Green Room - Week 12 - Surprise Sunday Evening edition

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

GRAP!

You've got a lot on your minds don't you?*g*

Seriously though, I find it fascinating to see people actually talking about the notion of what is and is not ethical behavioral as it pertains to game play.

I don't like the more aspect where people's feelings are hurt, but I love the very notion of having this conversation. Especially reading it while the Super Bowl is on, given how one of the teams got there...(*opens a can of worms and sits back and sees which bird will peck at it*)*g*

***

I've talked to a few people in prviate - yes, I do get the emails and I do try to respond to them as they come in - about "the other" issue from this week where people felt personally attacked by a fellow contestant... and it's been addressed with them. I'm only bringing this up because it does have to be mentioned that this is a game, and like all games there is a strict "you do not personally attack a contestant". It's usually physical that it restricted, but if the line becomes blurred I can and will use my ability to ban a player from the field of the play the same way I would with a troll who came into the community to insult people. It's a fine lines ladies and gentlemen, let's make sure we all stay safely on one side of it.

***

With that said - there's a cage match going on:

sideshowbennie vs. sushimustwrite so make sure to vote to keep your favorite in the running!

Bennie now holds this season's record for the most votes. But will it be enough? We won't know until the final bell rings tomorrow.

***

I promised tru2myart, season 2 winner, that I would post her comments on the whole alliance thing in the very next Green Room, since she wasn't sure she would be around. So they should end up as the first comment (unless someone is really, really on the ball...)

Comments

comment from season 2 winner <lj user="tru2myart">

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Yesterday I watched as several people I've come to admire a great deal through their LJ Idol writings bickered about an alliance that has been formed this season.

Last night I spent some time checking out the alliance group and their webpage (I guess it's alright to mention that now since it's been outed right?). I also took the time to really think about everyone's thoughts and opinions and how I would have felt had I been on either side of the competition this year.

I have an opinion but before I give it I'd like to share a little LJ Idol history with you if I may.

I can remember the day I signed up for LJ Idol Season 2 pretty clearly. I was pretty new to Gary's friends list, we'd only just met really, and there was talk of "restarting LJ Idol" on his journal. I watched the discussion go back and forth between those who had competed in Season 1 and those who, like myself, had no idea what anyone was talking about. From what I was able to gather from the conversation it sounded to me like a writing/popularity contest which I was sure I could never win. I had less than 20 people on my friends list many of whom, like Gary, were brand new to me. Who was going to vote for me? I'm not a very competitive person when it comes down to it. Oh I like to win things, don't get me wrong. But I'm a very fair player and I'd be more likely to support someone else in the competition rather than supporting myself, Gary tells me even now that I'm "too nice" and I just figured there was no way I would have a snowball's chance of winning something like that all things considered.

I believe it was helenangel who changed my mind for me.

She saw my concerns and replied to me that even if I didn't win Idol I'd still win by the number of friends I'd make, she told me that she knew people would like reading me and getting to know me better and they'd want to stick around even if they didn't vote for me. She convinced me to join the contest, making new friends was one of the reasons I'd joined LJ in the first place.

When Idol Season 2 began I told myself right off the bat that I was going to be one of the first writers voted out. There were three VERY strong competitors who, not only had fairly large f-lists, but also were extremely close to each other. They not only supported themselves but they supported each other and got some of the highest votes of the competition in the beginning. It was an alliance of sorts, although it wasn't a planned one, they were just extremely fond of one another and stuck together. As the competition went on I hung in by a thread, gaining votes slowly with each passing week and adding more friends to my list as well. There were some weeks where I came very close to being one of the people voted off, but I stuck in there and those scares caused me to up my game, put my heart on the line and share some of my most sensitive thoughts and feelings with the people who read me. I also spent time supporting others. I read every single entry and talked to those people whose words moved me. In turn they wound up reading my entries and reiterating my support. At the time I didn't realize it was a strategy but as it turned out it was a pretty strong one. I was trying to make friends but I wound up gaining support.

part two...

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

When one of three strongest competitors was voted off. I was floored becauseI was still there, I just couldn't believe it!! I questioned whether I deserved the spot and almost considered dropping out of the competition simply on the grounds of not being one of the better writers. A very good friend of mine, one who's also EXTREMELY honest with me, convinced me that if I wasn't a decent writer I would have been voted off a long time ago, no matter how "popular" I had become. One of her statements to me was "You can have 300 people on your friends list who might vote for you once or twice but eventually they're going to get bored with voting and find something else to occupy their time. They vote a few times for "their friend" and then let it go. It's the people who look forward to your writings who are going to vote for you again and again. Those are the people you have to continue to impress, those are the ones who are deciding that you're a good writer and they want to see you stay in this."

I stayed..and at the end....I won.

I still scratch my head and laugh about the whole thing sometimes. I was up against some strong people, huge friends lists, people who did a lot of weird things to garner votes...and somehow I won. And all I did was talk to people...and write strictly from my heart. Not only that but I did exactly what I set out to do. Two of the three original "alliance" members are incredibly good friends of mine. Kithan is a dear heart who I adore and Gary is one of my very best friends. I now have almost 150 friends compared to the less than 20 I started out with and I write, to this day, with as much zest and love as I did during Idol. I'm very grateful to helenangel for convincing me to try.

That being said, how do I feel about alliances?

Well I think everything I said above pretty much answers that question. I think it's great that alot of you want to support each, at the same time I can understand why some of you are hurt that you weren't asked to be a part of it. But for the latter of you, think of it as a compliment. You weren't asked to join for a reason and that reason was more than likely that you were considered one of the stronger competitors. You were one of the ones getting some serious votes. You may not have a large friends list but I think I've just proven that it doesn't take a large friends list to win this competition, just a community spirit and a desire to write. Another reason could be a lack of that community spirit, perhaps you weren't interacting enough with the rest of the writers for them to think you cared enough to want to be a part of their alliance. Maybe that should be your wake up call to talk to people, show everyone you're in this for more than one reason. Interact!

I know many of you feel betrayed over this banding together of other members but look at it this way, even though there's an alliance it doesn't guarantee a win. It means that for the next few weeks those people who aren't a part of the alliance are REALLY going to have to step up their game. Don't let this scare you, let it move you!! You want this to be a writing competition yes? Well here you are. You have more reason to feel threatened now than you have the entire season, show them you won't back down. If you were putting your all into your writings before, reach down deep inside yourself and find that little bit of extra ambition and put in even MORE. You can do this! Believe in your abilities.

I have to give my friend gnomeangel a smile and a finger waggle. She sure does know how to stir this place up. :grins: I wish she'd been around for Season 2. I wouldn't have joined the alliance, it's not my thing really, but I would have found it interesting to know whether or not I'd have been asked. AND I would have taken it as a compliment either way. Either I was stern competition or I'd have accomplished my goal of forming good relationships. I would have been satisfied no matter what the outcome.

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

Gary.
Thanks for this post. Yes, it's a game and I'm enjoying playing it. My intent is not to hurt anyone, nor do I want to be hurt. And so far, I think I've succeeded in both. Let's have fun!

[lacombe.livejournal.com]

For the record.... (http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/112942.html?thread=7962414#t7962414)

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

I'm not a part of this alliance and I guess I'm glad. I don't want votes because I have a large friends list. I want votes because people like my writing and interested in what I have to say. I appreciate every vote I get and frankly I'm surprised I've gotten this far! Shocked is more like it! haha.

[hopefulnebula]

Oooh, surprise green room! I'd have thought you'd be watching the game.

*bookmarks the post to read tru's comments later*

[porcelain72.livejournal.com]

I'm just hanging around waiting for the halftime show. I loves me some Tom Petty.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

"don't do me like that" seems to be the theme...*g*

[unsold-capacity.livejournal.com]

I read through all of tru's comments and I have to say I agree almost 100%. It's nice that she bothered coming in and giving her 2 cents :)

Personally, I don't have a problem with the alliance thing because I'm not very vocal in the green room very often, and I often feel alienated because it's sometimes so obvious that I'm one of, if not the, youngest player left in the game. I subconsciously feel like what I say isn't good enough, or that my age is going to be a factor. So I stay quiet, afraid to talk to people, afraid to pimp myself, afraid to make a scene.

The alliance is also a good buffer for those bad weeks, I think. I've had a few lately where a few friends pulled through extra hard to get me the votes I needed, even when I was ready to just let fate come in and kick me out because the entry didn't live up to what I wanted. But over all, I know there are weeks where I'm going to pull out something I think is fantastic, and I want to be able to get that recognition even if my track record has been faltering some weeks. There's a certain point past which you can't "give it your best" with certain topics, and others where I don't even have to put real effort into my entry and I know it's a winner. I think being in an alliance helps even that out. I want as many chances to write great things as I can.

All that said, I don't really care; once I'm voted out, I'll just play the home game on the topics I like. But it's fun to play while there's the opportunity.

[adpaz.livejournal.com]

I've got the game on but I'm paying more attention to Teddy and Rich playing around. I know, I'm a heathen. :)

As for the Drama Llama, I've weighed in on that (and I was grateful for all of the well-thought out responses to it). I don't know why I did, other than I'm part of the competition and I hate seeing people that I know and like getting caught up in drama. I hope it didn't make anything at all worse. (You know me, Gary. I'll apologize for anything. :))

I've got to make sure to get this next week's entry gets in early. I've got a busy week ahead of me with my in-laws coming in for Teddy's party and the party and everything else. Wish me inspiration!

[unsold-capacity.livejournal.com]

I've got a tough week ahead of me, too...we can totally do this :) I hope there's a nice, fun topic in store!

[anchasta.livejournal.com]

What, is there a game on today? No wonder my neighborhood was eerily silent all day.

[eqfe.livejournal.com]

giants just won

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

btw - when I told me ex about the word grap she decided that it should be "an exclamation of dismay at something Gary has done"

[ewok-626.livejournal.com]

*sighs* Thanks, Gary... *growls*

[puppybraille.livejournal.com]

I haven't followed this as closely as I'd like because I haven't ever been good with reading through lots of comments. But some of this makes me glad I was eliminated, simply because I'm not sure what I think about an alliance. What I didn't want to do was hurt someone else, and I'm afraid I would've done that no matter what I would've said about this alliance.

That said, this is still such an amazing experience, and I'm still glad I got to be a part of it. I almost made it to the half way, and that's a ton better than I expected.

I think I'm going to shut up now... for the moment.

[lordrexfear.livejournal.com]

That Tom Petty concert wasn't as exciting as I would've hoped.

Ah well...

oh wait... should I talk about the drama?

No...I won't...

Superbowl commercials!

[adpaz.livejournal.com]

I've found most of the half-time shows aren't as exciting as I would have hoped. It's only when there's... um... "wardrobe malfunctions" that things get even partway interesting.

It was nice to hear him play again, though.

Which commercials have you liked so far? Me, I loved the CareerBuilder "Follow Your Heart" commercial.

[johnmill79.livejournal.com]

Well thankfully I just finished reading and voting on my favorites! Took a long time this week, for some reason.

Not sure how long I'll stick around with that alliance, but I shall try to just not worry about it and write till I'm tossed as I originally said I would do. I guess I overreacted at first, but then this things seems to be making lots of folks kinda edgy.

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

I am not watching the Super Bowl. Nor do I care about football (yes, I'm a heathen). I support the Pats because they're my hometown team, but that's it.

I just finished mopping and scrubbing various rooms. What an exciting Sunday night! Whee!

*note sarcasm*

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

I don't like football either. I'm a baseball fan (Sox). If the writer's strike doesn't break soon baseball will be the only exciting thing to watch on TV!

[minikin.livejournal.com]

I've been totally off my game since I came home yesterday afternoon with a low-grade fever. Aches, pains, whiny'kin.

We're watching the Puppy Bowl right now, as the only football fan went upstairs to his office "for half time."

[sushimustwrite.livejournal.com]

Wait... there's a Puppy Bowl?

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

Wow, the drama! Intense.

I am watching celebrity drug rehab and loving it. Another stupid reality. It brings back memories of family bonding over drug rehab and visiting dad in the rehab and going to family meetings and all. hahaha. I can't believe that I'm watching this trash and enjoying it.

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

Yikes! I'm scared for you! Has Gary's love of reality shows polluted your mind?

[shay-writes.livejournal.com]

I've been wondering if I should express my opinions over the alliance or just keep my mouth shut and wait for the whole drama to blow over.

I guess I can see both sides of the issue. I can understand why the weaker players would want to bond together to strengthen their position. But would they like it if the strong players did the same thing. They are already at the head of the pack and an alliance might ensure they prevail.

I know feelings were hurt on both sides of the fence. I don't believe anyone meant to attack another personally. It's easy for dialog to be misunderstood without the aid of body language.

Hopefully, the community can rally and pull back together. I'd hate for this to become a dividing wedge.

*huge group hug*

I Yam Wit Ewe

[lilmissmagic71.livejournal.com]

I haven't chimed in either way... and plan not to... DO I have an opinion? Yes. I just don't like spinning my wheels over something that, in the end, doesn't make a difference to me...

I like getting votes. If I don't, I will 'go home'. As long as I keep writing my best, I won't have any complaints.

*joins in group hug*

And for the record...

[tru2myart.livejournal.com]

....any Tom Petty is good Tom Petty. :smiles lasciviously:

Re: And for the record...

[js-africanus.livejournal.com]

I'm not a Tom Petty fan, and I certainly didn't watch the half-time show, but it's nice to think that after years and years of crap, maybe — just maybe — they got their half-time show right.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU UNIVERSE!!!!

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

Most of Massachusetts will be pouting tomorrow! There are a lot of Giants fans in this neck of the woods cuz we are so close to New York State. Before the days of cable TV, Giants games were the only games watched on the NY TV station that you could get here. So now the endless analysis and commentary. Bring on Baseball!

Have YOU voted yet?

[sushimustwrite.livejournal.com]

The sudden death cage match is tightening up now. How would you like to know that YOU made a difference in the outcome?

Well, you can! Go to the vote post (http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/112432.html), read sideshowbennie's entry and my entry, and vote for your favorite!

You know you want to...

[controlld-chaos.livejournal.com]

Too much drama around here lately. Not enough puppies. Now that the Giants have won and made my day, flip over to Animal Planet for the best game on television all year -- PUPPY BOWL.

*dies of cute*

[monkeysugarmama.livejournal.com]

I just turned the tv on and it is starting again. Now this is one bowl game I will enjoy!

I have to fold laundry for a while so this looks like fun!

I wanna puppy, mama. Pwease???

[abbismom.livejournal.com]

I have a couple of "newby" kind of eyes-caught-in-headlights questions:

what does it mean to take a "bye"?

how do you enter the contest?

Thanks!

[sushimustwrite.livejournal.com]

Each player began the game with two byes, which means they can skip two topics of their choice between the beginning and the top fifty. (The exception is kathrynrose, who was brought in by a special power last week and entered with one bye.)

As of now, entering the contest is closed until the current season ends...unless another power is introduced to bring someone into the game. You can still play the home game, though--just write up your entries in your journal and post a link in the Green Room! Welcome!

[sushimustwrite.livejournal.com]

I haven't gotten anything done this weekend. Yes, I get a wee bit into the drama. Curse you!

[superhappytime.livejournal.com]

If I had been the genius who created this game, I would be pretty damned proud about this whole thing...it's basically become the argument that takes place in EVERY SINGLE final tribal counsel on Survivor. The whole "how ethically did you play the game?" thing. This reminds me of poor Boston Rob hanging his head in shame...until he remembers that he's about to win a million dollars or marry someone who will....

[lacombe.livejournal.com]

::: laughs :::

I can imagine. At least he'll have plenty of money to dry his tears with.

[gnomeangel.livejournal.com]

how about as a community we band together for something that is a lot bigger than us and all the "drama" that's been going on.

someone really special to a lot of us, is hurting right now. so i'd like you to all take this image and post it in your livejournals and see if we can't give one MASSIVE group hug. who's with me?

(http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i194/gnomeangel/?action=view&current=gnomeangel_twp.jpg)

[lacombe.livejournal.com]

I send a card around for her, but I don't know if she ever got it.

IN REGARDS TO VOTING WARS

[zebedeegoddess.livejournal.com]

Ok I just need to get this out.
I'm making no accusations here.
But, by having a drop in mini competition for votes, it creates an atmosphere of need for votes. Which is very tempting and easily manipulated.

I dont have to say anymore than this one fact.
There are 45 accounts watching this community that have NEVER had a single post placed in them as normal jounrals or any kind of journal. these accounts are blank and can be used strictly for adding votes the to tally.

You want to run a fair game? Check our your members before approving them ali.
You can easily go to the member info page, click more details and see the creation date of the journal. Or if you bring up all of the members of this community and go to the last page (8). You will see the list of 45 account that say "NEVER UPDATED".

I'm not saying that votes have been manipulated. I'm just saying that it walks and talks like a duck.

Re: IN REGARDS TO VOTING WARS

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

They are checked before votes are counted. We know the accounts that aren't being used. Never assume that we aren't on top of things.

Not going to restrict membership (especially since you don't have to be a member to vote for most of polls anyway) but we do keep track.