I found the win speech from Iowa and just loved it. I found every word perfectly placed and the tempo near mesmerizing. As a sidenote...when I was in college I worked in the city library as part of my financial aid. Part of the job involved moving shelves and rescuing every single issue Atlantic Monthly that had ever been published through 1992. They were all bound in beautiful leather books. While I was moving them from the back room to the shelves I had cleared I started to read them and came across 'Lincoln's Speech at Gettysburg" (Nov1863). To read it the way anyone of the time would have, without the hindsight that we now have, was incredibly chilling. The words were precise and shook the South more than the war had. (sorry for the longness). I don't think eloquence is lost, but I think has become self-serving like many things.
Any chance I could get you to voluntarily "not win" this week's round? I am a big fan of sharing the wealth, and as it has seemed that only three participants have been winning lately, I thought it might be nice if one of the other players had a chance, especially as one of them has to leave the competition after this round because life takes one of those strange turns.
Anyway, completely voluntary, and no reason for you to do so other than being nice. I have already left a note in another journal making the same request.
Surely you must recognize the position this puts me in.
If I don't acquiesce to your wishes (which look lovely on the surface, even if I don't understand socialism in a contest, but which must also necessarily be suspect in light of the ongoing issue about my post this week which I'm more than aware is being discussed in terms I find displeasing in places far beyond my journal), I look like a bitch. If I make a post asking people to un-vote for me, I run a risk of putting myself in more danger than I would prefer.
Thankfully, mme_furiosa is currently ahead of me (which she should be in this sitaution) meaning I don't actually have to do anything at all. That said, I would be equally happy to see shay_writes for his brave declaration towards sobriety.
I am discomforted, however, about this thing where you decide who you think should win each round based on the idea that some people have had too much success.
It's your perogative to use your pull in this contest this way, and perhaps I am just too Slytherin by nature such that I see what may very well be sincere and well-intentioned as the first major salvo of psychological warfare in this contest.
I am discomforted, however, about this thing where you decide who you think should win each round based on the idea that some people have had too much success.
I am sorry you feel that way.
It's your perogative to use your pull in this contest this way, and perhaps I am just too Slytherin by nature such that I see what may very well be sincere and well-intentioned as the first major salvo of psychological warfare in this contest.
You would not be the first person to question my sincerity. I will happily withdraw completely if that helps. I neither need to win, nor do I intend to. My goals are to promote friendships, encourage those who need encouragement, and above all, be honest with myself when writing.
I wasn't asking you to ask your fans to un-vote for you. You could simply promote someone else, and precisely for the reason stated.
I thought there was no harm in asking. No ulterior motives, even with the "controversy" in your journal.
Ah, clearly, I munged a tag this morning (as I remember typing the userid) and it's now impossible to edit, but good catch, thanks.
Offering to withdraw is passive-aggressive and unnecessary.
My life is a competitive one. It's the nature of my work as a writer, particularly as an actor and obviously as a fencer. Many of my best friends are those I have competed most actively against (now or in the past). All of us would take the idea of backing off in a competition as an insult, because competing isn't just about getting the prize, but honing your skill and understanding how your product (your self, your words, your performance, your strategy, etc.) is met and regarded; it wouldn't do any of us any favors.
I'm all for friendship through competition, and have started to form several through LJ Idol, but clearly I take a different route to it than you.
I think you know that I am not a fan of dumbing-it-down. That's why my four-year-old's vocabulary regularly employs four syllable words.
This article coupled with the complaints about your last LJ Idol entry - I don't know whether to weep for the future or laugh with somewhat malicious glee. But then words are my business and I believe most readers want to be challenged, even in their entertainment. Limiting my words to simple ones would be a disservice to myself, the work, and the reader.
That said, I abhor ignorance like nature does a vacuum. Dictionary.com, people. Learning new words is fun and sexy! Really!
Brought to you by the phrase "Some nock-turtles are oviparous, mommy!"
I'm sure spydie is a nice well-intentioned person. And there's a lot of fine and thought-provoking work being posted on lj idol.
This having been said, everyone doing lj idol knew going in the nature of the contest, that *gasp* competition was involved, and what the rules were. It's a kind of social contract, and a relatively benign one, nothing of the "We don't ever talk about Uncle Larry" variety. From where I sit, looks like all participants were there of their own free choice, as well, and agreed to the arrangement.
That's why, even though I'm all for niceness, it makes me uncomfortable when one person has decided that, because she doesn't like the way the competition is playing out, that it now has to be rigged to make her feel better.
Speaking for myself, I'm a grownup. I'd rather have, say, a fourth place finish that I came by honestly than a first or second that somebody pulled strings for me to get.
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no subject
Date: 2008-01-13 10:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-14 01:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-14 01:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-14 02:09 pm (UTC)Any chance I could get you to voluntarily "not win" this week's round? I am a big fan of sharing the wealth, and as it has seemed that only three participants have been winning lately, I thought it might be nice if one of the other players had a chance, especially as one of them has to leave the competition after this round because life takes one of those strange turns.
Anyway, completely voluntary, and no reason for you to do so other than being nice. I have already left a note in another journal making the same request.
With regards,
Spydie
no subject
Date: 2008-01-14 03:51 pm (UTC)If I don't acquiesce to your wishes (which look lovely on the surface, even if I don't understand socialism in a contest, but which must also necessarily be suspect in light of the ongoing issue about my post this week which I'm more than aware is being discussed in terms I find displeasing in places far beyond my journal), I look like a bitch. If I make a post asking people to un-vote for me, I run a risk of putting myself in more danger than I would prefer.
Thankfully,
I am discomforted, however, about this thing where you decide who you think should win each round based on the idea that some people have had too much success.
It's your perogative to use your pull in this contest this way, and perhaps I am just too Slytherin by nature such that I see what may very well be sincere and well-intentioned as the first major salvo of psychological warfare in this contest.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-14 04:05 pm (UTC)I am sorry you feel that way.
It's your perogative to use your pull in this contest this way, and perhaps I am just too Slytherin by nature such that I see what may very well be sincere and well-intentioned as the first major salvo of psychological warfare in this contest.
You would not be the first person to question my sincerity. I will happily withdraw completely if that helps. I neither need to win, nor do I intend to. My goals are to promote friendships, encourage those who need encouragement, and above all, be honest with myself when writing.
I wasn't asking you to ask your fans to un-vote for you. You could simply promote someone else, and precisely for the reason stated.
I thought there was no harm in asking. No ulterior motives, even with the "controversy" in your journal.
Be well.
ETA:
no subject
Date: 2008-01-14 06:52 pm (UTC)Offering to withdraw is passive-aggressive and unnecessary.
My life is a competitive one. It's the nature of my work as a writer, particularly as an actor and obviously as a fencer. Many of my best friends are those I have competed most actively against (now or in the past). All of us would take the idea of backing off in a competition as an insult, because competing isn't just about getting the prize, but honing your skill and understanding how your product (your self, your words, your performance, your strategy, etc.) is met and regarded; it wouldn't do any of us any favors.
I'm all for friendship through competition, and have started to form several through LJ Idol, but clearly I take a different route to it than you.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-14 04:12 pm (UTC)This article coupled with the complaints about your last LJ Idol entry - I don't know whether to weep for the future or laugh with somewhat malicious glee. But then words are my business and I believe most readers want to be challenged, even in their entertainment. Limiting my words to simple ones would be a disservice to myself, the work, and the reader.
That said, I abhor ignorance like nature does a vacuum. Dictionary.com, people. Learning new words is fun and sexy! Really!
Brought to you by the phrase "Some nock-turtles are oviparous, mommy!"
no subject
Date: 2008-01-14 05:00 pm (UTC)This having been said, everyone doing lj idol knew going in the nature of the contest, that *gasp* competition was involved, and what the rules were. It's a kind of social contract, and a relatively benign one, nothing of the "We don't ever talk about Uncle Larry" variety.
From where I sit, looks like all participants were there of their own free choice, as well, and agreed to the arrangement.
That's why, even though I'm all for niceness, it makes me uncomfortable when one person has decided that, because she doesn't like the way the competition is playing out, that it now has to be rigged to make her feel better.
Speaking for myself, I'm a grownup. I'd rather have, say, a fourth place finish that I came by honestly than a first or second that somebody pulled strings for me to get.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-14 09:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-15 01:41 am (UTC)Okeydokey!
:)