Spotlight Posters' new rule about stories that have bought upvotes/subscribers

There's been a lot of talk recently around AFF about ad shops offering upvote/subscriber packages and about users buying these packages to get featured. If you'd like to catch up on all this talk, check out the following blog posts:

 

peachysoo's post
dream_keeper88's response to that and followup post 
Annie1017's post and Sunshine24's post
 
UPDATE: Please read what's imo the definitive blog post on this issue, by Korekrypta

 

I've heard that the owner of AFF, Nichiren/Jason, will be looking into this. Until he does, as the owner of a graphic shop (Spotlight Posters), I have decided to initiate a new rule of not accepting requests for shops or stories that violate the karma system in this way. I know that we've done graphics for stories that have used these shops before, and probably for the shops themselves, but while I'm sorry to lose your business, I would be more sorry to lose the integrity of the AFF community. Our official explanation (from our FAQ page):

Why don't you accept requests for ad shops or stories that use these shops?

To be clear, we support advertising as a way of getting a story noticed by a larger audience. We do not, however, support the rampant misuse of karma currently being perpetuated by ad/upvote shops. The term "karma" was specifically chosen by the AFF founder to promote a certain sociable spirit. It is a reward system. Paying for subscribers or upvotes violates this system. Because we want AFF to be the community it was originally intended to be, we do not accept requests for shops (or stories that use these shops) that violate AFF's karma system, just like we do not accept requests for stories that violate AFF's Terms of Use (through depictions of prohibited content such as or ia).

 

This blog is just a means of getting the word out about our new policy! Sorry to be so serious though. Here's some funny Daesung to cheer you up:

 

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evernight #1
Whoa they can DO that? I can't believe it!

Well, reading the comments below, I agree with the majority vote. I mean, half the stories that get featured don't sound appealing to me :( I always scroll down so I can find a novel worth reading. As for a person who is very picky about stories, finding good ones that capture my attention is so very hard. Really good stories get hidden under pages and pages of other average, clichéd fanfics, and I tend to roll my eyes at those really horrible ones that get featured lmao.

Thanks for the post!
letsgetit #2
It really strikes me how these authors get their numbers of upvotes and subscribers and it's because of this? wow - but then again, I don't blame them for doing it because as readers or target audiences we all have the tendency to check something out only if it's got a decent amount of reviews, stars, subscribers or upvotes. We judge based on the amount we see and i think if you want it to stop then it's up to you as well to give others a chance whether or not their stuff is worth it or not, especially here on AFF. There are some great stuff out there but don't get enough recognition simply because they don't have enough upvotes or subscribers so readers are more reluctant to check it. But at the same time, I do agree that this isn't fair and that if you want something then you should work hard for it.
feeelz #3
It should be earned, not bought....
Junaierra #4
Glad someone told us about this. By the way........... ITS TOTALLY WRONG!!! >___<
NathTE #5
You are right :3 And I think to buy subscribers and upvotes is not right ><
Lucky-seven777 #6
you should earn a good reputation, not buy it
Lucky-seven777 #7
Daesung though
yixinglulu #8
Yes ! That's so true! When i see a story that has a lot of upvotes it makes me curious and i want to check it out. When i see the foreword though, i'm not so sure if i want to take a look at it since i know all those upvotes aren't there because the story is great, but because the author payed for them. It makes me upset and that's why I stopped reading popular fanfictions. It also makes me upset how a lot of people just pay for upvotes and get featured with only 2 chapters. I hope these authors understand that most of the readers (i am one myself) won't read the story if they don't like it. It doesn't matter if it was featured or not. I also hate it when the authors make an extra chapter just to say thank you to all their readers like "this is all thanks to you my beautiful readers, this is like a dream and everything is thanks to you!" But they forget to put the names of the 10 upvote shops that have "truly helped" them.
And they even get upset if someone comments on their grammar lol. I hope that Nichiren will take all these shops down.
Zyx110077 #9
bless you for doing this and standing up for what AFF should really be about
ThatStrangeGirl #10
Hello, that's really cool that you're not afraid to take a stance on this issue. However, the story link that publicize the stories is a form of cyber-bullying. It's true that aff-detective's intent might be good. However, what if the authors of the stories want to redeem themselves? This public list would make it hard for them to move forward even if they have learned their lesson.
purplephoenix #11
so that's why some... plain stories... have been occupying the featured page. I visited a few of those fics and the authors were so stubborn, saying they felt offended for the backlash they received and stuffs.. ofc it hurts when someone bash you but srsly? well, some of the fics are good enough but some are just... ugh. I know there are people who love their stories but didn't new readers mostly come only after their story appeared on the front page? still, they bought the upvotes and subs first. that's basically the shortest shortcut to gain attention. there are ad shops and the bidding, but they went for the upvote shops instead. are you here to share your stories or to be celebrities? if your story's good enough, shouldn't you just stay put and let it be? if it's good, people will genuinely pay attention to it. readers know what's good and they can choose what to read .-. the number of subs, views, and upvotes surely mean a lot for the authors. but imho, these numbers are appreciation for the writers, given by the readers, not something artificial that can be forced or falsified .-. doesn't buying votes mean faking the number on their story page? they might be a good author with supportive readers but that's still cheating. it's sad that when people are trying to point it out to them nicely, these kind reminders get called haters. like duh, ain't got no time to be jealous of your story if we can write our own story as well.
itstosun #12
Ohmygod I never knew about this!
Thanks, this was helpful since I just reopened! ♥
eudoramp #13
I've tried once and that's it.
i saw peiple using the karma to buy upvotes and I was kind of frustrated that moment and want to show them that I could buy upvotes too.
But I also thought that it was kind off unfair, and yet I couldn't cancel it anymore><.
but I buy the updvotes not in order to get ny storiea featured, if I wanted to have my stories featured I wouldn't have bought 20 votes, I would have bought 50.
But still I know I was wrong, for everyone that against this I am sorry; not gonna do it again :p
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