Green Room - Week 27 - Day 5

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

There is a poll going on - http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/568274.html with a shortened deadline. So anyone waiting around until Thursday to vote – you may have to settle for making your preferences known on what kind of cookie is the best. (Hint – it’s either peanut butter or cardamom)

I’ll admit, this morning has been a little weird and I wasn’t sure what to say (not that it ever stops me!) so instead of the usual banter, I’ll answer two of the common questions that I’ve been seeing in previous Green Rooms:

(1) How much longer is the season going to last?/ there must be something evil coming up?
(2) Where is the Home Game thread?

The second answer first – because that is how I roll: The last two times it’s appeared, I’ve made a comment that if people wanted to see it, they had better use it. There ended up being 5 entries in each of them. Tracing that stat back – there hasn’t been an “over 10 person” Home Game thread so far this season.
As much as I love people playing the Home Game, and I truly do – that’s not even for warrant its own thread.
If you want to show that it does in fact deserve a thread, people need to show me that the interest is there from at least 10 people, hopefully more.
Even when it was showing up every week, there still wasn’t much interest. Has the time for a Home Game to have a thread passed? Is it a season anomaly? I don’t know. I may try it again at some point this season, but not right now – unless there is a favorable response.

The answer to the first question is a little more complicated, because it’s really two questions in one! ;) You sneaky bastards!!

When I announced that next season would be the last, I said that it meant that I could no longer promise that Season 6 would be the longest – because there were now other factors in play. That’s the problem with the “hurry up” crowd, unless they really want Idol to be over forever (and I’m sure there are some who do) when you want mass eliminations – that’s what you are rooting for… I know that’s not what people MEAN when they make comments, but it’s definitely a factor I to be considered. That said, yes, there is evil between now and then. Lots and lots of evil. : )

Evil that is coming for you specifically. Hope you can sleep with your eyes open, because you are going to need to do it if you hope to get out in one piece! *cue sinister music*

Comments

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

I'm having too many thinky thoughts this morning. I think I'm starting to let the game get to me for the first time (well, the first time except for the Gatekeeper week).

For one, I feel like I haven't been doing as well in the polls the past couple weeks. I like the stuff I've been putting out for the most part, but obviously I am not just writing for myself here. So I have a couple of questions for anyone who's willing to answer:

- If you didn't love my posts the past couple of weeks and have liked them in the past, what's changed for you? Is it the subject matter or the style or do you feel I'm not writing on-topic? Is my writing not evolving as much as you'd like to see, and if so, what are some things I could work on to do better?

- Whether or not you like my posts (this week or ever), is there something specific you'd like to see in my writing going forward (if I'm not eliminated this week)?

The second thing that's been eating at me a little is something that came up elsejournal. A few people mentioned that there were people who they felt shouldn't still be in the competition. They didn't know why they weren't getting eliminated and they felt it had to do with popularity or big Friends Lists.

This shook me up a little, because (a) I guess I'm a little more insecure than I'd like to admit and immediately thought (zOMG, what if they mean ME?!!) and (b) I've honestly felt since Gatekeepers that everyone still here is pretty good. Sure, there are some people whose writing I don't personally connect with as much but there is no one that I look at and say, "Well, how the heck is THAT person still here?" Obviously, we are not going to sit here and name names, but how do the rest of you all feel on this subject?

Also, I just want to say that if anyone was put off by the formatting on my post for this week, I apologize. I made a last-minute edit to it on my phone yesterday evening and it apparently totally hosed the html (which I didn't notice until this morning). It's fixed now. Ugh.

/freaking term paper


In "real life" news, someone T-boned my husband's car last night while he was on the way home from work. He's fine, but now he has to climb in through the passenger side to get in his car. The good news is that no one was hurt, it wasn't his fault, and the other driver appears to have insurance. His car is old and kind of ugly on the outside but runs great so I really hope it's not totaled because what we would get for "replacing" it probably will not be enough to buy anything comparable in reliability. But we'll see. I work from home, so we really only need one and a half cars. The car that was originally mine is now the family car, but my husband needs a separate car to take to work so we don't have to buy two car seats. All his car has to do is not break down a lot and not guzzle gas. Bleh.

On a happier note, I am trying a new crock pot recipe for barbecue chicken breasts today! I used pre-made barbecue sauce, but if it turns out good I will definitely make my own ahead of time in the future to try with this. :D


Oh, and FRIST!

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

*crickets*

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I try. :D

[sarcasmoqueen.livejournal.com]

Yay, first!!

As you know, I do agree at least somewhat with the popularity thing, but unfortunately there is no way around that, I don't think. This is not to say that people who are popular are not also great writers - in fact I think that most of them ARE - but by the same token there are certainly times when people scratch their heads wondering why person X is still there when person Y was eliminated with a much stronger entry. I think as the size of the group gets smaller, that has an affect on the voting as well - after all, votes for writers you've always loved could result in your elimination, so everyone is probably being a lot stingier.
And WHEW! Glad to hear your husband was not hurt in the accident! And in an unrelated yet related incident, I had t-bone steak for supper last night! It was delish!! ;-)

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

First of all, things will get tighter in the polls as they go along. "Doing well" is relative. I looked now and you're doing pretty well considering who usually always has really high poll standings and that you're not on the bottom. I know it's hard, but not being on bottom becomes a sign in and of itself that people want you here :)

And two. I HATE those types of posts and comments. Writing is subjective. What I think is good may not be your cup of tea. That's fine. But when people say that, I automatically assume they mean me... But worst than that, I think the fact that they are insulting others based on an opinion of what they think is good writing is pretty ridiculous. Everyone looks for something different in what they like.

I hate Harry Potter with a passion, but if I said it was bad writing, I bet I'd get a heck of a lot of people who'd disagree with me. Same with Twilight or 50 Shades of Gray.

Those types of comments are hurtful and judgmental. It's an opinion. For people to act like its anything more than that, that their opinion is better than mine (when none are wrong) is annoying.

I know it's hard, but don't let it get to you. I've had people outright tell me I don't deserve to go as far as I do. No hinting, just telling me that to my face. It hurts. I don't promote (I haven't asked my friends list once this season to vote for me) but I know people assume that's how I'm getting by. Even if it is for someone, it's part of the game and we deal. People will always have others that don't like them for whatever reason. That's life. I'm very insecure and these comments always get to me too though.

Everyone that's left deserves to be here IMO. Have people left sooner than I thought they would? Sure, it happens all the time. But that doesn't make the current group any less worthy. They made it somehow. They all deserve to be here.

[alien-infinity.livejournal.com]

The crickets may be partly because LJ is buggy right now; at least it is for me. That makes it harder to post stuff, alas.

[karmasoup.livejournal.com]

Oops. Sorry about that. I'll stop rubbing my legs together now.

[alien-infinity.livejournal.com]

Congrats on first! I will let people who have had more coffee than I have reply to your questions, haha.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Hello! I think I got fifth, seeing as there are many comments-to-a-comment?

I'm not eager for this particular season to be over, even though I'm a little removed from it right now, having been out of the game for so long, dagnabbit. I will likely sign up for Season 9, just because it will be the last, and also to get to the 100 Week mark. We'll see how it goes between now and then.

One of our community partners brought in some Panera bagels this morning as a thank-you gift, which was nice, since until they'd got here "breakfast" had consisted of some hot tea and a snack-sized box of Apple Jacks, LOL.

[p-m-cryan.livejournal.com]

...A few people mentioned that there were people who they felt shouldn't still be in the competition. They didn't know why they weren't getting eliminated and they felt it had to do with popularity or big Friends Lists....

That point gets brought up Every Single Season.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about the car, ugh! Here's hoping that the insurance pays off well enough to replace it or repair it!

As far as "who is still in the competition," I'd say that there are always folks to sneak in under the wire due to large friends lists, but one of the reason that Gary does the "contestant only" votes and "community only" votes and "Gatekeeper" rounds is to take the large Flists out of the running, and help put everyone on a more even footing. It is what it is. *shrug*

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

It just kinda bugs me because as someone with a large-ish FL, I take it a little personally. I don't post voting links and if anything, I think my large FL hurts me more than helps because people assume I am getting votes from them (and I doubt I am). Most of my FL is probably scrolling past my Idol posts and praying I will get eliminated so they won't have to see them anymore!

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

Win!

[sarcasmoqueen.livejournal.com]

Anyone else having issues with LJ in general and the poll in particular? I keep getting an error message and I don't think my votes have been received. I'm not done reading yet, but it's become an arduous process. In the event this hasn't been rectified before the polls close, can we email our votes to you, Gary?

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

They aren't crickets, they are fairies! :)

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

I wish I could get my thighs to stop rubbing together! It's dangerous for me to wear corduroy - too many sparks! :)

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

It just kinda bugs me because as someone with a large-ish FL, I take it a little personally. I don't post voting links and if anything, I think my large FL hurts me more than helps because people assume I am getting votes from them (and I doubt I am). Most of my FL is probably scrolling past my Idol posts and praying I will get eliminated so they won't have to see them anymore!

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's all good. :D

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm cardamom. And peanut butter. Two of my favorite things. Now I'm craving my friend's cardamom shortbread cookies. I need to order some from her shop again soon I suppose....

As far as evil goes, I know it's coming at some point. I like the twists and turns of the game... If I survive then that is. I don't want the season to ever be over, but I know that defeats the purpose of having a winner and such.

I'm doing good IRL. Work stuff hasn't changed but I'm having a "screw it" mentality lately. I still work my butt off, but I'm just less likely to care that they all think I'm an idiot.

I'm really hoping this other job comes through. I'm supposed to hear back this week *fingers crossed*

[alien-infinity.livejournal.com]

Me! I have been having issues with LJ. The poll seems to have worked fine for me, but LJ itself was being wonky with plenty of "Internal Server Errror" messages. :/

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the reassurance. I've never been, like, #1 in the polls, but I used to see 3rd or 4th sometimes and now I feel like I'm sliding more and more into the middle. Which seems like a bad thing to do now, but hey. I just want to know if people think I'm getting too boring or not bringing it every week, and what they'd prefer to see instead if so.

I don't think people were meaning to be judgmental, but the idea that people are just getting by on their FL kind of chafes me. I haven't been posting voting links or pimping my posts and I really think my larger FL hurts me more than it helps, if anything. People might assume I'm getting votes from my FL and that I don't "need" their vote when in reality I'm pretty sure most of my FL does not read or vote.

I'm with you... I think everyone deserves to be here!

[alien-infinity.livejournal.com]

*crosses fingers for you*

I don't want the season to ever be over, but I know that defeats the purpose of having a winner and such.

I feel the same way. I will be super-sad when the season's over (and also super-sad when I'm eliminated, of course).

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

YAY!

It wasn't anything that any one person said that specifically bothered me. A lot of it was my own insecurity and it just sort of sat there in my head and fermented. I assume people think I get a lot of votes from my FL but in reality I don't post voting links and I think most of my non-Idol FL ignores my LJI posts entirely. So yeah. I'm a little sensitive about that topic because I may or may not be a good writer but I bust my butt to put out new and interesting stuff each week and I like to think that's why I'm still here. :D

Mmmmmm, steak! Nom.

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

You're FIRST!!!!!

Thank heavens your husband is OK. EEK, T-bone :shudder:

We're not much into barbecue here, but I've made a similar crockpot recipe using boneless/skinless thighs. It was quite yummy served over rice :)

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

LOLOL!!!