who are less verbal to leave their opinions, but that's a secondary effect. It's about leaving an opinion in a way that's easy to read, not easy to write. The raters are communicating, primarily with other readers.

Doing away with the rating system would prevent revenge rating but the same could be said of review systems. We keep it because it's valuable.

I could see how a poem could be Mary Sue, but Lily, if you're talking about your poem "Truth," then you just caught a nut this time.
Posted at 2006-11-27 05:43:18
Rous Yeah. Okay. Whatever. You live in your fantasy world, and I live in mine. Either way you want to look at it, I think it is discourteous. Oh, that is my opinion. I am entitled to it, just as you are that ratings are useful. See, civility.

Yes, review systems are subject to revenge, but at least you have something concrete to look at. With ratings, you are looking at a trite phrase that says little. If we used stars, it would be easier to ignore. Oh, and the fact that they sink to the basement on a whim.

A poem as a mary sue...interesting concept. Fantasy, but interesting. Show me an example where an actual poem is a mary sue. I cannot even dream up any that would be. However, rational person that I am (subjective, of course), I can be swayed, if given proof.
Posted at 2006-11-27 07:41:54
lilyqueen777 LOL!!! yes rous, it would be interesting to find a poem as a mary sue...:P

and yes Ithilwen, the poem was Truth...maybe someone has something against my writing style...????
Posted at 2006-11-27 13:26:57
fairady Unfortunately I've actually seen a few poems that were Mary-Sues. Mostly over at the pit. So it's not impossible, but I can't for the life of me see how that rating could apply to lilyqueen's poem. Either they were meaning to click something else or were just rating everything without looking at what it was.
Posted at 2006-11-28 19:57:06

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