Green Room - Week 38 - Day 1

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

I less than three passionate people.

4SRS.

I want to wrap them up in plastic sheeting and keep them in a sealed compartment under my floor boards so that they, and their passion, will be safe for ever…. Was that a little too specific? ;)

Anyway - This probably explains why I’m surrounded by crazy people, because crazy people often have the loudest and most passionate opinions. But at least they have a point of view, and that’s never a bad thing.

As long as they are also able to recognize that what they are saying is their personal opinion, and not the “one great truth”.

By now, everyone should know that the “One Great Truth” is whatever I happen to be saying at any given moment, and respond accordingly.

If more people stopped to realize that, they wouldn’t end up butting heads so often, regardless of their opinions. Because ultimately, they would know that they were completely wrong!!! Unless of course I happened to agree with them, and even then, it would just be a coincidence that they were right!

Knowing that “Gary is always right” will help bring about a new age of prosperity (but not “peace”, I don’t go for that hippie garbage!) into the world – and it starts right here!


One of the many things that I am right about is that we have a new topic: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/600343.html
We also have a run-off to deal with: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/600316.html

So, by all means, get passionate about your favorites. Just keep it about your favorites. Not about the ones you don’t like as much. Why? Because there is nothing constructive with that, nothing that builds up the people you like, and in fact, probably ends up hurting them by association. And no one wants that.
Except me. I, of course, want to hurt them – and I’ll find new and interesting ways to do it!! :D

Comments

FRIST!

[ellakite.livejournal.com]

Sorry folks. I need the cookies.

OK, Gary: I think there's a problem with your first sentence. Other than grammar, though, I agree whole-heartedly. These folks r teh awesum.

Re: FRIST!

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

You're dead to me, you know ;)

:hands you a cookie:

Re: FRIST!

[tigrkittn.livejournal.com]

::throws confetti::

::does the happydance of FRIST::

Re: FRIST!

[myrna-bird.livejournal.com]

Yay! The original Frist gets to be Frist again! This is how it should be. Things happen for a reason. Here's your cookies, man! :)

Re: FRIST!

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

I less than three passionate people.
Aw, y'know, <3 = ♥ for the uninitiated. :)

Here, have another cookie!

[sarcasmoqueen.livejournal.com]

Gary is always right - I must remember that.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

It takes a few years and a few lumps, but eventually it sets in! ;)

[theun4givables.livejournal.com]

This run-off business terrifies me.

Good luck to the both of you. <3 I don't want to have to vote either of you off, but I guess Gary's made it so that I have no choice.

I just hope that things calm down a bit. I understand we all have our favorites and opinions, but these four definitely deserve the spots they have. They've fought for it, and they're going to continue to fight for it, and I wouldn't have it any other way. :)

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Technically, you COULD vote for both of them... :)

[mstrobel.livejournal.com]

WE GOT A CAT ON SUNDAY!

Well, my housemate got a cat. But we all get to live with him. His name is Weasley and he is totally our king. ;)

[tigrkittn.livejournal.com]

::bows to His Most Excellent Cat Weasley::

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

KITTY!!!

[myrna-bird.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful kitty-color.
King Weasley reaching out a paw to say hello to everybody. Cute picture. :)

You could have a caption contest.

"I've got my eye on you!"

[alien-infinity.livejournal.com]

OMG KITTEH!!! :D :D :D

*bows before King Weasley*

I'm not wearing anything dangly at the moment.

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

:hoping laptop doesn't implode while she's typing this:

I missed the brouhaha last night, but in a way it doesn't surprise me that it happened:

1. This is the bitter end of the season. People are tired, nerves are frayed, and the stress levels are nearly through the roof.

2. As IRL, the combination of all three has the potential to be a lethal weapon. Or, to put it in a more mild sense -the combination sometimes makes people act/react in a way that they normally don't act/react.

3. Gary's correct about the passion. If you didn't care, you wouldn't be reacting that way. That's not to say that you don't care if you're not reacting that way, but because you're not directly involved, it doesn't affect you in the same way.

4. There are some of us whose passion for this game may seem to be a bit much, especially to outsiders. As I say, "You'll never understand unless you plsy." You don't invest that amount of time without forming or refining opinions. If you don't have any opinions, you really haven't been paying attention.

5. Conspiracy theories are an Idol fact. Sometimes they're more front and center in a given season than others, but they're always there.


Anyone want a muffin? I've got blueberry, cranberry-orange, chocolate chip, butter rum...

[mstrobel.livejournal.com]

Butter rum? Sounds intriguing! And my stomach *is* grumbling at me...

[notodette.livejournal.com]

I was looking back at mstrobel's season where she almost won, and it was wonderful to see how much support and laughter and good times there were there. I liked it. A lot.

I've been thinking about how this could have happened, and aside from the different mixes of people given any different season, I'm guessing a part of it is the sheer numbers this season pulled in.

When you start a season with 100 people, those people are going to get to know each other, ALL of each other. They become a unified whole, almost. Especially with the disinterested parties dropping fairly quickly, bringing the numbers down further. When you are friends, really friends, with people, you are happy for them. You accept the twists and turns of the game for what they are.

When you start with 300 people, well, even the most friendliest of folks can't agree with or like all of them. Then you get groups together. Then the groups don't like the other groups. I've seen all this before in other communities, and I'm not interested in getting sucked into that, which is why I'm basically quiet.

And thanking God that no one knows me well enough to like or dislike me enough to attack or defend me. Because no one wins there. Everyone feels bad.

Sometimes it's not the best writing (or the best anything) that wins out. It's the person who can run the longest. (That's pmuch the only way I win anything, tbh, and I'm more than okay with that.)

I would like to put forth that while the four of us may not (and by may not, I mean ARE NOT) who Gary would have chosen, or who anyone else in the community would have chosen, I would be honored to be beaten by any one of them.

I've known Sarah for a long time (her forgetting I had kids notwithstanding, lol), and she's got a heart of gold. I feel confident I could say the same for her. Not to mention she's an incredibly talented and strong writer.

Kristen has been team cheerleader since the opening green room. She's been tossed a lot of crap. She's still going to do this, and I, for one, give her a standing O for carrying on. A lot of people would have allowed the negativity to beat them down. Pixie knows she's better than that, and that self knowledge is better than any win. And if she does win, it will be an excellent complement to her Idol trophy.

Whipchick, in my opinion, is the best writer left. (Except when she's writing about biting foreheads, but that, I think, is personal preference, lol.) She has shown nothing but grace and support this entire season, so I feel confident she also feels the same way.

Which means, of the four contestants left (because we can't go back to the past, guys), all four of them probably would love for themselves OR any of the others to win.

I want to wish the best of luck to every single one of them, and I know they won't need it.

Another quick thought...perhaps tensions are so high because there is only one season left? So that the people that others want to win only have one more year to do it? IDK, just ignoring work I should be doing at this point.

I've really enjoyed doing Idol this season. And not for the writing (mine). But for everyone else's, for the chance to see others at work and explore how very different their process is from my own.

Thank you, guys. Even when u mad, you're still pmuch the best.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

On the numbers thing – we haven’t had a season under 100 people since Season 3. ;)

The most heated final/semi-finals period was in Season 1. When there were 9 contestants. Come to think of it, Season 2 had its moments as well, with the first round of “Boob Gate”.

Last season was definitely a very positive finale. But, looking at the numbers, there were less than 100 more contestants this season than last!

I think it very much depends on the people involved. It’s impacted by those in the community, and outside, but it’s very much dictated by the people directly involved. If they band together and make it a positive experience, it will be.

If they go after each other with “everyone’s pimping their heads off, and I need to keep up!!!” then it’s bound to be tense.

[ravenshrinkery.livejournal.com]

Other than knowing there was a dustup, and that there have been a few this season, I've been a busy one and haven't been paying much attention. But I wanted to share this with all of you, because you should know. I have Idol to thank right now for a lot, as do a lot of people and it's my turn.

There's quite a few people that credit Idol with being a springboard for great things win writing and beyond. I'm among them now. I sharpened my skills in writing here, having been a top 40 contestant in Season 7. If you can last here for any length of time, you can last anywhere. I don't have to tell anyone reading this how tough it gets to impress people.

I took those skills to academia and pounded out paper after paper. I finished undergrad with a 3.5 GPA, worthy of my school's highest honors. I applied to and was accepted to the University at Albany's School of Criminal Justice. I feel as though my letter to them was one of my strongest pieces of writing since a couple of my Idol entries. I have Idol of course to credit for honing my persuasive talents.

In a little over an hour I attend orientation to my Master's program. Many students go on to a PhD there if they do well and want it. This school is one of the best in the USA in this field and has a prestigious journal and fellowship. I've gone from community college to a bottom-tier SUNY and it took me seven years to finish my BBA - to this. That's not counting my ignoble rural upbringing (go read my entries from S7). I'm still shaking my head, not quite sure how I pulled this off. I know it was due to hard work and perseverance, but even with that, it still feels like a lot of good fortune.

Scrupulous academics are notorious for crediting everything. Thanks for being here, Idol. I couldn't have done it without you.

News Flash

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

kathrynrose just left a voice post saying that her modem is fried, so she's going to be offline for a bit.

Although she didn't say it, I know she's wishing both Pixie and n3m3sis good luck in the runoff!

[cacophonesque.livejournal.com]

You know... in some ways I appreciate the people who are willing to put themselves out there and say the harsh stuff rather than always playing nice for the cameras. Because a lot of times they're saying stuff that other people are thinking and are too afraid or non-confrontational to bring up. Maybe it's not always tactfully done--but it gets the suspicions out in the open so that they can be discussed, debunked, or refuted. At this point in the competition people have been under pressure for so long, there's bound to be some built up steam bursting through. Which is not to say that I *like* it, but I do see it as fairly inevitable and as such, have tried to start looking for the value in it.

Even in the friendliest of seasons, there's been speculation of cheating and conspiring and what-have-you. And that stuff can fester behind the scenes and take its toll, and sure everyone is putting on their happy faces for the camera and doing their best to win the spirit award, but it's there and eating away at folks. So, why not just throw it out there in the open where people can hash it out? But especially so Gary can weigh in.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Wait - there are Cameras??

Besides, they already awarded the Spirit of LJI award...

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

There is a big difference between being passionate about your opinions and being an asshole. I think in general, as a society, we fail to see that these days. The whole thing about "Just being honest!" when you're stating sonething that is mean and hurtful and that provides no benefit whatsoever to anyone, is just a lie to tell yourself to justify being a dick.

That's all from me today. I won't engage in petty drama, I get pissed off too easily at jerks and life is too short for that.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Word!

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Appropriate icon is - as always - appropriate.

My hubby left for Texas this morning, to run an errand for a friend in need (taking friend's daughter back home to her mom, as the family can't afford airfare, and friend doesn't have a car reliable enough for such a long road trip) so he will be gone until Monday. But I'm sure I will find something besides Facebook to keep me occupied while he is away! I've already got a Girl's Night planned for Friday with my BFF. And bowling league started up last night, so that was fun!

[cacophonesque.livejournal.com]

So, I'm definitely guilty of not paying a lot of attention to things this season...

But, I was wondering if there will be a home game thread for the open topic? Because apparently I've found some inspiration to write again.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Just FYI, Gary - you got your two links backwards. The 600316 is the run-off, and the 600343 is the new topic.

You're welcome. ;)

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned how much I “love” conspiracy theories? How “so and so” is doing something underhanded? Ever notice that it’s never someone they like? Ever notice that whatever this great “underhanded” thing is, it’s probably something that either they have done in the past, or that someone who they support is doing/has done?

I especially love it because people seem to forget that it either means that I’m too dumb to spot it or allowing it to happen.

Maybe it’s because I didn’t get much sleep last night dealing with “stuff” or maybe it’s just end of the season cranky, but I’m really “loving” people right now.

[goldmourn.livejournal.com]

sooo...

when does Season 9 begin?

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

:)

I haven't decided yet. The earliest is "sometime in October".

The latest is... hmmm, I don't know when the latest is!

It's the final season, so I want it to be something special.