I've noticed some authors artificially raise their total "Likes" by immediately liking their chapters as they publish them. This has resulted in some authors spamming some 600 chapters and gaining "Likes" related trophies because they "Liked" it themselves. I feel like those achievements should be earned by having other users interact with your story, not yourself. (As a side note, I typed "Like" so much it now looks wrong to me."
Originally I would support the idea – but now I wouldn't. Why? Because of the exception. Because I met this one author, to whose story I contributed. The author edited my chapters so heavily, yet changed them to be so much better – that it left me in awe. So I liked the chapters, that were originally my but were edited by the author... Because they weren't only my creation now, but the author's as well. But if there was a way around it - f.e. two authors of one chapter - you will have my full support.
Other solution, not the number of the likes count but the likes to chapter ratio. It would not do to spam shit then and would support writers putting effort in their work. The whole self-liking would be nearly useless with that.
Self-liking is kind of redundant, but then again, honestly - who really cares for those trophies? They are a nice little incentive for some people to try a bit harder or come back, but they aren't really any kind of relevant ranking. At least not for me. And they shouldn't be for any other author who values his trade.
I disagree, as an author who values his trade. No, they aren't really relevant for ranking, but having goals and milestones in the form of achievements is good for some aspiring authors. It's feels nice obtaining these trophies based on merit, it tells you how far you've come and where you can still go. Sure, you can set your own goals in your mind, but having the place you contribute to give you a little award you can see on your profile offers some welcome encouragement as opposed to the one comment a century / vague likes authors typically receive.
