[Poll] VOTE: June '11 Challenge

[kailhofer]

Way to go Nate, leaping and bounding into the scornful circle. With one (I'm sure you think slick) comment, you denigrate all previous comments, posts and proof that I've already made as one long whine, not worthy of consideration, just contempt. And you call yourself a fair judge!

Oh, that's it. Clearly, you've found me out.

Once again, repositioning your head might help you see better. I think he did refer to the use of zeros, except for a couple of examples would be unfair. He said if someone makes an effort, they should not receive zeros for their labors. I agree! Why don't you?

Allow me to relate a tale I heard occurred at an SCA event recently. The SCA are those guys who whack at each other in suits of armor and attempt to recreate a version of medieval warfare on select weekends and vacations. I was not there, but I know several people in the society. At "events" the SCA has what they call "safe" arrows for archery. Said arrows, apparently, are designed to not be able to actually hurt the people they are shot at (I've never seen one). In a target competition, a lad put an arrow on the string and while walking to the line, accidentally shot it into the crowd of spectators. No one was hurt, however, he did not receive any points for his effort. Scoring a zero did not cause an uproar. Somehow, people understood.

In life, as well as in writing, people miss the mark, sometimes so badly that I do believe they deserve a zero for it.

I don't won't my score to be determined by people who may not have even read my story or those who's opinions are tainted with bias and do not have the good judgement to be fair. There are probably 5 people at Aphelion who I would feel comfortable scoring, reviewing or critiquing my stories; Bill, Robert, you (even though I question your judgement in non literary areas of fairness) and two others. Everyone else would be giving me uninformed opinions, fine for posts, but not for scoring.

Do you have any idea how much what you're saying must insult those people who you feel are "uninformed"? If you are trying to sway public opinion, I hardly think that is the proper course of action.

I think our voters are informed. That is, however, only my opinion.

Proof one - You have the same number of participants on average since you started this challenge over 4 years ago. No growth! None!

Have you actually done the math on numbers of participants per year/month, or is this a supposition? There were some very lean months in '08 and beginning of '09. However, I would be willing to concede that on the surface it does seem that way.

Proof Two - Since you have applied the breakdown system, the commenting has dwindled down to nothing! After 100 posts on this challenge topic, no one, I mean no one (especially the authors) have commented on even one story!

I had to look this up:

• I really enjoyed the stories this time. Good job writers!

  As much as I hate to say it, this challenge seemed to bring out the worst . . . Michele and Rick hit the lowest and second-lowest, respectively, that I think I've ever scored (not that I keep good track of that). Those two stories, in particular, seemed generally aimless. I might have been missing something, but I did read all the stories twice. And just for the record, both of those writers usually fare a lot better with me.
  
  Maybe it was just the contrast that got to me. Hero's really is a good story -- very good in all respects, and Sergio's was, in my opinion, a good couple of notches above his usual quality.
  
  [snip]
  
  Anyway, congrats, J. Davidson!

  Congratulations to the winner, with compliments J. Davidson Hero, very well done, indeed!!!

  Congrats to Hero! and Sergio - 3rd place but a really nice story.
  I wrote my story, If Yanowaddimeen, to entertain myself. I wanted it to be cheesy and maybe get a smile. I'm glad I got torpedoed - it will encourage me to do better next time.
  I wrote this story because everyone thinks I'm such a prude (you KNOW who you are!!!) and I wanted to show I can have as much virtual fun as the rest of the guys If Yanowaddimeen!

  Congrats
  
  Michele, well I least I beat you! HA, and double ha.
  
  I thought mine was funny, You had to read it aloud, and not take any breaks, almost like one long unending sentence. It was a play on getting stuck at a party with a person that never stops talking, on, and on, and on, and on.
  
  Both character ideas were ideas from the Soldier in white (CATCH 22), and an ANIMANIACS cartoon, season 2.
  
  But no matter, there's next month.
  
  Blind Rebellion was good. And Michele, tacky, tacky, tacky!

  Wow, this challenge produced some strong reactions in some readers. Maybe I was biased because I had my own story in the mix and kept in mind my own struggles with the challenge while reading. Whatever the reason, I thought this was a solid batch of stories and enjoyed reading them all. I was especially intrigued by the world building part of the challenge and was excited to see how the other writers handled their rogue planet scenarios. Bottomdweller and Richard both got much higher marks from me than their final averages, maybe because their approaches were very different from my own. I also found it interesting that George, Michele and I all ended our stories with betrayal/murder. Thanks to all who read and voted and also for any comments about my story. Much appreciated.
  
  John

  And finally…
  

  First let me say, Davidson deserves every accolade he gets. Wonderful writer...should be making money from his work! You've got talent!
  
  [snip]
  
  Good job by everyone! I do not prefer this type of story, but the quality of the writing and the conceptualization of this difficult assignment was amazing! I don't believe I could do it.

You see, people did comment--and this was just one comment listed here from each person. There were more, even with the flawed voting system you do not agree with. I contend that if you were to go back to the other months where you say there were no comments, I think you may well find that there are. A count of such things is the kind of hard data I was talking about, to show whether comments were in fact down or not.

Gee... I could manage to see that from where my head was, too. Imagine that.


Now, I don't know where such venom had to come from, but regardless, I'm considering your proposal, as well as Bill's.


Nate