Green Room - Week 5 - Day 4

[clauderainsrm]

 I typed out some lengthy responses to questions I've been asked recently and then accidentally closed the tab while trying to find a different tab. So I lost it.  Let's see how much I can remember.  :)

Thees were questions I've been asked recently, except the first one. But let's pretend someone asked me when the entries are due and where to post them: 

 therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1151017.html is where, and Thursday 7pm ET is the deadline. 

- Can I move all of the byes to their own section/their own poll/remove them?  Moving lines in the poll every week runs the risk of issues with the template. Even back when we have massive tribes and tribe swaps notice that I kept them together for several weeks at a time before shifting again. Because every move is a manual task. 

- Speaking of - why are you not getting voting notifications? I'm pretty sure I answered this at one point but it's because I used to pay for two accounts. Now I'm only paying for one. I would work out all the bugs over in my personal account and then post in Idol. Since we last met, DW has made an option that allows you to post to "admin only" so that I can post there and then switch it over to public once everything looks good. Basically there are three potential options (and no, not polling people. Just saying my options outloud so you are aware):  (1) purchase a second account and go back to how I was doing it.  (2) once I've worked out the bugs, delete it and repost it as a public post.  (probably the most likely to happen) or (3) people know to come back an hour or so after the deadline to check if the poll has been posted yet.  ;) 

- What would happen if there was another tie in a Write Off? There are two main precedents for what happens: (1) Write Offs all the way down. We just keep going until a decision is made.  (2) The "black mark". The tied contestants have a mark against them. If they EVER end up in another tie, they are the ones automatically eliminated... unless of course it's just against each other and then write off all the way down.  ;)  The way things are going, it's likely you are going to learn what is in play this mini season.  :)

- If you sacrifice during a poll can you transfer your unused byes? No.  Byes are not fire tokens (Survivor reference) they can be not transferred this mini season. (there were a couple times when it was part of the theme where you could do that.) 

- What is the difference between a drop and a sacrifice? A drop happens BEFORE the poll is posted. You just drop out of the competition. A sacrifice happens *after* the poll is open and you let me know you want to take one of the elimination spots. You are saving someone else from elimination, whereas a drop does not impact the number of people going home. 

- Can you literally just write the words "this is my entry" and then sacrifice that week? Yes. People have done that before. It only happened once, but I did see someone *survive* a week like that, because people were trying to convince them to stay in...so it's a gamble. 

- Can you take a bye during a Write Off? Yes. There is precedent for that happening. It's definitely a strategic move and doesn't tend to be all that popular, but it's allowable. 

- Executive byes MAY be coming into play this week. Hopefully not, but maybe. I have offered someone up to two of them. This is for above and beyond situations where there is no ability to write due to real life. Not "I just can't motivate myself" but rather an "Act of God".  Previous distinction: "Broken arm" earned one whereas "sprained leg" did not. (one impacted the ability to write and the other didn't... devastating fire - executive bye, devastating breakup - does not  Its something I keep in reserve and use *very* sparingly over the years based on the precedent of the first season where I handed out the first bye (before they were a thing) to tinhuviel due to a sudden death in her immediate family) 

- I think there were a couple more answers in the original but I can't recall the questions. if your recent question (or one you think of) isn't up there, let me know and I'll answer in the comments!!!





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Comments

[halfshellvenus]

Where do you keep your hippies when you're not kicking them?

[roina_arwen]

Duh, in his HIP pocket! :)

[halfshellvenus]

:D That would certainly be convenient!

[off_fleek_geek]

Bravo! *giggles!*

[clauderainsrm]

i let them "live their lives" until I call them back here to be kicked.

[halfshellvenus]

Hmm, and what's behind those scare quotes?

[jake67jake]

I know you said that you weren't looking for a poll, but since I'm not in the competition I thought I'm fairly safe offering my opinion. Everyone should know to check for a poll ... at LEAST within 24 hours of the deadline to post. Even when you were at your busiest and craziest and with lots and lots of writers, I think the longest it took between deadline and poll was like 3 hours. *and people were posting in the GR -- where's the poll?*

I would love to know the answer to halfshellvenus's question also, I'm looking for a few hippies to come to work for me.

[roina_arwen]

Usually after about an hour of the Prompt thread closing, I'm looking for the poll! Thanks for the answer about the write-off potential tie. :)

[reidharriscooper]

Hi... okay, see y'all when I'm more alive again next week.

[pixiebelle]

I just read your response on the other GR. I hope everything goes well for your mom during her procedure. My mom had colon cancer a few years ago so I recognized what you’re talking about and I know it can be rough. You two are in my thoughts.

[pixiebelle]

I usually just check in here for the poll after the deadline. I’m usually asleep when the poll comes up anyway so I just come here in the morning, or if I am awake, just keep refreshing until I go to sleep because I’m curious. I only missed voting once and that wasn’t from the notification - I thought I had more time to vote, I lost track of the days since I’m on summer break and my days bleed together.

I had to get my entry in last night to be safe, and instead of using the first draft I wrote, I started from scratch since I got the urge to write about another topic instead and it wouldn’t leave my head, so that’s what I did.

I have an ultrasound today on my parotid gland. The swelling has went down a lot on the steroids and antibiotic but there’s still some there right at the base of my neck and eating is easier, but still somewhat painful, so I’m hoping it doesn’t mean a blockage. I really do not want to deal with that.

[roina_arwen]

I really liked the entry you posted! I worked as a camp counselor for a few summers with the 4-6 year olds, and they were a hoot!

I imagine being in a completely different time zone makes it harder to keep deadlines straight. Best of luck with the U/S today.

[pixiebelle]

Thank you! I just really love talking about the kids, it makes me so happy. I’ve been planning going back to work and they’ve been on my mind a lot. I have so many cute stories about them, some I can’t believe I forgot to include so it likely won’t be the last time I’ll write about them if I stick around.

The ultrasound went well. No blockages, it’s just a flare of my autoimmune disease. Hopefully the steroids will continue to work so I’m without pain soon. And yes, the different time zones are difficult at times lol I’m constantly doing the math to figure out when things are due for me. I’ll also try to stay awake for the poll or results even though it can be really late for me.

[pixiebelle]

Oh and I thought I knew everything (kidding) but I didn’t know about the black mark option! Is this only if it keeps going into a tie and no one ever comes out ahead? If they have back-to-back write-offs, they have to do the write-off and the regular entry too if they overlap and don’t have byes left, right? Has a black mark ever been used before, and is it just at your discretion or are there specific scenarios where you choose to do it and end the write-offs all the way down?

[chasing_silver]

I remember you handing out executive byes which convinced me maybe you weren't the Evil Overlord we all thought you were, lol. (JK!) Some of this is hazily coming back to me from other seasons I was in!

[kizzy]

I'm waiting for the "back into the game" option ;)

[bleodswean]

*bows humbly*

Thank you, G. Thank you for BEING YOU.

[clauderainsrm]

I didn't have much time before needing to go bed tonight. So hopefully my spot check caught everything that had been wrong with the poll before it went live - and everyone got the notifications that they love. :D