A while back I noticed that one author on caedes was benefiting from some dubious voting. For instance, after 13 downloads one image had 39 votes and a rating of 96. At least 26 members must have voted without seeing the image full screen, and most of them thought it worth a score of 10. This is an extreme example, but other images showed a similar pattern.
I can't say whether the author himself was responsible, or even aware, or if it was misguided support from others, and in any case the images were removed soon after. The author uploaded more images, without this voting pattern, and all seemed well.
However, I recently posted a critical comment on an image from this author, and gave it a below-average score as I considered it a below-average image. Shortly afterwards four of my New Images had each received a single vote more than they had previously. Those votes were a 0, another 0, a 1 and a 4, on images whose average vote until then had been almost 8. There wasn't a single comment to go with the low votes. Coincidence, or revenge voting, either by the author or his supporters? Make your own mind up.
(But bear in mind the discussion thread "cheating on caedes" concerning an author who allegedly used to vote up his own images but now votes down others' instead. And no, I'm not the "masked avenger"!)
This isn't a great deal - it's nice when images get good scores but that's not why I contribute to caedes. I'm not complaining or looking for sympathy over a few low votes, because my pictures can stand up for themselves. And I'm not naming any names, or hiding behind anonymity. I would just like the author and his supporters to know that I won't be bullied into withholding constructive criticism where I think it's justified, or into giving images a higher score than they deserve.
I can't say whether the author himself was responsible, or even aware, or if it was misguided support from others, and in any case the images were removed soon after. The author uploaded more images, without this voting pattern, and all seemed well.
However, I recently posted a critical comment on an image from this author, and gave it a below-average score as I considered it a below-average image. Shortly afterwards four of my New Images had each received a single vote more than they had previously. Those votes were a 0, another 0, a 1 and a 4, on images whose average vote until then had been almost 8. There wasn't a single comment to go with the low votes. Coincidence, or revenge voting, either by the author or his supporters? Make your own mind up.
(But bear in mind the discussion thread "cheating on caedes" concerning an author who allegedly used to vote up his own images but now votes down others' instead. And no, I'm not the "masked avenger"!)
This isn't a great deal - it's nice when images get good scores but that's not why I contribute to caedes. I'm not complaining or looking for sympathy over a few low votes, because my pictures can stand up for themselves. And I'm not naming any names, or hiding behind anonymity. I would just like the author and his supporters to know that I won't be bullied into withholding constructive criticism where I think it's justified, or into giving images a higher score than they deserve.