Green Room - Week 28 - Day 6

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

One of the things that I love so much about LJ IDOL is that there are so many layers to it, so many moving parts. There are cogs within cogs - all moving toward a single goal of making for the best experience possible for everyone.

Some of those cogs are things specifically for the contestants - the people actively engaged in writing the entries.

Some are for the readers - encouraging people to read and support their favorites.

Some are for the viewers - which might seem like the same as above, but from a "production standpoint", there are people who follow the community, who enjoy seeing things play out, but may not always have the time to read.

Some are just for me, to keep *me* engaged and interested!

Some are for the community itself - which is a hodgepodge of all those other elements, but often has an agenda all of its own! ;)

And of course, some of it is combination of all of these things, all boiled down in the great melting pot that is Idol.

Which, of course, is really no different than anything else. Rarely is anything "just a thing".... there's usually a lot more to it.

When I say "LJ IDOL IS NOT JUST A WRITING COMPETITION", the emphasis is on the "Just". It's more. Depending on what you want to get out of it, the track record is pretty clear - it can be a *whole lot* more.

Of course, other people put the emphasis on the "NOT". Some look at "writing" and "Journal" in the word "Livejournal" and make their distinction there.

Or "Idol" and see nothing more than "American Idol".

Or "competition".

I haven't heard anyone just concentrate on the word "a". But I'm sure they are out there. ;)

Ultimately, the system ends up working out, combining all of those elements (and more) and creating an experience unique and compelling enough to bring people back for years on end... with folks more or less getting what they wanted from it!

I have every confidence that things will continue in that way for this season as well.

That said - there are always those who get caught up in the "competition" angle. I won't lie, there are benefits to having them around - because it's rare when at least a few of the people they bring in don't end up becoming as addicted, and addicted (in the case of Idol) is a good thing. :)

But they also have to be careful. Because there has never been a time when someone didn't get caught up with "getting the vote out" and missed that there is a social element as well (because there is a social element to *pretty much everything* in life), one that can catch up to you sooner or later.

Encouraging voting is good. Nothing wrong with that at all. Discouraging people from coming out is really not in anyone's best interests.

Just make sure that you are balancing it with reminding people to read and comment on other people's entries as well. Responsible voting - and not just voting down the ballot "party line" style.

I know, you can't control what other people are going to do - there is no way to make them listen to you... if there was, I would be using it all the time! :)

But beating it into their heads is a useful option, when needed.

I say this quite often, and I always mean it - you get what you put into Idol. If it's negative energy, that never ends well. For anyone.

***
Speaking of writing and supporting people - there is a poll going on *right now*! http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/806700.html

So get on out there and spread the word, for people to (responsibly) support their favorites!

Comments

[bleodswean.livejournal.com]

It's always slightly off-putting to the newcomers when they hear about the good ole daze and how the new days are dull and devoid of shiny dizziness. :(

I'm having fun. I've met so many new folks - GREAT writers and wonderful people! And have grown my flist and really come to a new place with my thoughts regarding writing for public consumption.

LJ has changed. That is simply not an arguable fact. And part of that change is reflected in this truth that so many people just don't want to engage the way they did five, ten years ago. But that doesn't mean attempting to engage is a lost cause. The trick is finding the right combination of party games....

[anyonesghost.livejournal.com]

See, I like this environment so much more than the "good ol' days." It's so much less caustic and volatile, and I can take in everyone's fantastic writing without worrying if some weird goat-, sheep-, or llama-themed alliance is going to target me with its anti-voting cannon.

There's a certain willful blindness that comes with nostalgia. ;-)

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

*chuckles over the Sheep Stations reference*

Ah, memories...

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

:snort:

I was "picked" to join certain stations about sheep but I declined :D

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that!

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

I was very put off by it, never mind not quite understanding the implications behind it.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

If I had a magic wand... well, OK... if I had one that I was going to use *for this* - I would merge the sheer activity of a Season 4 and 5 with the talent and general atmosphere of a Season 9/Exhibits.

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

Agreed :)

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

I hope people *do* keep trying to engage with each other. LJ is a smaller room than it used to be.

I think it's good to acknowledge that, but IMO, that just makes what we do here all that more special.

Personally, I think the seasons tend to get *better* with the overall quality of writing. They may not have the comments of old, but there is also not as many people... part of making folks *want* to comment though is making sure that they know that not only are they welcome, that they are part of something.

Sure - there was Idol Seasons 1-8 and two Exhibits - and those had high and low points.

But this is SEASON 9 - and there is some really cool stuff going on with Season 9... stuff that is continuing to unfold, thanks to the people who show up every week to make it happen!

This is YOUR Idol season, regardless of if it's your first or 11th time. :D (btw _ I'm the only one who can claim that last one. :p)

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

I feel badly for you new guys when we talk about those old days because it must seem like it was a totally different game. In many ways it was. There was a ton of great writing then, too, but the bulk of the game was audience participation -- the more there was here in addition to the writing, the more people outside of Idol were apt to peek in.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

So start a fight with someone! ;P

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

ME?!?!?

Even if I wanted to, how could I with a broken wrist?!?!?

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Just saying - drama always draws a crowd! :)

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

:D

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

"There was a ton of great writing then, too,"

There definitely was - and I don't want my other comments to be taken as "other seasons didn't have the level of quality"... but I think the longer you spend in Idol, (or working on your writing in general) the better you tend to get.

So people who came in back then, there is a "putting them side by side" comparison that is easy to make, but may not tell the whole story.