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MYKOLA BILOKONSKY
What's the point, really?
Articles Posted: 292; Links Seeded: 261
Member Since: 11/2005
Member Since: 11/2005
103 Comments
PrintSeptember Community Event: Last Viner Standing, 2.0!
News Type: Other — Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:53 PM EDT
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The Background
Those of you who have been around for a while may remember The Last Viner Standing - a competition I held in April of 2007.
The rules were simple: that month, anyone who wanted to participate was to publish a single original article per day to Newsvine. If you miss a day, you're out. The Last Viner Standing wins. There are no prizes beyond the visibility and motivation provided by the contest.
This time around, I want to make it a bit more interesting - but I'm not 100% sure how. I may choose weekly themes? I may open this up to community elimination? I may ask celebrity judges cruelly dismiss a participant for low quality? The options are limitless, and you and I have until September First to figure them out.
The Rules
Here are the initial rules:
- This is on the honor system, but there is to be no stockpiling of pieces. Everything you write must be written for this contest (no dusting off old articles) and everything must be written within 24 hours of publication.
- Your article has to be "good" - no 2 paragraph fluff-pieces, no "What do you think of this image?", etc. We're talking actual articles.
- You have to agree to adhere to any rules that come up in the course of the contest. In other words, if a week goes by and there are still a lot of people involved, I may introduce stipulations (write about a local news event, write a meta article, write a newsvine tutorial outlining your favorite feature, etc). I, for my part, will agree that these rules will apply to everyone equally and that they will not be designed to target individual participants.
- Every article must be tagged with "LVS2-##" where ## is the number of the article. (ie september 1 will be tagged LVS2-01, etc).
Call for Participants
Now then, who is interested?
Also, if you have any ideas for additional rules to make this more interesting, please post them below.
31 Votes- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
Published to:
- Mykola Bilokonsky's Column
- Groups: MetaVine, Newsvine Community, The Bilokonsky Dynasty
- Regions: none
- Public Discussion (103)
- MetaVine
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- The Bilokonsky Dynasty
What's this?
Who's leading the conversation?
This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user
has on the current conversation.
The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd
row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera).
Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group
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left, in their corresponding group.
Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the
number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative
one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their
relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.
15
9.7
3.5
{"commentId":2466074,"authorDomain":"darkside"}
I will be competing. Will you?
If you're not a competitive person, don't view it as a contest - view it as a motivational tool to help you jump-start your productivity. Everyone who did this last time really enjoyed it, and it was a great way for a few relatively new members to jump into the ring with the rest of us.
It'll be a great time - so sign up!
Also, as per the rules this isn't published to all of newsvine - so help me get the word out! If you like the idea, please clip this to your column!
{"commentId":2466074,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"darkside"}
- 2 votes
#1 - Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:55 PM EDT{"commentId":2472964,"authorDomain":"dwemmy"}
Make sure all articles include footnotes, a bibliography and an index. Minimum 1000 words. Then let's see who is standing. Not me, that's for sure!
I've got eight articles still in the pending mode.
But should articles like "I like daisies and here's why", "An ode to the peanut butter sandwich" or "Pot: a love story" count? Blech...
{"commentId":2472964,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"dwemmy"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2473096,"authorDomain":"dwemmy"}
Myk,
Where can we read/peruse the 4/2007 entries/winners to get an idea of the quality as well as subject readability? I couldn't find from your link above...
{"commentId":2473096,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"dwemmy"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2475503,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
demmy, they are here (myk's first link in the story)
{"commentId":2475503,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2466356,"authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}
Very interesting. I don't think I made it very far last time, but it was an interesting experiment.
I do like the idea of having some kind of panel of cruel judges (with one sappy, sentimental one who routinely gets voted down) on the lookout for quality, and booting contestants who post crap. Or something along those lines.
{"commentId":2466356,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}
- 3 votes
#2 - Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:18 PM EDT{"commentId":2466966,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}
It was fun for the five days I participated last time. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't even make it that far this go around, so I'm probably not in this time.
{"commentId":2466966,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"deatienza"}
- 1 vote
#3 - Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:08 PM EDT{"commentId":2467133,"authorDomain":"yasmin"}
I think themes would be helpful or more of a challenge if you will.
But I may not be able to do this because I won't have computer access for a weekend. Otherwise I'd love to. I'll have to check on flight times and whether we're permitted mulligans. Hehe.
{"commentId":2467133,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"yasmin"}
- 3 votes
#4 - Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:23 PM EDT{"commentId":2467207,"authorDomain":"Brad-Leclerc"}
I'll happily watch from the peanut gallery, but I doubt I'd get far in that.....why can't days have 30 hours or something? Never enough time!
{"commentId":2467207,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"Brad-Leclerc"}
- 3 votes
#5 - Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:29 PM EDT{"commentId":2467710,"authorDomain":"pwtenny"}
I'd love to go again but not with these rules. Bare minimum:
1. The contest doesn't end until there actually is one last person standing. Otherwise it's not a last person standing contest.
2. No poetry, no song lyrics, no fiction, no interviews. (Sorry Scott, but interviews are transcription, not writing.)
3. 400 words minimum.
4. No mulligans.
5. Daily deadline is fixed at xx:00 GMT for consistency; TBD.
6. Someone dedicated to creating and updating the tracking spreadsheet. The last one was constantly out of date.
Everyone who did this last time really enjoyed it, ...
It was fun right up until my laptop was destroyed because of the contest. :(
{"commentId":2467710,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pwtenny"}
- 5 votes
#6 - Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:20 PM EDT{"commentId":2467860,"authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}
I could get behind those rules, Paul. Granted, it's doubtful I'd remain standing after a few days, but I'd be willing to give it a shot.
{"commentId":2467860,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2467863,"authorDomain":"yasmin"}
Sorry, but I think fiction should be included. There are a bunch of damn good fiction writers on Newsvine. And as long as a minimum word count is put in place (which I agree, there should be one) then there's still a challenge.
{"commentId":2467863,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"yasmin"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":2468363,"authorDomain":"pmags"}
Original poetry is not writing? Thats harsh!
{"commentId":2468363,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pmags"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":2470606,"authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}
Look, friends, I'm a fiction writer and a fiction writing teacher, for god's sake. But for Newsvine purposes, and for the purposes of a contest such as the one proposed here, I do believe that fiction should be set by the wayside.
If only because judging fiction against non-fiction is next to impossible, most especially in light of the time constraints put in place by a contest of this nature.
{"commentId":2470606,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":2472392,"authorDomain":"pwtenny"}
Original poetry is not writing? Thats harsh!
It wouldn't meet the minimum word count anyway, and that is one thing that has to get in this time. There were people sticking in near the end posting 1-3 sentences while others were putting out 1500 words or more. My best was "No Iraq Plan" at 1972 words, while the worst was "Are webisodes killing reruns" at 461. I averaged 983 words over the month for a total of 27,546.
I think it's good that the requirements be set high enough that it will eliminate people, it is a contest after all.
{"commentId":2472392,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pwtenny"}
- 6 votes
{"commentId":2473169,"authorDomain":"pmags"}
Are you trying to tell me a poet can't meet a word count? Have you ever heard of epic? Not that I could ever come up with an epic. You're talking word count and any poet worth his balls or her ovaries can meet a word count.
{"commentId":2473169,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pmags"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2474172,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
You know I'm in. Remind how it ended last time - a tie between me and others?
. (Sorry Scott, but interviews are transcription, not writing.)
I'm ok with your rules.
I'd argue fiction should be included but I can go either way on that.
But please tell me satire is allowed so I and others can at least be creative in commenting on current events.
{"commentId":2474172,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2474292,"authorDomain":"barry-rutherford"}
Given in on the east coast of Aust Id have trouble with timing deadline...
{"commentId":2474292,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"barry-rutherford"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2475513,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
trouble with timing deadline
even if it was weekly?
{"commentId":2475513,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
{"commentId":2511275,"authorDomain":"barry-rutherford"}
no weekly is ok...
{"commentId":2511275,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"barry-rutherford"}
{"commentId":2468694,"authorDomain":"djehuty"}
Hmmm.... life or newsvine? *grin*
Sorry Myk.
{"commentId":2468694,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"djehuty"}
- 7 votes
#7 - Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:17 PM EDT{"commentId":2468796,"authorDomain":"JesusaBernardo"}
Good luck to all who will participate. I'm out (can't manage an article a day). I'll keep watch on this event though.
{"commentId":2468796,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"JesusaBernardo"}
- 2 votes
#8 - Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:31 PM EDT{"commentId":2470324,"authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}
Between my fiction writing and school, I'm not sure if I'd get that far--but, I'm more than willing to give it a shot. :D
{"commentId":2470324,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}
- 1 vote
#9 - Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:27 PM EDT{"commentId":2470544,"authorDomain":"ririaroo"}
This isn't necessarily going to engage new users (or old, judging from these first few responses) and we really want to be encouraging quality over quantity, anyway, so why not reduce the article requirement to one per week and rotate between the various news categories we have (world, local, tech, etc)? This way, everyone has time to produce a quality product and will instead be challenged with topics, time, boredom, etc.
If it lasts for a really long time, so what?
{"commentId":2470544,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"ririaroo"}
- 10 votes
#10 - Sat Aug 16, 2008 12:08 AM EDT{"commentId":2470614,"authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}
Great points, Ben.
{"commentId":2470614,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2472168,"authorDomain":"mock"}
I am so down with one per week. Quality.
{"commentId":2472168,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"mock"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2474194,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
I am so down with one per week. Quality.
I prefer it twice weekly or weakly to daily. And I think it will force a focus on quality over quantity.
Of course I already write at least one article per week so maybe I should offer to be a judge instead of a participant. I have the advantage of having to write one or two articles a day for 10 years so one a week is pretty easy.
{"commentId":2474194,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2474822,"authorDomain":"ririaroo"}
Scott, that's why you'd require topics.
It's possible for us to tailor challenges to each participant. If there was an interview week, I'd probably want you to do at least three per week, while I'd expect only one from others. I think this is preferential anyway because we would want to assign different categories to different people so that we don't have 20 people writing arts articles in the same week.
{"commentId":2474822,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"ririaroo"}
{"commentId":2475529,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
Ah,last time we didn't have topics. Maybe we can have backwards or opposites week (where we'd have to write the opposite of what we think on a topic chosen by a judge - sort of like one viner did last year)
and one week topics could be randomly chosen
That would make it more interesting and challenging. Myk, let me know if you want me to participate or help as an advisor or judge. I'm at your disposal on this one.
{"commentId":2475529,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
{"commentId":2478935,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
Oh plus I'm going to be offline and computerless (now THAT will be a tougher challenge than this) for one week as I go to Jamaica for "work" in mid-September.
{"commentId":2478935,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
{"commentId":2484098,"authorDomain":"amazingsdj"}
What if you made a list of types of articles and writers had to choose one of the types for their weekly story? It would work like a literary to-do list.
For example, if the categories were:
world news
US news
state/local news
opinion
fiction
book review
movie review
poetry
etc...
Each week participants could choose a type and then mark that type off. They would specify via tags or in the title which category that week's article represented. That would encourage everyone to get out of their comfort zone at least once throughout the competition and write something the might not necessarily do.
{"commentId":2484098,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"amazingsdj"}
{"commentId":2485536,"authorDomain":"ririaroo"}
I thought about that too and failed to mention, so it must be gold.
{"commentId":2485536,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"ririaroo"}
{"commentId":2486101,"authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
Sorry, I'd rather see a suggestion of something to write about that does not require that I read a book, go to a movie. I work 65 hours a week. I can't be going to movies or traipsing over to the library so I'll have something to write about.
Give me a theme, topic, and I'll write, but I can't be running all over town and taking up time I don't have in preparation for writing something for this contest. The writing itself should be enough.
{"commentId":2486101,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2486833,"authorDomain":"amazingsdj"}
Sorry, I'd rather see a suggestion of something to write about that does not require that I read a book, go to a movie. I work 65 hours a week. I can't be going to movies or traipsing over to the library so I'll have something to write about.
Those were just examples, and even so, I reckon you could review a movie you've already seen or a book you've already read. "my favorite movie, by jlp coos" or "the worst book ever, by jlp coos".
Anyway, it was just a suggestion to give some variety.
{"commentId":2486833,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"amazingsdj"}
{"commentId":2487373,"authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
Amazing SDJ: Thanks for clarification.
If I had more time, I'd love to participate in the things you suggested. I just don't have much time right now.
Thanks for being a sweetie. I over-reacted a bit--probably from being tired and I got a huge blister on the bottom of my foot last night. I worked 10.5 hours at the restaurant with no sit-down time the entire time. The lift in my right shoe kept sliding forward and hitting the wrong part of my foot, and caused a huge nasty blister. Ouch.
Have a good day.
{"commentId":2487373,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2511287,"authorDomain":"barry-rutherford"}
Oh plus I'm going to be offline and computerless (now THAT will be a tougher challenge than this) for one week as I go to Jamaica for "work" in mid-September.
I hope that annual leave pass from Newsvine has been granted ?
{"commentId":2511287,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"barry-rutherford"}
{"commentId":2511440,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
hope that annual leave pass from Newsvine has been granted ?
Uh oh. I need permission? I just wonder how far I'll drop on the leaderboard.
{"commentId":2511440,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2536359,"authorDomain":"tang"}
Maybe if something is judged to be of *very* high quality (original reporting, linked to by major sites, etc.) then the author gets a day (or more) off from the posting obligation. That way, you can be steady or you can work on fewer articles of very high quality. ??
{"commentId":2536359,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"tang"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2542207,"authorDomain":"ririaroo"}
I'd lay out some clear requirements defining what's considered very high quality, as well as high quality, average and trash, before going ahead but this is good.
Very high quality would get two days off. High, one day. Normal, stick Myk's schedule below. Trash, disqualified.
As far as the requirements defining *very* high quality, it'd be nice if an original photograph was one of them, though not necessarily by the author but someone from Newsvine.
{"commentId":2542207,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"ririaroo"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2543010,"authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
Ben J: Clear requirements are a good idea. I certainly agree with you on that. Some of the spelling in the vines is atrocious. Will spelling and grammar be part of the judging as well as content, style, and overall value? I, too, would like to know criteria for excellence.
All of us are going to have good and bad days with this. It's just the nature of writing all the time. Not many of us are going to have trash, because those of us interested in this challenge are already interested in writing well. I'm not sure disqualification from the contest for one bad day occasionally throughout the challenge is fair. Or did you mean trash articles be disqualified for just that one day?
This is a WRITING contest, not photography. I don't have a printer/scanner and won't be able to afford one for a long time yet. I can supply my own cartoons, but haven't figured out how to do that yet. My and your WRITING is all that should matter in this contest. This is not a multimedia exercise.
{"commentId":2543010,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2543809,"authorDomain":"ririaroo"}
As far as I'm concerned anyone who writes trash should be disqualified from the contest, period. But perhaps there could be a point tallying system or if you have three disqualified articles, you're out of the contest.
Also, I think an article of VERY high quality should contain an original photograph.
{"commentId":2543809,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"ririaroo"}
{"commentId":2543952,"authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
There must be some place for displaying great photos here on the vine. I would like to see it, even though I can't contribute.
Sorry I have to disagree with you on this, Ben. Please take no offense. It's not personal.
To purchase a camera for this contest would cost $100 to $500. The other equipment would cost more.
This is a WRITING contest. All of us are capable of writing. Social and economic factors play into whether or not we can include an original photograph and therefore should not be part of the contest. Just my 2 cents.
{"commentId":2543952,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
{"commentId":2544585,"authorDomain":"darkside"}
{"commentId":2545246,"authorDomain":"ririaroo"}
I agree that it's premature/inappropriate for this contest. Can't blame a guy for trying to merge the two things together, right?
... In regards to the photo contest, I, unless someone beats me to it, will probably will start some sort of contest.
{"commentId":2545246,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"ririaroo"}
{"commentId":2546983,"authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
I'll be sure to look for your photos, Ben. I bet I'll enjoy them.
Thanks for understanding.
{"commentId":2546983,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
{"commentId":2470710,"authorDomain":"jfxgillis"}
Myk:
Rule change? Keep everything like you have it but make it twice a week instead of daily. I still probably would be incapable of competing, but you'd strike a better quality/quantity balance.
{"commentId":2470710,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"jfxgillis"}
- 4 votes
#11 - Sat Aug 16, 2008 12:45 AM EDT{"commentId":2473981,"authorDomain":"wharrison55"}
I second the motion of the gentleman from Massachusetts.
{"commentId":2473981,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"wharrison55"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":2474310,"authorDomain":"barry-rutherford"}
Motion carried ? Yes ?
{"commentId":2474310,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"barry-rutherford"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2536375,"authorDomain":"tang"}
I'm not against this, but I may have to adjust the requirements corresponding to the prizes if Myk decides to change this.
{"commentId":2536375,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"tang"}
{"commentId":2471003,"authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
So, is fiction allowed, or not?
I write what pops into my head at the end of the day.
I want to participate whether or not fiction is allowed. Just let me know.
This should be great fun!
{"commentId":2471003,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
- 2 votes
#12 - Sat Aug 16, 2008 1:52 AM EDT{"commentId":2473066,"authorDomain":"pmags"}
Specify a topic. Damn. That implies impartial topic assignment.
{"commentId":2473066,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pmags"}
- 1 vote
#13 - Sat Aug 16, 2008 12:21 PM EDT{"commentId":2474193,"authorDomain":"pmags"}
I dont why poets can't compete in this.
Some sort of you're not good enough. Name the topic. Set a word count.
Game.
{"commentId":2474193,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pmags"}
- 1 vote
#14 - Sat Aug 16, 2008 2:57 PM EDT{"commentId":2476093,"authorDomain":"darkside"}
Good suggestions! I'll weigh in more later, but thanks for the thoughts. I may switch to, say, 3 articles per week - M W and F, where M and W you are free to write whatever and on Friday you have to write according to an assignment handed out Thursday morning.
How would ya'll feel about that?
{"commentId":2476093,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"darkside"}
- 2 votes
#15 - Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:01 PM EDT{"commentId":2476362,"authorDomain":"wharrison55"}
You gonna pass out the assignments, Myk?
{"commentId":2476362,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"wharrison55"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2476482,"authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
I like that idea.
{"commentId":2476482,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
{"commentId":2476599,"authorDomain":"yasmin"}
I like that better.
{"commentId":2476599,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"yasmin"}
{"commentId":2476898,"authorDomain":"pmags"}
Game.
{"commentId":2476898,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pmags"}
{"commentId":2477055,"authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}
That I think I can feasibly do. :D
{"commentId":2477055,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}
{"commentId":2477357,"authorDomain":"darkside"}
{"commentId":2478539,"authorDomain":"djehuty"}
Ok Myk maybe *that* is something I can help with :)
{"commentId":2478539,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"djehuty"}
{"commentId":2491385,"authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}
I like that plan.
{"commentId":2491385,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2502808,"authorDomain":"jenn79"}
i like that plan, too.
{"commentId":2502808,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"jenn79"}
{"commentId":2506919,"authorDomain":"pwtenny"}
. I may switch to, say, 3 articles per week ... How would ya'll feel about that?
That's not a last person standing contest, it's a feel-good-everybody-wins group writing project.
I'd definitely be out if it's going to be that silly.
{"commentId":2506919,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pwtenny"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2507106,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
How is that silly? Sounds like you're taking this a bit too seriously.
{"commentId":2507106,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
{"commentId":2508171,"authorDomain":"pwtenny"}
Serious is deriding a contest that nobody can win. If that's the way people want it, then fine, but it's not a contest and certainly not a last person standing contest.
In that respect it's not 2.0 either, this is something entirely new in entirely the wrong direction.
Think about it, what does last person standing mean to the people where they want four days off for every three of competition? How can you even achieve that goal? How is it any different than what everyone is already doing when nobody can be eliminated and there is nothing to win?
Frankly it sounds like status quo on the vine except everyone is using a group tag. How is that motivating? How is that fun or different? Why is that worth the time?
I love the idea of a last person standing contest. The entire point of it is to force people to write more than they would otherwise, yet here the proposed rule allows you to basically write at your leisure. I can't be the only person who sees this as self defeating and pointless..
{"commentId":2508171,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pwtenny"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":2508238,"authorDomain":"pmags"}
I have no opposition to this proposal.
{"commentId":2508238,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pmags"}
{"commentId":2508369,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}
I agree with Paul. If you do end up making it MWF I think you should have requirements for each day of the week. And as I suggested at the end of the last contest, the requirements are additive, in that each successive rule is added in addition to the last rule.
{"commentId":2508369,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"deatienza"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2524397,"authorDomain":"bluejohnnyd"}
If ye had a panel of sorts, the quality/quantity thing would become not a big deal; have a group (presumably large enough to negate perverse incentives) judge each daily piece to decide if it met some basic criteria for quality, such as grammar, length as appropriate, degree of thought, et cetera. If you write a piece that doesn't cut it, or don't write a piece that day, you're out.
On another note, I like this idea. I've not written anything for this place in months; about time I did.
{"commentId":2524397,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"bluejohnnyd"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2480239,"authorDomain":"mock"}
@ #15
Like it.
{"commentId":2480239,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"mock"}
#16 - Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:24 PM EDT{"commentId":2505179,"authorDomain":"YuriyBilokonsky"}
I believe I won the last one and will likely do so again.
{"commentId":2505179,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"YuriyBilokonsky"}
#17 - Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:45 PM EDT{"commentId":2506383,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
I think your memory is incorrect. I think it ended in a tie here
{"commentId":2506383,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2519165,"authorDomain":"darkside"}
OK everyone, good news: Newsvine has agreed to throw in a grand prize for this contest, a $100 gift certificate to Amazon.
Now it's officially a "contest", which means that some of the rules above designed to make it easier probably won't fly. Here's my current vision:
Participants are responsible for publishing one article per weekday.
Here is the schedule I want. I will accept feedback here, so it's not set in stone, but come Monday I will publish this to Newsvine again as a final product and ask people to sign up. K?
- Monday - On Mondays, to make sure nobody cheats and prepares over the weekend, participants are required to write and publish a story about an AP Headline from that same Monday.
- Tuesday - Tuesdays are Reviewsdays! New or old, book or movie or restaurant - give us a well-crafted, intelligent review.
- Wednesday - Wednesday is a free day, you can write "anything you want." Please note that it has to be news-related, non-fictional and of high quality.
- Thursday - In-depth feature - this is a cited article about a person, place or thing of general interest to your readership and to the news at large. I expect Thursdays to be the hardest, which is why Wednesday is the easiest - if you like, you can tie your Thursday subject to your Wednesday subject and thereby get an extra day's worth of research. But I mean it, this is going to have to be an in-depth look at perhaps your favorite musician, or a local festival, or the causes of strife between Russia and Georgia.
- Friday - Finally, we'll end the week with a more playful piece. On Thursday night, a guest judge will publish an article defining your assignment. It won't be anything too hard, and I'll instruct them to keep it fairly "light". The trick here is that that judge will disqualify one article - this way we don't have the same issue we had last time with respect to 5 winners and an infinite contest. The Judge will set clear criteria for qualification and will, when all the votes have been tallied, kick one person out of the contest.
Thoughts? Feelings? Visceral emotional responses?
{"commentId":2519165,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"darkside"}
- 2 votes
#18 - Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:45 PM EDT{"commentId":2519349,"authorDomain":"jfxgillis"}
Myk:
Thoughts? Feelings? Visceral emotional responses?
Yeah. Since I can't be a contestant, can I be a guest judge? That sounds like more fun anyway.
:^{)>
{"commentId":2519349,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"jfxgillis"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2519472,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}
Are you instituting a word minimum?
Either way, as said above, I'm likely not in to compete.
{"commentId":2519472,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"deatienza"}
{"commentId":2520340,"authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}
Hmm...I like. Where do I sign up? Bring it on, I say! :D
{"commentId":2520340,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}
{"commentId":2521205,"authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
Sounds good to me.
{"commentId":2521205,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
{"commentId":2521419,"authorDomain":"pmags"}
Word count and deadline, please. EDT from my end.
{"commentId":2521419,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pmags"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2522432,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
I'm not in but can help myk in any way he desires including guest judging or whatever provided i get that week off to go to jamaics in mid-sept.
{"commentId":2522432,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2524405,"authorDomain":"bluejohnnyd"}
Where does one sign up, and when does this thing start?
{"commentId":2524405,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"bluejohnnyd"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2524512,"authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
What will be the deadline for getting the writing done for the day? If the AP article arrives at 10:30 AM, I have to be gone to both jobs from noon to midnight, so my writing would have to be after midnight (technically Tuesday). I don't want to be disqualified just because I have to work a lot. Could there be a deadline of maybe before the next assignment is given or something like that?
We also have to consider other time zones. Will you be considering the writer's time zone?
I'm eager to start this.
{"commentId":2524512,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
{"commentId":2525351,"authorDomain":"darkside"}
{"commentId":2526207,"authorDomain":"bluejohnnyd"}
Awesome, thanks.
{"commentId":2526207,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"bluejohnnyd"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2526312,"authorDomain":"pmags"}
Deadline should be staggered I think. Midnight for all time zones. The only problem would be the Start times. Open to suggestions here.
{"commentId":2526312,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pmags"}
{"commentId":2526538,"authorDomain":"darkside"}
{"commentId":2528398,"authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
Myk:
It may be a crunch, but as with my newspaper and medical transcription work--I'll get it done. It's amazing what can be done when you know what's expected or needed.
I'll make your rules work and abide by them whatever they are.
I'm ready. Eager.
{"commentId":2528398,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"nancysmith54"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2549079,"authorDomain":"pwtenny"}
Monday - On Mondays, to make sure nobody cheats and prepares over the weekend, participants are required to write and publish a story about an AP Headline from that same Monday.
Just FYI, I doubt I'll compete with such lax rules. Having specific "categories" of writing each day are actually better, but having the weekends off, not having word limits, not forbidding non-news flotsam and what not still make it unappealing. I hope everyone who does compete has fun though.
That said...
After the AP tried to rewrite copyright law, I joined TechCrunch in boycotting them. I will not write about the AP or anything they publish under any circumstances here or anywhere else. They are an affront to everything I as a writer stand for. They use information and communication as a financial weapon and nothing more.
They are a disgusting, ignorant organization that needs to go away.
The trick here is that that judge will disqualify one article - this way we don't have the same issue we had last time with respect to 5 winners and an infinite contest.
We didn't have an infinite contest, it was always planned to last a month from what I understood, which is why it was never truly a last person standing contest -- not anymore than this one is. There's no reason why the contest shouldn't continue until there is only one person left. It should be hard, it should take lots of effort and time...it's a contest.
At least it's supposed to be.
I also think it's still too easy, and that the rules are being warped to cover up for it rather than addressing it head on. There's no reason to arbitrarily eliminate people that are abiding by the rules just to cull the field when time will do it for you.
But like I said, I hope everyone has fun with it and I wish luck to everyone who competes.
{"commentId":2549079,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pwtenny"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2549124,"authorDomain":"bluejohnnyd"}
Thing is, Paul, is that this isn't a contest for professional writers; it's a contest for hobbyists. Would the rules be as stiff as those you suggest, many (likely including myself as a first-semester college student) would not bother to compete, even though they may be quite good at writing, simply because of schedule restraints or conflicts with what some people have taken to calling 'real life'
{"commentId":2549124,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"bluejohnnyd"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2555468,"authorDomain":"mock"}
It's a contest alright for anyone with a job, family, house and assorted extracurriculars. I'm gonna' give it a whirl, but be surprised if I last a week. Not a professional writer, but I do like to take my time and craft a good flotsam.
I think you should do it, Paul, and show us how easy it must be for you.
{"commentId":2555468,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"mock"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2558398,"authorDomain":"darkside"}
{"commentId":2564407,"authorDomain":"pwtenny"}
Heh, yeah, Paul - if you feel it's beneath you, don't waste your time.
...
I think you should do it, Paul, and show us how easy it must be for you.
Come on now, I never said it was beneath me or trivial, I said it wasn't hard enough to justify what it's supposed to be which is not the same thing. Nor do I think that because it holds no value for me, that it's beneath me. I'm pushing and poking to make it better, I'm not saying it's stupid or that you shouldn't do it with the rules you already have.
Mykola, you know me. You know that I push things from passion, not for petty reasons. I want more stringent rules because I want that challenge, because I think a contest that isn't a challenge is not as fun or beneficial as people think it will be.
As for how I might fare, I only survived the first contest because I took a mulligan. I opposed mulligans and should have lost if I had gotten my way the first time around and I was and still am perfectly at peace with that. You don't know me Steve, so I can understand you trying to bait me into a petty argument to sooth your soul, but I'm not game for that. The entire point is that it shouldn't be easy, otherwise it's not worth doing.
And besides, as I noted above, I can't compete because I'm boycotting the AP, even if the rest of the rules were fine.
But most people here are going to have a really, really hard time lasting even a week, as Steve says.
Good, contests are supposed to be hard, otherwise it's not a contest.
{"commentId":2564407,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pwtenny"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2566014,"authorDomain":"mock"}
You don't know me Steve, so I can understand you trying to bait me into a petty argument to sooth your soul, but I'm not game for that.
You don't know me either, Paul. Would that you did, you'd know there is nothing I find less soothing to my soul than a petty argument. You are a pretty big fish, though, so I reckon the baiting thing is apt. Thanks for your words.
{"commentId":2566014,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"mock"}
{"commentId":2521918,"authorDomain":"tang"}
Myk, how many days did the last Last Viner Standing last? (enough 'last's?)
{"commentId":2521918,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"tang"}
- 4 votes
#19 - Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:57 PM EDT{"commentId":2522065,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}
I think it was one month. 30 days, including weekends.
{"commentId":2522065,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"deatienza"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":2532207,"authorDomain":"YuriyBilokonsky"}
And some of us could have held out at least another month.
{"commentId":2532207,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"YuriyBilokonsky"}
{"commentId":2536284,"authorDomain":"tang"}
I think it was one month. 30 days, including weekends.
And some of us could have held out at least another month.
Well, in that case - why don't we up the ante?
Winner of the contest who lasts the following number of days gets the corresponding prize:
- 1 - 30 days: $100 Amazon or Apple Gift Card
- 31 - 45 days: 8GB iPod Nano
- 46 days or more: 16 GB iPhone 3G (winner will be responsible for signing up with AT&T on their own, etc. - we'll just pay for the iPhone itself. If for some reason you can't sign up for the service then you'll get a gift card for the equivalent amount to use toward another purchase)
There can only be one winner (no tie), and all participants and their entries are subject to the rules Myk and Co. put forth as well as the judges' rulings. I also believe y'all should hold yourselves to pretty high standards in terms of quality, so that this doesn't become a 'who can post daily fluff longest' match.
Lastly, the recipient of the prize will have to fill out some basic legalese paperwork to make it kosher with the IRS, etc. And, I *think* our lawyers will tell us that we're only allowed to give the prize to someone residing in the US.
Well, what do you think?
{"commentId":2536284,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"tang"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2536501,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}
Calvin, Calvin, Calvin, how can you offer prizes for this hear event while forsaking the now third annual newsvine fantasy football league (of which you showed up late for the draft!)? ;-)
{"commentId":2536501,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2536594,"authorDomain":"yasmin"}
Who are going to be the judges? Can bias be avoided in something like this if say favorite writers are participating?
Dang, I want an IPhone.
{"commentId":2536594,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"yasmin"}
{"commentId":2541610,"authorDomain":"darkside"}
{"commentId":2542911,"authorDomain":"jfxgillis"}
Myk:
I'm willing to do the Council but I strongly suggest adding a fourth. If the council ties, it's resolved in favor of the article in question. That way any disqualifications are either 3-1 or unanimous. That should cut down on disputes.
{"commentId":2542911,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"jfxgillis"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2543089,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}
If the council ties, it's resolved in favor of the article in question. That way any disqualifications are either 3-1 or unanimous. That should cut down on disputes.
Good point, I agree. If nobody objects, I'd accept nomination.
{"commentId":2543089,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"deatienza"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2547810,"authorDomain":"tang"}
I love the idea of this challenge but as a practical matter, I probably won't be able to keep up with reading all of the articles for quality. So, sadly, I have to decline the nomination. I think Eric and Jack are great choices though. How about thedoctori?
{"commentId":2547810,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"tang"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2548622,"authorDomain":"pmags"}
Well, before we choose judges, let's give them an outline, a template if you will. You can't have folk make judgement calls when there's no framework. It shouldn't be tight as a drum, this aint the Olympics, on the other hand, format is not enough either.
{"commentId":2548622,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"pmags"}
{"commentId":2556149,"authorDomain":"jfxgillis"}
wrong thread
{"commentId":2556149,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"jfxgillis"}
- 1 vote
#20 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 10:16 AM EDT{"commentId":2588319,"authorDomain":"darkside"}
The rules are up. Go sign up there!
{"commentId":2588319,"threadId":"332656","contentId":"1751399","authorDomain":"darkside"}
#21 - Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:05 AM EDT{"canLink":false,"threadId":"332656","isPrivate":false}
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