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       #Post#: 32362--------------------------------------------------
       A Puzzle
       By: Plagosus Date: February 25, 2026, 3:07 am
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       Somebody sent me feedback on this story:
  HTML https://malespank.net/viewStory.php?id=23741&av=0b354b57958b4de.<br
       />They asked me a question I could only answer by going into the
       story. I found that the story has two filled six-pointed stars.
       Only one other story has been so well voted. The puzzle is why
       this story is singled out for the supreme readers' accolade
       above all the others except one.
       #Post#: 32365--------------------------------------------------
       Re: A Puzzle
       By: PJ Franklin Date: February 25, 2026, 6:38 am
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       [quote author=Plagosus link=topic=3683.msg32362#msg32362
       date=1772010439]
       Somebody sent me feedback on this story:
  HTML https://malespank.net/viewStory.php?id=23741&av=0b354b57958b4de.<br
       />They asked me a question I could only answer by going into the
       story. I found that the story has two filled six-pointed stars.
       Only one other story has been so well voted. The puzzle is why
       this story is singled out for the supreme readers' accolade
       above all the others except one.
       [/quote]
       The topic of why does a particular MMSA story seem to do so much
       better statistically than another is a rather very old and among
       the most discussed and venerated mysteries in the large annals
       of the MMSA forum. I'll state at the outset that unlike Mr.
       Pulthorpe's "something is missing" moment that eventually
       results in a rousing success with Welbeck, that like many such
       stories discussed over the years, A Proper Caning's success will
       not be solved today by me. But ... one can conjecture. And my
       conjecture is this section from the story that really surprised
       me. Even you Plagosus have seldom written with such bright, fun
       clarity. It made me smile, grin and think to myself that it
       charmed readers so much so that over its years received votes
       beyond the norm. Am I right? Nobody will ever know, but I fancy
       that there could be a truth here. The section:
       The first stroke was bright. It lit up Welbeck’s bottom.
       Welbeck’s bottom had never been so well illuminated.
       The second was brisk. It was decidedly businesslike and its
       business was sting of premium quality.
       The third was breezy. Not a gentle refreshing zephyr, but a
       strong gust.
       The fourth was bracing. It was more than invigorating.
       The fifth was breathtaking. It took Welbeck’s breath away.
       The sixth was Brightonian. Brightonian? Yes. On the right day a
       walk along Brighton seafront can be bright, brisk, breezy,
       bracing and breathtaking. The sixth was all those.
       So there it is, take it or leave it. That the Blackmail story is
       your best and most voted to me is no surprise. Devising clever
       crime-mysteries in a caning story is no small feat and you've
       done it a couple of times I think.
       PJ
       #Post#: 32399--------------------------------------------------
       Re: A Puzzle
       By: Plagosus Date: March 2, 2026, 5:52 pm
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       Thank you for your observations, PJ.
       I have in the past been known to wonder aloud why a particular
       story gained votes quickly. An author's opinions of his stories
       often do not match those of the readers. I do not rank my
       stories though I am perfectly well aware that some are slighter
       than others. The reason I brought this story up is though
       because it seems to me to be an extreme case, compared to
       Blackmail, where I can understand the response. I say to myself
       that surely I have written other stories which are on a par with
       A Proper Caning.
       I think that perhaps the problem is that a part of me is both
       surprised by what I produce and what people make of it.
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