Green Room - Week 40 - Day 1
Mar. 3rd, 2015 10:39 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
clauderainsrm.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
therealljidolHappy Birthday Season 9!
One year ago today, the Sign Up sheet for this season went up, and people came out of the woodwork to take part in what was scheduled to be our final season. http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/2014/03/03/
That link also includes the first Green Room, and given the responses I've seen to the elimination last night http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/843229.html I think another listen to "Stay Positive" is in order. :)
I wasn't sure what to respond to today, so I'll try to respond to everything that I can remember. If someone brought up something that I missed, remind me. :)
This is now officially LJ Idol's Longest Season!
So pat yourself on the back for surviving it this long. You are well passed the usual "breaking points", and it's interesting (from the outside) to see how different people are handling it. Of course, people have also said that I've gone easier on this season than I ever have. I'll disagree - when it comes to topics I think these have been the roughest. But people have themselves to blame for those! :) Other than that though, I'll "cop to it". I've gone pretty easy on this season, and that was in the original design. Honestly - I'm not sure how many people would still be standing at this point if I hadn't. :)
Anyway - questions:
- "Was there a problem with any of my votes?" If there WASN'T, I emailed you last night. I sent out 3 emails, all bcc'd so only I knew who received them and who didn't.
- Are contestants asking folks to create accounts? To the best of my knowledge - no.
- Are people creating accounts to vote? No. Perhaps I didn't state it clearly last night. While there *were* a couple "new accounts" that had been created in the last couple of months, all but perhaps 2 of them were "verified". (I know who they belonged to, because the person contacted me to let me know "Hey, I don't want to use my facebook, can I make a LJ account to vote?")
- Did those 2 unverified accounts changed the results? No. They did not.
- What was the problem then? People voting from multiple accounts. Writing journals and other social media accounts. Often these had similar names, or had direct links from one account to the other. Clearly this wasn't the work of any super genius, or series of them. With 4/7 contestant vote totals being impacted by them, it's also not exactly "coordinated" either. Unless those behind the coordination can't make up their minds. ;)
- Increase in voters. Always happens at the end of a season. People who may have been around at the beginning tune back in. The "buzz" of folks talking about means more people poke their heads in. I actually saw a quite a few names that I haven't seen in quite some time this week. So you must be doing something right!
- Single votes. This has been a big topic over the last couple of seasons. It's one of those things where I see what they are trying to say, but there is a disconnect. Because at this point in the season: Yes. There are now 6 people left. 6. (there were previously 7), if there AREN'T a lot of single votes, that's more of a mystery.
For some reason people talk a lot about that, and not about if someone were to vote for the same three people every week. To me, it's the same thing.
- Alliances. Continuing from the end of that last section, people always talk about alliances. The vast majority of times "alliances" are groups of friends who support each other. Most times it's "We will vote for each other! Let's go all the way!!" There are times when this bound between people, who talk all the time, turns into "I don't like so-and-so".
- Have there been alliances this season? Of course there are. Any time you get people together, some are going to bound more than others. Any time you get people who come in already knowing each other/already having strong feelings one way or the other? Like I said "friends supporting each other". Most times you could question them point blank and they wouldn't recognize that you are calling them an alliance, because they don't see it that way. Other times, of course, people are fully aware of it. I *think* most of the ones this season have splintered. (based on the voting at least, people have definitely gone their own way with their own preferences) After all - it's one thing *to say* "I want to go to the end with you, because I think you're the best!" to a friend and it's another thing entirely to actually want to do it! :D
- Is someone out to get you eliminated? Yes. ME. I am also out to get you off my lawn.
- At the end of the day, is it still about the writing? People always seem to ask this question. I think it's for the same reason some balk at "going out there in the publishing world/academic writing because "there are so many other factors", that they lose site of what you are actually doing, and just need confirmation that what they are doing is actually good.
Yes. The answer is 100% yes. Your experience is entirely your own. You are putting your work out there every single week. This is your journey, and I hope you are able to get what you want out of it.
- Is this season the "most dramatic ever"?/have "more problems"? "more people 'playing the game'? I saw several people posting last night - who have been involved in the past, but not in the season - *laughing* at what people think is "Idol drama" these days. :) If we're being completely honest, *I* get a chuckle or two as well. :)
It's still frustrating when it happens - and Cynthia had to convince me to come to bed last night rather than answer emails. (and yes, I *did* say "You're right. This is where I am loved". So I'm no stranger to dramatic statements. :D)
- Does fanfic = Idol death? That point was raised and refuted by someone else. I'll say "Not always". In the Top 10 though? I can think of 1 case in 9 seasons and 2 mini-seasons where it wasn't though.
- "Idol no longer being fun past a certain point" There are some days when I really wonder if people remember they are in a competition. ;) The deeper you get into it, the fewer the options are - and the more pressure. I compare it to forming diamonds.
Supporting each other is awesome. I definitely encourage it. It not only is good for the competition itself, it's good *for you*. You should be doing more of it.
But yeah, I would be really surprised if there were people in the Top 6 who were *entirely* "I just want everyone to do well". They probably wouldn't have survived a year without thinking, on some level, that they had a real shot at winning this.
- Spreadsheets. Some people like to compile data. Some of it is accurate. Some is "accurate enough". Heck, I've seen some over the years that has been absolutely bollocks. Other people have said it eloquently, but I'll just add: they are numbers. They can give you a general idea - but they don't tell an actual story. Heck, I see the actual names attached to those numbers, which gives me a better idea of what is happening. But even that isn't complete. I think that's important to always remember.
- People promoting themselves? I've said it before, and I'll say it again - it's fine. But I do want to see more people promoting the competition itself, because there's a lot of great writing and saying "Go Vote for ME!" isn't actually helping you as much as it would if you gave them options and they *still* picked you!
- Changing votes? Yes. You can edit your votes up until the poll closes. Just make sure to re-check the boxes of everyone you want to support.
- Burn-out? It's a real thing. Even with me being easy on you. It's a problem for writers. It's a wall people either find a way around, or they run right into it.
- I'm cutting and pasting an actual comment because I kind of love it: "Now I wonder if Gary fed the idea of conspiracies into Season 2 through a third party and just let them percolate over time, knowing that Idol players will kick their own hippie selves if given just enough free time. :-)" This says it all to me. Idol players can, and will, find ways to be their own worse enemies. You can really summarize everything else above with it.
Expand it out to writers. To creative people. Or just "people".
Folks end up standing in their own way, and if you give them rope while they are standing there - they will find a use for it.
A big part of Idol - and being successful in writing - is seeing past all of the distractions, and managing to focus through to your goal. There are bells and whistles. There are side streets begging you to take a little time, to sit and map them out. But ultimately, these are traps. I tell you early on that they are there, and people wander into them every single time.
Your New Topic? Right here: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/843487.html
How much longer? I'd guarantee that we would be finished this March, but if I did, you would somehow arrange for every single week to be some huge run-off that stretched things out. :D Most likely just to mock me. (there's *my* conspiracy theory!!)
We have 6 people left, so it's coming soon. Just remember, the next time you go "OMG - how much longer???", that there will be a point when you will be asking "OMG - when is the next season starting????" :)
One year ago today, the Sign Up sheet for this season went up, and people came out of the woodwork to take part in what was scheduled to be our final season. http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/2014/03/03/
That link also includes the first Green Room, and given the responses I've seen to the elimination last night http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/843229.html I think another listen to "Stay Positive" is in order. :)
I wasn't sure what to respond to today, so I'll try to respond to everything that I can remember. If someone brought up something that I missed, remind me. :)
This is now officially LJ Idol's Longest Season!
So pat yourself on the back for surviving it this long. You are well passed the usual "breaking points", and it's interesting (from the outside) to see how different people are handling it. Of course, people have also said that I've gone easier on this season than I ever have. I'll disagree - when it comes to topics I think these have been the roughest. But people have themselves to blame for those! :) Other than that though, I'll "cop to it". I've gone pretty easy on this season, and that was in the original design. Honestly - I'm not sure how many people would still be standing at this point if I hadn't. :)
Anyway - questions:
- "Was there a problem with any of my votes?" If there WASN'T, I emailed you last night. I sent out 3 emails, all bcc'd so only I knew who received them and who didn't.
- Are contestants asking folks to create accounts? To the best of my knowledge - no.
- Are people creating accounts to vote? No. Perhaps I didn't state it clearly last night. While there *were* a couple "new accounts" that had been created in the last couple of months, all but perhaps 2 of them were "verified". (I know who they belonged to, because the person contacted me to let me know "Hey, I don't want to use my facebook, can I make a LJ account to vote?")
- Did those 2 unverified accounts changed the results? No. They did not.
- What was the problem then? People voting from multiple accounts. Writing journals and other social media accounts. Often these had similar names, or had direct links from one account to the other. Clearly this wasn't the work of any super genius, or series of them. With 4/7 contestant vote totals being impacted by them, it's also not exactly "coordinated" either. Unless those behind the coordination can't make up their minds. ;)
- Increase in voters. Always happens at the end of a season. People who may have been around at the beginning tune back in. The "buzz" of folks talking about means more people poke their heads in. I actually saw a quite a few names that I haven't seen in quite some time this week. So you must be doing something right!
- Single votes. This has been a big topic over the last couple of seasons. It's one of those things where I see what they are trying to say, but there is a disconnect. Because at this point in the season: Yes. There are now 6 people left. 6. (there were previously 7), if there AREN'T a lot of single votes, that's more of a mystery.
For some reason people talk a lot about that, and not about if someone were to vote for the same three people every week. To me, it's the same thing.
- Alliances. Continuing from the end of that last section, people always talk about alliances. The vast majority of times "alliances" are groups of friends who support each other. Most times it's "We will vote for each other! Let's go all the way!!" There are times when this bound between people, who talk all the time, turns into "I don't like so-and-so".
- Have there been alliances this season? Of course there are. Any time you get people together, some are going to bound more than others. Any time you get people who come in already knowing each other/already having strong feelings one way or the other? Like I said "friends supporting each other". Most times you could question them point blank and they wouldn't recognize that you are calling them an alliance, because they don't see it that way. Other times, of course, people are fully aware of it. I *think* most of the ones this season have splintered. (based on the voting at least, people have definitely gone their own way with their own preferences) After all - it's one thing *to say* "I want to go to the end with you, because I think you're the best!" to a friend and it's another thing entirely to actually want to do it! :D
- Is someone out to get you eliminated? Yes. ME. I am also out to get you off my lawn.
- At the end of the day, is it still about the writing? People always seem to ask this question. I think it's for the same reason some balk at "going out there in the publishing world/academic writing because "there are so many other factors", that they lose site of what you are actually doing, and just need confirmation that what they are doing is actually good.
Yes. The answer is 100% yes. Your experience is entirely your own. You are putting your work out there every single week. This is your journey, and I hope you are able to get what you want out of it.
- Is this season the "most dramatic ever"?/have "more problems"? "more people 'playing the game'? I saw several people posting last night - who have been involved in the past, but not in the season - *laughing* at what people think is "Idol drama" these days. :) If we're being completely honest, *I* get a chuckle or two as well. :)
It's still frustrating when it happens - and Cynthia had to convince me to come to bed last night rather than answer emails. (and yes, I *did* say "You're right. This is where I am loved". So I'm no stranger to dramatic statements. :D)
- Does fanfic = Idol death? That point was raised and refuted by someone else. I'll say "Not always". In the Top 10 though? I can think of 1 case in 9 seasons and 2 mini-seasons where it wasn't though.
- "Idol no longer being fun past a certain point" There are some days when I really wonder if people remember they are in a competition. ;) The deeper you get into it, the fewer the options are - and the more pressure. I compare it to forming diamonds.
Supporting each other is awesome. I definitely encourage it. It not only is good for the competition itself, it's good *for you*. You should be doing more of it.
But yeah, I would be really surprised if there were people in the Top 6 who were *entirely* "I just want everyone to do well". They probably wouldn't have survived a year without thinking, on some level, that they had a real shot at winning this.
- Spreadsheets. Some people like to compile data. Some of it is accurate. Some is "accurate enough". Heck, I've seen some over the years that has been absolutely bollocks. Other people have said it eloquently, but I'll just add: they are numbers. They can give you a general idea - but they don't tell an actual story. Heck, I see the actual names attached to those numbers, which gives me a better idea of what is happening. But even that isn't complete. I think that's important to always remember.
- People promoting themselves? I've said it before, and I'll say it again - it's fine. But I do want to see more people promoting the competition itself, because there's a lot of great writing and saying "Go Vote for ME!" isn't actually helping you as much as it would if you gave them options and they *still* picked you!
- Changing votes? Yes. You can edit your votes up until the poll closes. Just make sure to re-check the boxes of everyone you want to support.
- Burn-out? It's a real thing. Even with me being easy on you. It's a problem for writers. It's a wall people either find a way around, or they run right into it.
- I'm cutting and pasting an actual comment because I kind of love it: "Now I wonder if Gary fed the idea of conspiracies into Season 2 through a third party and just let them percolate over time, knowing that Idol players will kick their own hippie selves if given just enough free time. :-)" This says it all to me. Idol players can, and will, find ways to be their own worse enemies. You can really summarize everything else above with it.
Expand it out to writers. To creative people. Or just "people".
Folks end up standing in their own way, and if you give them rope while they are standing there - they will find a use for it.
A big part of Idol - and being successful in writing - is seeing past all of the distractions, and managing to focus through to your goal. There are bells and whistles. There are side streets begging you to take a little time, to sit and map them out. But ultimately, these are traps. I tell you early on that they are there, and people wander into them every single time.
Your New Topic? Right here: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/843487.html
How much longer? I'd guarantee that we would be finished this March, but if I did, you would somehow arrange for every single week to be some huge run-off that stretched things out. :D Most likely just to mock me. (there's *my* conspiracy theory!!)
We have 6 people left, so it's coming soon. Just remember, the next time you go "OMG - how much longer???", that there will be a point when you will be asking "OMG - when is the next season starting????" :)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2015-03-03 03:48 pm (UTC)Onward and upward!
no subject
Date: 2015-03-03 03:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:In other news
Date: 2015-03-03 04:00 pm (UTC)Our "Big Boss" is coming in to the office tomorrow to "talk to the managers about the move".
Which means we will find out if we are moving OR being let go...
Re: In other news
Date: 2015-03-03 04:06 pm (UTC)Re: In other news
Date: 2015-03-03 08:08 pm (UTC)Re: In other news
Date: 2015-03-03 08:11 pm (UTC)Re: In other news
Date: 2015-03-03 09:07 pm (UTC)Re: In other news
Date: 2015-03-04 12:38 am (UTC)Re: In other news
Date: 2015-03-04 01:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-03-03 04:03 pm (UTC)In fact, if you are so inclined, you'll be able to check this link in the future when a poll is up to see it update in real time, and in fact play with your votes as you see fit and see what it does to the spreadsheet's recordings of your votes.
Let me echo: it's just numbers. But I think it's not unhelpful to see how the yellow and red boxes have steadily grown as we've gone from 50 people to 5, and who it's been affecting more than others. All of this is an expected part of the game, as Gary notes; I draw no conclusions and again, simply present the data as it exists.
no subject
Date: 2015-03-03 05:45 pm (UTC)... of course, now I'll have to go back over this season and see how my numbers (as far as they go) correspond to how I thought I wrote.
... once I get a home game entry written.
no subject
Date: 2015-03-03 04:29 pm (UTC)It's entirely possible for something derivative to do well in Idol...in the early stages of the game. I believe the pieces that were referenced were all written before Week 10.
Once we get to the Top 50 or so—that's the point at which I would say that writing something derivative becomes a risky endeavor.
It's the same as with the serials—sure, people have done it, and have done well with it! But they're the exception that proves the rule, so to speak. Just because one person manages to pull it off does not mean that everyone who does it is going to manage to pull it off, especially when your odds of being eliminated are that much higher.
It's a risky venture at any point in the game. It is especially risky as the competition gets stiffer.
no subject
Date: 2015-03-03 05:58 pm (UTC)And while an entry should stand on its own feet, I think deviating from that norm does mean you're playing with fire ... no matter how well written your serialized slash autobiographical fanfic poetry may be. You have a lot of competition for attention out there, after all. (Well, okay, not so much at this point in the competition.)
Personally, I had the most fun with the meta-entries that were not, by anyone's metric, proper stories. And for the most part, the audience disagreed with me on that. :-) It's a risk one takes, though. (Besides, who wants to write the same thing over and over again?)
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:speaking of conspiracies
Date: 2015-03-03 04:30 pm (UTC)Re: speaking of conspiracies
Date: 2015-03-03 05:56 pm (UTC)Re: speaking of conspiracies
From:Re: speaking of conspiracies
From:Re: speaking of conspiracies
From:Re: speaking of conspiracies
From:Re: speaking of conspiracies
From:Re: speaking of conspiracies
From:Re: speaking of conspiracies
From:Re: speaking of conspiracies
From:Re: speaking of conspiracies
From:Re: speaking of conspiracies
From:Re: speaking of conspiracies
From:no subject
Date: 2015-03-03 06:15 pm (UTC)I think people know I've barely been paying attention to this season. I might not have learned about last night's "shenanigans" with the poll if I hadn't been skyping with a friend who has been paying attention, and told me. I decided to come to the green room today to share some great news, but I think it falls in nicely with this particular entry.
As someone who got to I think 12th place one season, and was told that another player, or players, were conspiring to get rid of me that week, and ended up going to Gary about it (I didn't bring it up in the GR or make a big deal over it - Gary hadn't posted something like this for the voting that week), I know what it can be like to get super bitter and upset about voting results, and assuming someone is out to get you.
But at the end of the day, Gary is right about staying positive. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter where you place in Idol, what matters is your attitude, and seeing where it can take you in your future. If I hadn't done Idol, I might never have decided to pursue publishing further. And editing anthologies where I get to judge on my own how good something is? That's very rewarding. Especially when the first time I did it, I've just been announced as a finalist for Best Anthology in the Aurealis Awards; which are the most important speculative fiction awards in Australia.
So, my point is, whilst it's easy to get caught up in the bitter feelings that can come from the present, sometimes it's better to channel those feelings into working on something productive for your future. If you think people are out to get you, even if the reality is that they're not - use that to spur you on and do better. Prove to these so called haters that you're actually damn awesome, and you're not going to let them get to you!
no subject
Date: 2015-03-03 06:46 pm (UTC)Also a Season 10 to get us to Idol's 10th anniversary in 2016.
After that - who knows?
Heck, I don't know even what's going to happen tomorrow! :D
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2015-03-03 06:46 pm (UTC)Congratulations!
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2015-03-04 01:01 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2015-03-03 07:38 pm (UTC)Yesterday I officially became an " empty nest mom". It's weird. It's right for my kid but weird and empty for me.
AW
no subject
Date: 2015-03-03 07:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-03-03 07:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-03-03 08:02 pm (UTC)Sometime after that, probably in Fall/Winter, Season 10 will start.
Looking forward to
harassing you... I mean, seeing your work! ;)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2015-03-03 08:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-03-04 12:45 am (UTC)I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I'm handling it with ridiculous amounts of tea. And chocolate. So much chocolate.
Honestly? I'm tired. But I'm stubborn. And I still enjoy having produced something even if I don't really enjoy the process every single time. Looking back and seeing, hey, I wrote this thing! And it's kinda neat! Is nice. I think making the great big table of stuff I've written this season, back when I got eliminated a few weeks ago was a good thing for me. Seeing it all together puts things in perspective.
It's been a long haul. And we're coming up on the end. And as much as I enjoy saying things like "let it end in fiiiiire" (I really like apocalypses, ok? Don't judge me) what I really want is for it to end in smiles, in laughter, and in a helluva good show. I hope we can pull that off. I know I'll try.
no subject
Date: 2015-03-04 12:49 am (UTC)I've been exploring some of the disambiguation pages on wikipedia. It's helping some.
no subject
Date: 2015-03-04 12:53 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: