LJ Idol Presents:

 

Welcome to Survivor!

You may have noticed that you came here in one group, and have not been separated out yet.  That’s because, much like One World, you are two tribes living on a single beach.  How you choose to coexist with each other is completely up to you.  But that means although you will be battling it out in challenges, every night you are going to have to come back to the shared camp. 

This is going to add another level of complexity to an already potentially social interaction, as you figure out how to navigate camp life while living and working beside “the enemy.” 

It wouldn’t be Survivor though if we didn’t have one last twist to throw at you - and here it is - YOU will be picking your tribes.  It’s an old fashioned “school-yard pick,” but with a twist: 

Each of you will be ranking every member of this group, from 1-19 (1 being your top choice), and sending that list to me at clauderainsrm@gmail.com by Wednesday, October 21st, 6pm ET.  

The 2 contestants with the best collective score will be “team captains” for this activity.  The person with the most votes will get their top available pick - the other captain will get the 2nd selection… and so on.  If, by any chance, someone selected does not submit their picks - it will default to the best ranking from the team captain’s choices.  This continues until everyone has been picked for a tribe.   The make up for the tribes WILL BE POSTED, as they are selected.  You will know where it is that you stand with the group - so you know how much of an uphill battle it’s going to be to change people’s first impressions. 

You in the yellow parka, impoetry - Do you have any first impressions of this group?  Anyone stand out? 

How about you swirlsofpurple?  Any strategy in how you are planning on ranking your fellow contestants? 

lawchicky819   - You’ve played LJ Idol before, but this is Survivor.  Do you come into this with a different mentality or is it just “go with the flow” and see what happens?

gunwithoutmusic   - Does coming into this knowing that not only will you be helping to select your tribe - but also that you are going to be living alongside them make a difference in how you make those selections?  

adoptedwriter  - You know that Edge of Extinction will be playing a role this season. How much is that on your mind when it comes to putting together your ideal tribe? How does that change how you plan on approaching the game? 

megatronix  - What do you think you are bringing to this experience that could benefit your tribe?  

And you, wolfden-  I’m pretty sure you were the first one to be cast on this season. You were eager to go, to experience Survivor. How does that pre-game excitement measure up to standing here, knowing that you are about to actually be playing the game? 

bittyjane  - Just by looking around the group, Is there anyone here that you think might be in over their heads? 


bleodswean   - Is there anyone that you think is going to be underestimated? 


minikin25 -  You started at a very different time in LJ Idol history. You've seen it in calmer eras, as well as times when it got a little "cut-throat." Do you think that either of those styles of play are going to be helpful here in Survivor? 


alycewilson   - Looking over the group, you seem to be the one with the most continuous Idol seniority. In a game like this, do you think that is going to be an advantage or a liability? 


jenwithapen - You’ve endured so much just to get here to this cyber-beach.  What does this experience mean to you?  


bsgsix - There faces here that you are familiar with, and quite a few that you might not know.  How does that impact how you are thinking about the selection process? 

halfshellvenus - How important is it to pick a good team on Day 1?  


uselesstinrelic   - When you start thinking of everyone on this beach, how are you going to approach ranking? Are you thinking of who you think might be the strongest competitors to help the tribe in challenges, or are you already thinking about people who might be personally loyal to you for the long run? 

flipflop_diva  - Is there anyone out here that you think you immediately want to work with, or who you look at and go “this person could be a problem for my game?” 

For murielle, the other side of that coin is - is there anyone you look at and go “That could be very, very bad for me?” 

eeyore_grrl - Some people would say it’s crazy for someone to sign up to play this game - what exactly are you hoping of getting out of this experience? 


n3m3sis43  - There are 19 contestants.  Which means someone isn’t going to be picked for a tribe.  Someone is going to be an outcast from day 1.  It could be you.  How is that going to factor in with how you make your selections? 

With all that said - let’s get to it.  Answer your question/respond to others… and of course, get me your rankings before the deadline! 

There is a Write Off - https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1059277.html

and a new topic - https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1059383.html

***

When the dust settles in the Write Off, we will be at our Top 5, one step away from those who will be walking out of here with a little bit more than just the satisfaction of having accomplished something and a whole lot of new material that they have created.

Which makes this the cruelest cut of them all in many ways.

It's definitely the one that I, personally, have been dreading the most.

***

What have YOU been dreading the most lately? ;)

 It feels nice just to write "Week 18".  :) 

What doesn't feel as nice is having to link the results from last week: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1053972.html

But then, that's the nature of the beast. 

The new topic is up for those moving forward: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1054366.html

If anyone wants to know their overall results, email me.  I'll say here though that of the 8 who survived, 1 was "very safe",  5 were "safe" and 2 were "in danger".  

Which is closer than the Mueller report got to anyone being in danger. 

***

8 people remain. 4 are going to be walking out splitting their share of the prize purse.  Which is a good time to remind you that we still have about $100 to go in the potential matching money!  IF we get to $500, and the the total is matched, that's a lot more money we're talking about than if it's not....  it's going to be interesting to see how this all plays out.  I honestly have no idea which 4 are going to make it at this point.... even with those stats I mentioned earlier, which should be an indication of who is most likely to win out - it's any given week at this point.... any of these people could rise and any of them could fall (in fact, 7 of them are GOING TO fall in the coming weeks!) 

There were some eliminations: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1042661.html

and a new topic: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1042725.html

and still Idol keeps on pursuing this Literary Prize Fight, never stopping, like a Chris Pratt excuse for why people who like him must be OK.

***

Speaking of the Prize Fight - there are a couple "housekeeping" items to cover and today seems like a good day to cover them.

(1) We're running long. Which isn't news, or a surprise. But every season/mini season I set a goal and we tend to always go a few weeks passed that mark. Mostly because early on I am more merciful than I "should be", because I want people to have as much of the experience as they can. Then, as it starts getting later, I don't want to cut as many people there either. Because I'm enjoying the interactions and reading their entries... This mini season is still mostly on schedule - but the schedule was set to end just before my big (personally) exciting news. But then I had to move that up a couple weeks... All of that means we are probably going to be 2 weeks behind. So instead of ending in early March, it will probably be late March.
Just wanted you to know.

(2) Another thing you should know is that we are $71.41 away from reaching the full Match offer. For those who may have missed it, or forgotten - there is a "Prize Purse" that is being collected. Half of which is being split between the FINAL FOUR. There is also an offer from an anonymous benefactor to MATCH up to $500!!! Basically, what that means is that if we raise $71.41 more between now and the finale, that the last 4 contestants left standing in this thing will be walking away with $125 each!! If you want to contribute toward that pot - just send it via paypal.me/GDreslinski and make sure to mark it Literary Prize Fight. (So I don't think "How hey, people are sending me money just because!" :D - seriously, I wouldn't think that. But hey, maybe if I say it, someone will! :D)

Week 13 took it's toll on us all last night: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1037657.html

and will continue to take it with another Sudden Death Write-Off about to start!

What could make things interesting is that 3 of the 4 have byes left - and a couple of them have more than 1. So, from a strategic standpoint, they *could* all use them and avoid the Write-Off altogether. (since I won't eliminate someone by default.)

OR, if they are confident of survival, they force the Write Off and then use the bye in Week 14 https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1037999.html, coasting into the Top 20.

OR, and there's one person in the competition who can do this, and they are in the Write Off, not use a bye at all and have that personal victory of being able to say that they never used a Bye.

It's going to be interesting to see what happens!

***

Speaking of byes, since I have the page pulled up:

Unused bye count:
1 person has a Patreon bye AND a Golden Ticket.
1 has a regular bye
1 an unused Golden Ticket
1 an unused Thanksgiving bye
1 unused bye and an unused Thanksgiving bye
That person mentioned above who has 2 regular byes *and* a Thanksgiving bye Correction - they only had one bye left.
and finally 1 unused Golden Ticket

There are currently 22 contestants and 11 byes out there able to be used. If used that way, half the field could be protected! People have been saving up their weapons, and this is the last week to use them!

***

I'm not saying this to scare the people who don't have the advantages left. Or to motivate those who do to use them in specific ways. I'm just saying that *they could* do these things. Because the strategy, or lack thereof, of how people use things like byes always interests me.

(and of course I'm also trying to warn people in advance, there *could* be a lot of byes used. So if you are out of them - and can't ask someone for one, you had better *bring it hard* this week. Because the field could be really small.)

I'm taking the How Hard Has Aging Hit You Challenge!

***

Our first post in the LJ Idol community back on July 27th, 2006:

"You've been waiting for it, you've been craving it, now here it is!!!

THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - WE ARE COMING BACK FOR SEASON 2, AND THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO BE A PART OF THE FASTEST GROWING INTERNET SENSATION - LJ IDOL with your host, clauderainsrm!!!!

LJ Idol is coming back, better and bigger than ever.

This season will not begin until there are at least 20 contestents - that's twice the amount of the original season!

For those who don't know what LJ Idol is - it is a journal entry contest. No singing, no talent or swim suit portions... just good old fashioned writing entries in your journal.

Sometimes a topic will be chosen for you, sometimes it will be completely your own choice.

This post is the sign-up sheet. And yes, if you participated last time, but did not win, you are more than welcomed to try again this season!

Post here and let me know that you wish to join last season's winner tinhuviel as THE LJ IDOL!!!

Note: If you have already signed up in Gary's LJ on the original sign up sheet, there is no need to sign up on this one, as well (unless you just really want to lol). "


Let's see - first of all, my assistant Hilary wrote it. I was still figuring out how to navigate a community. (The season before was played at my personal journal.)

She uses lol more than I would. Although I was found of the *g* (for grin) due to people not often getting that I was joking and I didn't really like emoticons.

It was described as a "journal entry" competition. Which, to be fair, I didn't write that. But I approved it. The competition has certainly stretched its reach since then.

The topic being chosen for you - still the same. Your choice - that's now called "Open Topic".

We still have sign up sheets.

20 contestants being twice what it was in the original season. It was true then. The numbers are higher now. Even in this remote outpost we are only now hitting our Top 20. (or at least the first round of it)

***

How have YOU changed since your first journal entry?

Last night featured some goodbyes: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1020916.html

and a Hello to a new topic: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1020951.html

It also had Golden Ticket byes becoming available: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1020455.html

and the usual offer to discuss how people did in the "email poll". (see the goodbye post)

***

People seem to enjoy data, so I have a little bit for you. Maybe more later.

- "Email me your votes" should, in theory, have the same amount of votes as "click here". After all, ANYONE can vote. It's not like it's a restricted, contestant only, poll. But actually it's usually less. In this case, just over half as many people responded to the email request as do the "click here". It's also not the same people. There were definitely some familiar names. But across the board, in every category (including active contestants), the numbers were down. I'd say that's been true of a good 75% of the times that I've ran this type of poll. People are willing to sign up for a website and click a box - but aren't as willing to send an email. It's less work (for those not already on that site) but some folks just aren't willing to do it.


- There were 4 contestants who broke out of their "usual standing" in the polls, in a positive way, with vote totals spiking up a significant amount.

- There were 2 contestants who I thought were "out" about halfway through. One of them ended up having a mid-poll rally where nearly every single ballot that came in the second half had their name on it. The other had their name show up on the *last 2 ballots* received, and was saved by a single vote.

Both of those examples, to me, say - keep putting yourself out there, and never give up hope. Because your fate can change, if you work hard enough to help it along.

There were definitely a handful of stand-outs, people who did really well. But some of them are in that "improved in a significant way" category with the voters, and some usually do well. That said - I think Second Chance could very well play a huge part in what our Top 10 is going to look like. I predict a few major shakeups before the end of this. (Not even knowing who is coming - just knowing how the Top 15 to about Top 6 or so usually goes.) There are always a few unexpected stumbles/bye-outs and just weeks that go absolutely wrong... it's a short mini season, but a long road ahead of us game wise.

 The new topic is up: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1015643.html

No one has done this yet, but just as a heads up, I will be using tear gas against the next person who posts anything other than a link or a bye in there. Tear gas is now the standard, appropriate-force, for any situation and any problem.  So you should make sure to have plenty of tear gas on hand the next time someone steals your parking spot. 

***

Other than that, I have two pieces of good news: (1) I'm sick. I had a doctor's appointment this morning (even though the office said I didn't have a follow up appointment - they called me on Friday to tell me that I *did*) and after looking at my vitals, my doctor "suggested' that I go home and rest instead of going to work.  So I can stay home - which is good for me and I'm sick - which I figured would make everyone else happy! 

I did get a flu shot today though, so hopefully this won't be happening again... or at least not as frequently as previous years. 

(2) I said that there might be a surprise for those who took part in the optional Thanksgiving topic.  And there is - I'm tear gassing all of you!!! Surprise!! Oh wait, no, that comes later... for now, everyone who took part: (there were 16 of you)  https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1014892.html gets an EXTRA BYE, that you can either use yourself OR give to someone else! These "Thanks" byes are good until THE TOP 25! 

(For those about to ask: regular byes are good until the top 30. Patrons byes are good until the Top 20, but can only be given away.) 

Last night featured a goodbye AND another Write Off! https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1011438.html and a new topic: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1011492.html

***

I saw a comment today that reminded me of something I was going to do a couple weeks ago, before some things got screwy in my personal life. I wasn't entirely sure on how to implement it. (At one point I thought maybe as a bonus for patrons, maybe it will in the future)

I can't say how long I'll be able to do it, but I want to try. :)

It HAS to be during a non-voting period - but if you want me to weigh in/comment on a specific entry, via email, I will. I'm not saying it will be all that helpful, but I can tell you what I think. :) I also know though that my voice carries extra weight, which is why I prefer it be in private and during a time when it can't impact the votes in either direction. Also - it can't be the entry you are currently working on! (Had to go back and add that, so I'm not helping one competitor over another in an "active" entry)


I can't promise that I will get to everyone. But during the remainder of the competition - if there is something you want feedback on, send me a link to clauderainsrm@gmail.com and ask.

I may have just sealed the fate on my free time. ;)

 Sorry about there not being a Green Room today.   I was going to post one this morning, but ran out of time... and then I went to our company "Employee Appreciation Banquet" (note to anyone who ever organizes one of these, you know what makes employees feel *really* appreciation - being told that they need to stay to help take down the tables and chairs and clean up the trash. It's always makes folks feel special.) 

But I digress... that took far longer than it should have and by the time I got home it was late afternoon and I figured that I would just post a Green Room post-Results. 

And they were definitely noteworthy ones: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1003663.html

Please make sure to head over there to say goodbye. 

The new topic is also up: therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1003960.html

Which I'm sure is going to be a "topic of discussion". 

I'll mention again that the deadline is at noon.  That's because I have the day off. So rather than trying to squeeze it in during my evening hours I'm going to relax and sleep in and put the poll out in the afternoon. I *can't* do it later that night or the following day. I am mentioning that just in case someone thinks "Oh, Gary will be nice again and extend the deadline." Don't count on that. Never counting on me being kind and understanding is a good way to go through life. ;)   You should always be thinking "Gary is thinking of ways to kill me" and life will be much better. :D

***

Other than sitting around worrying about how I plan on killing you - what ELSE do you have going on this weekend?