LJ Idol Presents:

Something that has come up recently is how difficult it is to predict who will be going week-to-week at this point.

There is a stat sheet going around with some overall information - but even that is unable to factor in the curves that immunity, and sometimes Real Life, is going to throw into this game!

Which is part of the excitement - the moment you think "I know what is going to happen" is usually the moment before the floor drops out from under your assumptions.

This week we had two immunities to give out. One of them was from the Quick Fire, and went to yachiru.

The other was from the Jury, the collection of recently eliminated contestants casting votes for who they wanted to see safe from this week's vote. It's always a rough decision, and this week was no exception. Of the 17 remaining contestants - 12 of them were actually in the running to receive it! In the end though, the Jury decided to give immunity to crisp_sobriety!

Congratulations!

Which means that neither of them would be eligible to be eliminated this week. As the fate, or the will-of-the-voters would have it - that really wasn't needed anyway.

The contestants leaving us this week are:

swirlsofblue
and with a last minute (by which I mean I only found out less than a couple hours ago) sacrifice alexpgp

Thank you to both of you for such incredible entries this season - and I hope that we will continue to see you in the Home Game! If nothing else though, you made the Jury, so you will be able to help decide how this season is going to play out!

We have a vote happening right now: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/825343.html

If you didn't know that... I'm really not sure what to do about you! Extra beatings maybe?

Of course, with this group, that might be an incentive! ;)

There aren't very many entries at this point - so any chance you have to talk about them is the potential for an extra pair of eyes to check it out.

What have been some of YOUR favorites of the week?

***

We're at the "Top 17" right now - so, if YOU were the only vote, who would be in the Top 10?

Yeah, I'm putting that pressure on you. ;)

Here we are in Week 33, and there is plenty of shame to go around!

Fortunately, here at alistnamedluna, we have a backlog of shame that is able to be dispensed!

Want to be able to show your face in respectable places again without people whispering "That's the person who waited until last minute to post their LJ Idol entry! SHUN THEM!"

Then post your entry before the deadline (tonight at 8pm EST http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/823231.html )

alexpgp
crisp_sobriety
fodschwazzle
gratefuladdict
halfshellvenus
hosticle_fifer
sobota
suesniffsglue
talonkarrde88
watching_ships

We have the new topic: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/823231.html (due tomorrow night)
We have a Work Room to help people work things out with that topic: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/823662.html
We have people waiting for results from the Quick Fire: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/824141.html (that link contains where to read the actual entries. Some good stuff in there to check out)
and of course you have me, right here, thinking about things.

Because something was said yesterday that stuck with me over the course of the night, and of course, being me, it morphed into previous discussions. So it went from "You are concerned about the branding to Idol" to the "Things aren't the same as they used to be with Idol" and into a whole different thing altogether.

One of the responses I made yesterday was about how I throw things against the wall and see how they do. I was going to make more examples in that thread, but I thought "this would be better as it's own post" - and of course, since it was afternoon at the time, things went in different directions in my head by the time I was ready to write this morning! :)

This certainly isn't all of the changes. Probably not even the most important ones. But definitely the ones that I thought were kind of funny, and I think shows my thought process, which isn't something that I always share.

Keeping in mind that (1) it's been a learning process and (2) the first season was 9 people - 8 of them were friends of mine. Season 2 was 24 people. Season 3 was when it exploded to 75! (and so on)

Seasons 1-3 - we didn't have "byes". If you missed a deadline, you were put in a poll and *those* were the folks who were subject to elimination. If you wrote something that week, I didn't want to punish you by getting rid of you. I also didn't want folks to be punished if they had a bad week and couldn't get something in. People are busy, and sometimes have other priorities. I wanted to be fair to everyone. :)

This, of course, upset quite a few people who didn't want "people to be able to coast" and "wanted regular eliminations!" So I came up with something to allow people to take time off when they needed it, but also continue eliminations.

I actually just deleted about 4 paragraphs on other stuff because I realized I was completely rambling!

Sure I said there was going to be more, but maybe I'll do that in the comments instead. I need to actually get some work done. :D

The point being that the game changes. Sometimes it "evolves". Sometimes there are sidetracks that don't do as well. But the game in Season 1-2 wouldn't be something that could exist in Season 9, and Season 9 Idol wouldn't be what Season 2 needed - and that's a good thing.

Greetings from mid-Jan.

Yes, while you weren't looking, we are already almost halfway through this month!

My Mom's birthday is on the 20th and she reminded me that was next week - I thought I still had a couple weeks... but nope! This year is already started out being tricky with time!

Time is getting tricky on you as well - there is a QUICK FIRE due tonight: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/823503.html

Sure, it's optional - but (1) immunity has been coming in really handy lately, especially as the numbers dwindle and (2) it's a chance to write something else. That's why you are here, right? You want to write things!

It's due right after Agent Carter ends, so make sure you get done before that show starts - since I know everyone in the world is watching that! ;)

***
After last night's eliminations: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/822840.html

We stand at THE TOP 17.

Which means there is a new topic: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/823231.html
A new Work Room: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/823662.html

and a heightened sense of "I can win this".

YOU CAN. One of you WILL.

This year-long odyssey is coming to an end, and we are going to have a winner.

But the question remains - how do you want to do that?

My email lately has had two main complaints in it. They are the same two complaints -
(1) People getting in after the deadline. (the policy has always been "If you get the entry up before I hit "post", you are good.) and (2) People voting for only one person. (the policy has always been - I can't tell you who to vote for, I can encourage you, but I can't tell you)

The first I *can* control by freezing the topic thread. I don't want to do that. Because I want to *encourage people to write*. That's kind of the point to all of this.

Being overly strict may suit some people, but I'll be frank here - if I were as strict as some people would like, we wouldn't be celebrating our 9th season. The place would have been gone years ago. You have to know which fights are worth going to the mat for, and which are not. I trust the regular voters, who seem to follow what happens in that thread to be able to decide if they want to "put up with it" or not. Given If folks *don't like* someone sliding under that gate - the solution has always been *don't vote for them*.

The second issue has been one that I've taken to Livejournal directly, to see if there was a way to restrict a poll so that people *had* to vote for at least two contestants in each poll.

There is not. They told me that there is no way for it to be done on either end. (for me to pull it together or for them to set something up)

Now if someone knows a clever bit of coding they want to email me that would solve this - feel free to email me.

Until then - the only solutions are: ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOTE. Encourage them to read all of the entries and vote for *all* of their favorites. Not just you. Not just their friend. If they read entries, they are going to want to support a lot of them.

Granted, as we get closer to the end, you are probably going to see more and more people make up their minds about who they want to win, and cast votes accordingly. After all - only one person is going to walk away winning this thing! But then again, do you *want* someone to win who isn't encouraging people to read everyone else's work? ;)

The other solution is for me to say "EVERYONE MUST VOTE FOR AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE" and throw out votes from everyone who doesn't do that. Now, keep in mind that I can't actually *delete the votes*. I would have to go through and say "Yeah, contestant X - you thought you survived this week because you had 5 more votes... but 6 of those were people supporting only you, so you are gone".... votes that would be sight-unseen and basically punishing people for *having support*.
I'm not doing that. Doing that would be completely counter-productive and the "Gary is cheating" cries when someone is voted out that way would be annoying *at best*. We *want* people to come out and vote. Even if they start out voting for one person - curiosity tends to get the better of people and you start seeing them checking out other entries as well.

It's one more reason for you to comment on each other's entries. Maybe that person who really wants Contestant Y to win will see your comment and think "They seem cool. I should check out their entry too" and pretty soon they start voting for two people every week...

I know, it's late in the game for that. But I've *seen it happen* this season. I see it happen every season. This isn't theory. It's fact.

Does it happen in every case? Of course not. But I know we've gained some really loyal followers over the years who came in because their buddy was playing and they got curious about what this was all about.

The best way to get people interested in Idol is having Idol be doing interesting things and everyone on the same page that we want *more* people coming in to read - and figuring out ways to do that.

That's where you come in. Because you are the ones wanting more people to read your work. How can you do that? How can you get the exposure you want, while at the same time spreading the word about other people's work that they also might enjoy? (and knowing that they are doing the same thing, so that it will end up benefiting you as well! :D)
***
It's late in the game to be having these discussions, but this is also the time when people's heads start to fracture a bit - coming up with reasons why it's OK that they didn't win due to some "outside circumstance" or "unfair thing", so let's go ahead and address them now! :)

You have both the required topic, and an optional Quick Fire on your plates. One has a deadline several days away http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/823231.html, and the other is 24-hours from now. http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/823503.html

Which should be fun to see how your brains come to a conclusion on how to handle both of these tasks, and re-adjust afterward.

I did say that I would have the definition to your topic for the week in the Work Room - and so here it is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musth

It's specifically about elephants, but I don't think that I have to tell you to twist things around and make them your own. Or rather, at this point in the competition I should have to... but in case you don't - yeah, do that! :)

Congratulations to you, our Top 17! Now it's time to get back to work!

The results are going to be dramatic enough to deserve a cut-line of their own cut-line. But I’ll skip it. I think people can keep from scrolling down while I explain.

All of the results are sad. Of course they are. By now, everyone left is an old friend of the competition and has made their mark on everyone else left standing - not to even get into their fans.

The first poll is pretty straight forward, but creates complications that add to the situation in the second. As do the immunities - yes, I said “immunities”. The Jury handed out one for each poll - which would good for saving someone for Week 33.

The two contestants who the Jury have decided to grant the Immunity to this round are: beldarzfixon and yachiru

Congratulations to both of you!

Pay attention to those names though - They come into play in the second poll.

So, let us start with the first set of result - one of the two newest of the newbies, Ole Second Chance Sim herself and someone who has helped make Idol as Family Tradition.

Goodbye to

medleymisty
and
myrna_bird

Now for the second poll - this is where it gets a little less straight-forward:

You can’t eliminate the same person twice - so with two eliminations pending, you have to pass over the lowest vote getter... and go to the second lowest..

Which means we are losing the One and Only kickthehobbit

There is one more contestant going, so we go up one more rung - and end up with someone else who was just eliminated in the first poll. So we can’t go there... the next TWO lowest both have immunity, so they, by definition, can not be eliminated...

Which leads us to imafarmgirl, who is one vote ahead of lrig_rorrim and thus subject to elimination... i even typed out a fairly nice goodbye to that hippie... except then I checked, just to make sure, and there was one vote in the mix that stood out. From a new account, created to vote with no other identifying marks to it to prove identity That vote would impact the results. So, even if it turns out to be complete legit, just someone who didn't think to notify me - it's suspect enough that I don't want to end either of these awesome writer's run over it just yet!

So, instead of allowing that to happen - I’m throwing them into their own cage match duel/run-off next week. Because if someone’s Idol run is going to end, it shouldn’t be like that. You folks have worked far too long and hard for one person who got a little excited to sway things.

For those of you who ARE leaving: Thank you so much to all of you. I hope you have had as much fun in Idol as I have had harassing you this season!

Welcome to the Jury, and your chance to help figure out where this season is going to land!

There were a couple things that I saw making their rounds on facebook yesterday that caught my interest.

Well, more than a couple. But I’m not going to bore you with the details of how everyone is doing in their latest games, and what they need you to send them. You can find that on your own!

No, these things were of a different nature entirely:

http://www.retronaut.co/2011/06/vintage-ad-sexism/

Which brings up all sorts of WTF questions about the nature of humanity and their ability to relate to each other, while still missing the point that a “Woman’s Place” is refreshing an LJ IDOL poll! http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/585142.html

Which, coincidentally enough, is also a “Man’s place”.

Seeing those made me long for “the Good Ole Days”, a simpler time...

You know, before there were major advertising campaigns. Of course, all that those did was to tap into what was already out there, and reinforce it.

So maybe we will have to come into the Here and Now, which is a lot more enlighted.

We’ve seen the error of the past, confronted it, and have moved on as a people... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/23/tea-party-tennessee-textbooks-slavery_n_1224157.html

Or, maybe we can just forget about the past altogether. It was rather messy and confusing, and I think everyone can agree that it’s just not worth getting into other than “Good Guys - Yay. Everyone Else = Bad Guys, or at very least, Not As Good Guys, or even Guys = somewhere between “Boo” and “Whateva”.

Because context is important. That was why this Great Nation, and other Great Nations - all of which are not as good as the One True Great Nation (aka ‘Merica, aka my apartment) - were founded on the principles of equality and fairness and most importantly the freedom to spend all of your “free time” checking your scores in an Idol poll!

That is what you should remember about the past - and the soon-to-be sanitized past - that these people lived, and they died, so that you could enjoy LJ Idol! And that is what is truly important!

I was reading an article about a debate on Affirmative Action at the University of Wisconsin, and in it, they brought up this case:

http://racismdaily.com/2011/06/14/university-of-wisconsin-responds-to-hanging-spider-man-doll-some-say-doll-recalled-lynching-images/

Having read it, I find myself deeply, deeply disturbed about the implications:

Venom ISN’T “the black Spider-man”! (that would be Donald Glover)

He’s an alien symbiote!

Maybe it wasn’t racist, but rather a specific hatred of Venom! I know that I, personally, have never been fond of the character! I’m pretty sure that hanging wouldn’t do anything to him though, he’d just slip out of it!

So, these “frat boys” weren’t too intelligent about going about trying to get rid of him. I guess there weren’t any bell towers around!

It’s not until these sorts of things are addressed that we will truly have an equal society where we… what’s that? Oh, that wasn’t the point? Nevermind… carry on…

And while you are carrying on… make sure to get your entries in: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/583847.html
If you need help doing that: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/583937.html

Once you get done with that: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/584339.html

It’s Week 33. So, of course, you know how many topics there are going to be this week!

That’s kind of a no-brainer isn’t it?

That’s right: Two of them! ;)

What are they?

ensemble
The call that never came

The deadline to link both of your entries to this thread is Monday, July 9th at 8pm EDT

Have fun!