therealljidol | Green Room - Week 22

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Green Room - Week 22 - Day 4

Good morning Idolers!

I'm not sure if you saw this yesterday, but there is an anthology out there featuring several former contestants that is having an Indiegogo campaign! So check it out, and if you can help - do so! If you can't, then spread the word so that others can find out about it! https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/marked-by-scorn#/ (One of the levels is $4 and you get the e-book version! That's a really great deal! With the names that I know on that list, it's bound to be a good book.

Speaking of "good books", this is a good time to mention our Amazon store! http://astore.amazon.com/li0cd-20

There's a lot of great books there as well! (and of course, just by visiting it before doing the rest of your Amazon shopping helps!)

Which reminds me that I need to start coming up with the new incentives for our Patrons! https://www.patreon.com/user?ty=h&u=70027

What are some things I could offer that might tip you over into joining the team? ;)

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Happy Friday the 13th!

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http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/929542.html is the place where you go to link your entries! I hope to see a lot more action there, and soon! :)

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What an intriguing fact! (I'll have to check back in to yesterday's GR.)

I was a person who was given a gun in S9. I was simultaneously horrified and mystified by it. And it was a pretty serious potential twist. I didn't use it. I'm also a player who offered a bye to two folks who needed one. Nothing horrifying or mystifying in that gesture. So....I don't know! Both pulling the trigger and gifting a bye seem to be twisty. But the gun seemed...less fair of a twist? To an innocent player?

I guess it comes down to that. Fairness. Or unfairness.

I totally agree! (You just said it before me, and much better.)

I'm for a clean competition, were folks win or lose on the merits of their writing, not wicked twists and turns. There is enough unpredictability in rl without having it in the things we do for fun...just saying. :-)

Without the twists then you get the yelling of "It's a popularity contest!!!" and/or "Whoever has the biggest friends list is going to win!"

People are going to find something to yell regardless. The twists keep things interesting. (and there is a balance between "fair" and "entertaining" - between the writing and the show/writers and the readers... and if something has the potential to get *anyone* then it's equally "fair". :D)

(Note: Topsy Turvy *is* scary. But it's only been used once, in the history of Idol, in a case where people thought that someone's "personal popularity" was getting him further than his "writing ability" It's more of the boogeyman than something that will actually reach out from under your bed to get you.

I believe its use was at least ATTEMPTED one other time!

Now that you mention it, I think you're right.

My favorite thing to do is to put Topsy Turvy out there, and then introduce a Nullifer power (that could cancel it out) - and let people play chicken.

Now *that* sounds interesting!

Or you could pull the classic Probst bait and switch:

"You can use this boon for yourself, or you can give it up and instead earn a benefit for EVERYONE in the tribe (and possibly exclude yourself from it) instead!"

Having secret immunities a la Survivor could be interesting. Watching the polls and not knowing if the person on the bottom was really the one eliminated would be nerve wracking!

"Having secret immunities a la Survivor could be interesting. Watching the polls and not knowing if the person on the bottom was really the one eliminated would be nerve wracking!"

I considered it. But ultimately decided against it because it ran the risk of inciting too much conspiracy "Gary is trying to help so-and-so" rants.

People get irate enough when I pull out an executive bye because I think whatever is happening in that person's life is enough that they should have another shot. Imagine if went "Oh yeah - so and so had a SECRET IMMUNITY and someone else is getting eliminated instead of them!" ;)

Interesting! I guess I could see that happening. I just feel like you tend to be very careful in this game to ensure that all of your actions are above reproach.

I don't always like every decision you make about the game, but I believe 100% that you are fair and that you err on the side of mercy whenever you have to make a tough judgment call.

Thank you. That means a great deal to hear that.

"I don't always like every decision you make about the game" It's OK to be wrong, it's good experience for when you have teenagers! ;)

"You can use this boon for yourself, or you can give it up and instead earn a benefit for EVERYONE in the tribe (and possibly exclude yourself from it) instead!"

It's been done. :)

Oooooh tell me more! What was the advantage? And did the contestant go the charitable route?

One time I know for sure, because the power had fallen to me, it was a bye (or maybe two) for yourself or a bye for everyone except you.

I took the bye(s) - greedy, I know. I felt a little guilty though. :)

I would've done the same!! :)

I think you're correct. I don't remember which season that was, though.

Season 8!

I'm glad somebody keeps track of these things! Like Kate and I were saying somewhere around here recently, the seasons just blur after awhile.

Gary I am still smarting from what I saw here earlier in the week. So, sadly, I can't help but see the things you're talking about filtered through that attack.

Also, apart from reading and voting last season, this mini-series is my only real Idol experience, and heretofore that experience has been wonderful, beyond wonderful, and that is what I am clinging to as hard as I can. (I suspect that my enthusiasm as a new player, and excitement at the wonderful things I read here had as much to do, if not more, for my much longer than expected stay in the competition.) So while I am so grateful for the wonderful experience until this week, in light of what occurred I am wary of anything that might encourage this behavior in the future.

I believe there is an honorable way to play an extremely competitive game, with all kinds of challenges, but Gary, I didn't play with bullies when I was a child, why would I want to play with them now? And why would I want to play in a situation that tolerates, even fosters that kind of behavior? We are all aghast when we see bullying in the schoolyard, and among kids online. And more than once I have heard people, adults ask how it can happen. Well this is how all atrocities occur. A bully attacks, and no one stands up to them, in fact people bend over backwards to "make peace" with them. This is how children learn how to bully, and that no one will stop them.

Obviously, I am still disgusted, but I have great faith in you personally, and in your Idol, and in the vast majority of Idol-ers. But right now I am trying really hard to cling to what's good here and excise (from my mind and heart) what is not good. The balance is so overwhelmingly good, and positive. The people are so abundantly good. Just give me a minute or two more to work it through. It's math, right? Math takes me awhile.

Thanks for the shade. I was feeling overheated.

Before this goes any further, (and maybe it won't, but I'm just catching up her) I feel the need to remind people of the difference between two competitors in a disagreement, where I try to be a neutral party and let everyone hash out whatever they need to hash out, because it's all part of their game - and two non-current competitors getting into a disagreement in Idol. (and of course non-current contestant vs current contestant where I take the side of the current contestant, within reason :D)

Hopefully no one will ruin my evening.

I like everyone here. I really do.

I'd love it if everyone liked each other, but that's not always possible. I just ask when you come to my party you keep the spotlight where it belongs: with the contestants and take anything else outside.

I'm not going to engage beyond what I said. If someone has a problem with me, they are perfectly welcome to PM me. I invite current parties to do that.

If anyone has anything else to say to me, I keep PMs open for that reason.

I hear you, Gary. I've said everything I have to say on the matter. And I do appreciate that the game, et al, is for the final eight, now.

Tally Ho!

I think there's a big difference between fostering an environment where bullies are tolerated or flourish, and fostering an environment where contestants can speak their minds - including to and about each other, even when their opinions are harshly worded, unfriendly, opinionated, unpopular, or any other strain of "someone out there doesn't like it."

I personally appreciate that Gary treats us not like kids on a playground, but like adults, who can work out our issues - and for what it's worth I didn't see a lot of "tolerating" going on. Kickthehobbit was publicly chastised, very few people took sides, and the whole thing honestly seemed to me like the sort of almost-inevitable explosion bound to happen with strong personalities in a pressure cooker over months. Most people stayed out of it, probably hoping not to fan the flames or make things worse one way or another.

You have to decide for yourself if the good outweighs the bad here for you, obviously. But consider how draconian Gary would have to be if he didn't treat us like adults. Consider how oppressive it might get if the only opinions tolerated were the ones that passed muster with one person. He does do moderation here - but he does it in moderation. I'm glad for that. I don't like to see comments go missing or be deleted. It deeply bothers me. The specter of censorship looms pretty large in these kinds of situations. When people are speaking, I'd rather be able to see their words. And yes, that goes even if they have something to say about me that I'd find unpleasant or cruel or sad or untrue. I'd prefer to see it, and choose if and how to respond.

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Green Room - Week 22 - Day 4

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