I read the comment by Lex Ludite ...

have strong doubts that the review process as practiced on this site has any positive or negative impact on most writers. I am beginning to realize that the true review of any story is the number of hits it gets! I think most posters have figured this out as well.
Lex, I totally disagree with you.

I submit stories to this site specifically because I WANT the reviews, I want the feedback into my writing. Believe it or not, I especially want to know how I can improve my skills in storytelling, scene setting, character development, etc. That is, if you DON’T like my story, tell me why.
I interpret the reviews this way: only a small sampling of readers will take the time to write a review. Even fewer will contact the writer. For every review that is written, there are probably 100 or more out there who agree wholeheartedly. For every e-mail the author receives, there are probably 1000 who agree. Flamers included, by the way.

As to the number of hits being a true review of a work, then I’ll resurrect my FoxTales website and not share “the glory” with anyone.
I respectfully suggest that in order for your statement to carry any accuracy, certain steps must be taken by Jinn:
- all stories must be listed, alphabetically to ensure equal access, and the “new” and “updated” categories scrapped.
- All stories must be complete when submitted, no serials or revisions or updates
- In addition, a new start date with all stories counted as zero established so that a fair assessment can be made.
- No multiple “hits” by a single user. Visit the story once, then that’s it. The user isp code will be the judge, not the nick.
- Finally, no posting of “ads” or “hype” on the forums saying “have you seen Fox’s new story? Wow it’s even better than all his others …” by the writer or by anyone.

In the real world, Top Ten lists are but one of the measures of success. The truly great works are not always the best selling works. Gao Xinjiang won a Nobel Prize, but does he outsell Nora Roberts? Jimmy Buffet is one of only 3 authors to ever be Number One on the New York Times bestseller lists in both fiction and non-fiction. Does that make his work more noteworthy than John Irving? Harlequin Romances outsell just about everything, a measure of “hits” does not make them great literature, only popular …

Sorry Lex, but in this case, democracy does not rule. Reading and writing are not popularity contests.