UPGRADE AIDE CONTEST

Hi Cav Laster,

I'm sorry you feel this way, but I can 100% tell you that I do not discriminate based on case color. Hint: Take a look at my color. If anything, it would be the yellows that are at a disadvantage.

You give great reviews, and I really did appreciate them. However, for the reviewing-the-judges round, the rules were clear: public reviews, and affiliated with Upgrade Aides. I realized that some people might not understand affiliations, so that didn't factor into my decision. But the 'public' part did. I understand your reviewing style - I've been a member of the Novel Workshop for 3+ years myself. I know it takes a lot of time and effort to do line-by-line reviews, and to me, they were both helpful and thorough. However, outside of the Novel Workshop, a lot of people find line-by-lines overwhelming, and I had to factor that into my decision.

Since the judges were the ones being reviewed, I think things were pretty fair. aszreal and I judged based on which reviews we felt were most helpful.

For the Fountain of Knowledge, I deferred judgement to aszreal - it is, in fact, her activity, and she knows it best. The winner, Sara - will be back soon , made the same number of qualifying posts that you did, but it was still a close call.

Again, this is NOT about case color! I am a black case, and I have never, ever, ever discriminated based on color.

It looks like you did research on a few people and the merit badges they have received. A few people received them from me last year when they participated in the Upgrade Aides contest. reallyrachel received one from me for participating with me in a reviewng activity last month. Because she was brand new to the site, I wanted to help give her a welcome. Do you know how many MBs I give to new users, in order to welcome them? I suppose your 'research' didn't stretch that far.

I certainly don't feel that the MB I gave her for round 1 was unwarranted. Read her entry: it was creative, fun, and still gave us information about her.

The results for Round 5 have not been posted, so how do you know the amount of research that went into the decision, or even who would have won? I am reading through not only every review, but the pieces reviewed as well, in order to make my decision - that is the reason for the delay. Unfortunately, it just isn't feasible to contact every person reviewed for Round 5. I am doing the best that I can.

The thing that hurts the most are the accusations that I am being unfair. Let's be real: I've reviewed some of the contestants before. But with 1,200+ reviews on this site, that shouldn't be a surprise. Sara - will be back soon and I have never conversed before this contest, and she has the most stars as of now. I wasn't familiar with the winners of last year's contest, either. I didn't judge based on whether I knew someone or not - if that was the case, then things would certainly be less evenly distributed. Look at the boards: almost everyone has one star, and there's only been FOUR rounds judged out of TWELVE - Sara - will be back soon was the only person who had more than one, and I certainly think she deserved it both times.

You stated that 'many of us drop out due to unfairness'. The vast majority of those who dropped out didn't even participate in a single round. How could that have been due to unfairness? Those people probably just got caught up with other things and didn't have the chance to post. No big deal.

I have really put forth my best effort to make this contest as fair as possible. This isn't a glorified way to hand out Upgrades and GPs to my friends. If that was the case, why would I waste hours to create these prompts and to judge? Thousands of GPs via reviewing credits, MBs and other prizes to people I've never spoken to?

The reality is this: At one point in time, when I was in high school, I struggled a lot to keep myself Upgraded. It was only due to activities such as this contest that I was able to keep my Upgraded Membership for almost four years without ever paying a single dime.

In the past, I have won contests similar to this one - as a lowly black case, with maybe four or five community recognitions max. I didn't know ANYONE. It was not nepotism, merely the generosity and kindness of other members who reached out to me and gave me a chance.

I am merely trying to give back to the community that offered me the opportunity to grow as a writer.

I may not be a preferred author, but I have been published several times, mainly due to the feedback from writers on this very site. I have seen generosity, spirit and wonderful writing from all case colors, and the accusation that a black case would be discriminating against her fellow black cases is ludicrous.

What it boils down to is that the prizes here are pretty substantial. Therefore, a lot of work is expected, as well as a fair amount of dedication and preservation. This is a DIFFICULT, time-consuming contest. I think that it is a shame that you jump to such conclusions before even half the contest has been judged.

As I stated clearly in the rules, bashing and unsportsmanlike behavior would not be tolerated. If you had any concerns, I made it clear that you should EMAIL me. Your posts are both rude and unfair, with unfounded accusations against me, Ariana, and other contestants.

I can understand your concerns. I have never been a Preferred; I know there are instances of case discrimination. However, this was not the right way to confront those concerns.

Your messages will now be suspended for not adhering to contest rules.

Anyone who has further concerns - please email me. I would be more than happy to talk through email and try to address any issues.

Thank you.

Cheers,

Em

Summer Days Writing Contest -- CLOSED  (13+) CLOSED FOR THE SUMMER -- return in 2010! #1557621 by emerin-liseli

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"The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say." -- Anais Nin



"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." -- Maya
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