I think some of us don't understand what the point of the rule change is. Since it doesn't kick in until after the judging, it doesn't affect the double-blindness -- that of the two choosing levels -- so it isn't clear what is at stake All I can figure is that you are aiming at members who Google, then unfairly praise or blame based on authorship. Is this so distorting to the event that it is the authors who have to suffer, rather than those who aren't good sports? For some, the main draw of the event is to have the chance of being read by the guest and hear what he or she has to say.
I don't see why people should submit just any sonnet they have, rather than the one they think best. Marybeth gave a very good reason for her choice; others may not think they have more than one sonnet that is worthy.
The new wrinkle is strange because.
- Google adapts its results to each user
- the number of results per page is settable, so not everyone's first page will have the same number
- titles and first lines vary in how common they are in the language -- the more common, the less likely the poem will be high in the results.
I've tried, but don't understand what problem you are trying to solve and I hope by my tedium that I've argued for keeping things simple, as the original rules were.
Your labors are difficult enough, Alex, without having to imagine every possible flaw. Countries have to keep working to improve election fairness. Your original rules seem fair enough to me; the new ones seem unfair for no good reason.
Best,
Marcia