Quote by RavenStar
It's like you reached into my brain and plucked the words right out!
This. Exactly this.
Quote by Shadowforce1
While some of what you said I agree with, not all of it, though. What you or some people might call mediocre (insert laugh). Some people like myself included will find it interesting. Yes, people have different taste so the same story that you read that has a "lasting" effect on you would have a "yawn" effect on someone else. Now you might see an ugly, hideous how did you say it? Oh sloth-like creature, while I might see a beautiful baby. Who is wrong? So yes I agree on the part that you think that the mediocre should get better and try and edit better, proofread better or whatever the case maybe. I don't call people mediocre just a thing I have against a scale system I hate them! Saying, one person is better than other based on one person's outlook is pure stupidity.
I have never said and will never say that it relies on a "friend or knowing a person" system. I have just stated in the past and what I (personally) have read is not worthy of an RR to me. Which can go hand in hand as you or other people can read any of my stories and say NONE is worthy, which I can wholeheartedly say YAY! I do not strive for an RR. I like my stories to be different not to coincide with the "norm."
What I agreed with JC about is. I can see where he gets the idea from. And for anyone to blindly sit and say NO YOU'RE WRONG. Well now that is being the sloth creature you mentioned (not saying, anyone, is). Every system can be seen different by every individual and while some see it as perfect and working. Some might see it needing a tweak or another look. As someone once said, nothing in this world is perfect. So before saying it is always the mediocre complaining/whining. Take a look again and see it from someone else's view not just your own.
Like I said before I am not pointing fingers or am I judging anyone. In my eyes, your all great writers. Hell just putting your work and thoughts online to be seen by many deserves a hand clap. Keep up the good work and keep writing and striving for whatever you want from this site. Myself I like any comments whether you copy and paste it, say you like it, hate it. Just give it a read and rate it a 1. I like writing and not getting an RR, or a five will not stop me. Not even being called mediocre (laugh) Sorry that word just makes me laugh.
Quote by Magical_felix
While I agree with Burquette, she did say that her name was on the shelf. It wasn't "book store staff picks", it was her name. One of the things that always is brought up when this argument resurfaces is that the conspiracy theorists want to know which mod gave the RR.
Quote by Burquette
I probably wouldn't have wanted my name on the shelf if all the authors shopped there.
Quote by Burquette
When I worked at a bookstore, I had a recommended read shelf with my name on it. That's how I see the award here--a mod put my story on their shelf.
At the bookstore, I never had to justify my choices; I could switch them out as often as I liked. It was one of the few delights of holding a minimum wage, crap, customer service job. The mods don't even get the minimum wage part.
Quote by Burquette
When I worked at a bookstore, I had a recommended read shelf with my name on it. That's how I see the award here--a mod put my story on their shelf.
At the bookstore, I never had to justify my choices; I could switch them out as often as I liked. It was one of the few delights of holding a minimum wage, crap, customer service job. The mods don't even get the minimum wage part.
Quote by JC72
Yes, but everyone knew they were your choices. Here it is not so clear. Yes the mods do good work, being open would help them as well.... This was not to bash anyone, just trying to fix what many see as an issue.
Quote by Burquette
Like I said above, if authors had shopped where I worked, I wouldn't have wanted my name on a RR shelf. I would have gotten nothing done all day except explaining my preferences to the authors that didn't make my list. Which, I would imagine is why the RR remain anonymous.
Quote by Milik_the_Red
The administration and other story moderators can and do see which mod gives an RR. This information is also available to the writer in their timeline. I assure everyone that these are monitored and, rarely, Nicola herself has reminded the moderating staff to carefully consider how and when these are awarded. Rest assured that we don't hand these out in a vacuum.
To me; that is how it should be. I do not see any reason a third party should be made aware of what mod awarded an RR to a story that was not theirs. Why it would be so critical for a person other than the writer or other mods to have that information is beyond me, but I assure you that the drama it would cause would quickly put an end to anyone like me awarding one. We have enough scrutiny and necessity to explain ourselves in threads like this to invite that kind of personal second guessing.
Quote by Milik_the_Red
The administration and other story moderators can and do see which mod gives an RR. This information is also available to the writer in their timeline. I assure everyone that these are monitored and, rarely, Nicola herself has reminded the moderating staff to carefully consider how and when these are awarded. Rest assured that we don't hand these out in a vacuum.
To me; that is how it should be. I do not see any reason a third party should be made aware of what mod awarded an RR to a story that was not theirs. Why it would be so critical for a person other than the writer or other mods to have that information is beyond me, but I assure you that the drama it would cause would quickly put an end to anyone like me awarding one. We have enough scrutiny and necessity to explain ourselves in threads like this to invite that kind of personal second guessing.
A steamy lesbian three way
Quote by overmykneenow
But that's exactly what makes the recommendation process utterly meaningless. If you walked into a bookshop and saw "Recommended by anonymous" you would be well within your rights to question the validity of the recommendation.
I appreciate the drama and difficulty involved in having a transparent system but it means we're left with an opaque system which, as you've alluded to, has and will naturally gravitate towards cronyism. It will always be questioned. It was an ill-concerned idea, albeit with the best intentions.
If people want to be recommended, the process is simple: get as many friends as you can who are mods. And make sure you get them to read your stuff. The more who read it, the more likely one of them will recommend it. It's playing a percentage game. If you're only relying on the person who approved it to give it an RR you're just relying on luck.
Quote by Magical_felix
Yeah but when you walk into a book store and see that fucking Brad recommended Twilight: New Moon it might as well be anonymous because you don't know fucking Brad. And if you do know Brad then you probably don't need to go to the store to get his recommend.
When video rental places still existed, the one I went to had "staff picks". It didn't say fucking Brad recommends the Little Mermaid.
Quote by Magical_felix
Yeah but when you walk into a book store and see that fucking Brad recommended Twilight: New Moon it might as well be anonymous because you don't know fucking Brad. And if you do know Brad then you probably don't need to go to the store to get his recommend.
When video rental places still existed, the one I went to had "staff picks". It didn't say fucking Brad recommends the Little Mermaid.
Quote by overmykneenow
That's exactly the point though. If Brad has recommended Twilight I'm probably not going to bother picking up any other of his recommendations. It's like when you see 5 star ratings on movie posters. I'm more likely to believe the 5 stars from magazines and reviewers whose opinion I respect rather 5 star reviews from celebrity gossip websites.
Quote by Magical_felix
Yeah but like in a bookstore you aren't going to see Dan Brown go up to fucking Brad and be like "what the fuck Brad? You recommend Twilight but not The Lost Symbol? I'm sorry I'm not your butt buddy like Stephanie Meyer but I am so much better. This is some bullshit, Brad". Because that is what would happen on Lush.
Quote by overmykneenow
That's why I say the system can never work properly here. If it's transparent, it causes drama. If it's opaque, people think it's corrupt. Milik's already admitted that Nicola's had to get involved in the past when the mod's have got a bit "comfortable" with their recommendations .
Good stuff should get recognition, I just don't think this is the best way to do it.
in yet another forum about how and when and whom should get RR's Quote by kiera
You could always just ask the person who gave them the RR, I do and not because I think that any mod here gives RR's to friends. As far as I am aware the system is fairly strict and monitored so a Mod would not get away with doing such a thing.
I ask because some Mods are harder to get RR's from (not that I have one I am mediocre at best and never expect to get one) and I mean no disrespect to any mod as I know how hard you all work. Perhaps this is simply because some mods have more time to approve stories than others which is why it appears this way but still if say my friend said Liz or Sprite awarded the RR I would be fucking in awe of them for having been awarded it by them.
I am not meaning to offend any mod and hope I don't its just that if/when I have asked the question they rarely reply with people like Liz or Rachel as the ones who awarded the RR to them. That being said I have also never noticed that any particular mod is responsible for awarding RR's consistently to a member who is also a friend. In my experience they tend not to or perhaps ask a fellow mod to look and give their opinion if they feel it does deserve one, That's what I would do but I still don't think any mod should have to just because people who don't receive them whine about it and think their is a conspiracy going on.
I certainly don't agree that...
The mod who issues the RR should be made public...as I said you could just ask the member and what good would it do? Just add to the conspiracy theory members who don't have RR's have cooked up.
If a mod gives a member an RR they should be restricted time wise as to when they can issue another to said member friend or not and who is going to monitor that? waste of time imho.
Mods not being able to give members who are also friends awards...Why should mods be restricted as to who they can friend? In theory they should not friend anyone who writes just in case they write something worthy of an award.
Readers be allowed to pick/make suggestions because most of them will be friends with the writer and biased. We could end up with a bunch of crap stories listed just because that particular writer has hundreds of friends who will suggest them as opposed to someone who only has 9 friends but has written a brilliant story and deserves the recommendation. This suggestion makes no sense to me, how is suggesting this and asking for it not hypocritical of suggesting a mod would give an RR purely because a member is their friend when they have restrictions and are monitored..friends are not are they?
Just my
Quote by Magical_felix
Kiera, I would just like to say that you have been posting some pretty decent things lately. I like this new kiera.
Quote by JC72
You just answered the obvious, open RR, no need to explain... You say mods work hard which is true, but so do a lot of writers who deserve to be noticed... Thanks for trying...
Quote by overmykneenow
Good stuff should get recognition, I just don't think this is the best way to do it.
Quote by Simmerdownchick
Really, I just want to know what program Chica is using to do those awesome meme's
Quote by DanielleX
An RR Should be awarded on merit. It's not a 'gold star' dished out by your Mod friends.
A story receiving an RR should be of very high quality, displaying a high standard of grammar and spelling and be outstanding in other ways. It's not as good as an EP but it should stand out from the crowd.
I don't think we should start discussing and dissecting this issue. RRs are a nice way to award authors and giving recognition for writing a very good story that deserves to be read. On the other hand, they shouldn't be sprinkled out willy nilly.
D x
