[Cyn Neely]

and since I am the one being accused of doing the beating, I am insulted by this post Alex.

No one reads every post on this site. No one reads every post on a thread. It may have been rehashed ad nauseum, but I didn't read it. If I inadvertently stepped in something I was supposed to avoid (without knowing it), that is not a crime, just a mistake.

I do believe Cathy's response to me was inappropriate as I never once said they judged poorly. (in fact just the opposite) And I have the right to say that her response to me was not appropriate . Just as Nemo has the right to say it. Don't I have the right to voice my opinion about blind judging? In fact I felt opinions were invited by this comment from you Alex: I and future hosts and DGs will make every effort to run blindly judged bake-offs given the preference for such...
I was stating my preference and why. (yes I realize it won't always be possible)

Good thing I will be on an island and out of contact for the most part of the summer. By the time I am back maybe I'll have forgotten all about this. For now, I feel pretty much like a persona non grata. But thanks for trying Nemo.

[Cyn Neely]

it's over 100 degrees here today - so I apologize for an quick tempered tone in my above reply. I still stand by *what* I said though.

[Alex Pepple]

Cynthia - the post was general and not directed at you specifically -- after all, yours was only one the many interminable such posts. So, apologies if you feel specifically targeted--that's not the case or intention. I was merely trying to show, in light of all the other previous posts on that very same issue, the reasons for Cathy's response.

Cheers,
...Alex

[coming back to add that and it looks like we cross-posted!]

[David Anthony]

Well, obviously, contests should be judged blind. It's not a gold standard, it's just normal practice nowadays.
I'm so sorry to see Gail and Cathy in the eye of a storm. It's no fault of theirs, and it will discourage talented people from acting as judges in future.
What a can of worms.
David

[Alex Pepple]

Originally Posted by David Anthony

Well, obviously, contests should be judged blind. It's not a gold standard, it's just normal practice nowadays.
David

David, that's not an accurate statement because there are several reputable and even high-profile contests that are not judged blind nowadays. I could list the many PEN poetry awards, the National Book Award, the Governor General of Canada Awards, the many state-based book awards such as Colorado, Massachusetts ..., the Griffin Prize, etc. etc. So, blind judging is not a given even for today's countless big and small contests. Each contest, well-known or little-known makes its own rules on the judging style -- whether to adopt a blind judging style or not ... and poets and writers still enter them in droves. Even though I can't be sure about it, I bet the above-listed contests and others like them not judged blind don't have to deal with any mass protest against their non-blind judging ways, and most of them have been running for years if not decades!

Cheers,
...Alex

[R. Nemo Hill]

Mass protest?! How flattering.
You got room in that boat to that island, Cyn?

Nemo

[Alex Pepple]

Originally Posted by R. Nemo Hill

Mass protest?! How flattering.

Nemo

Nemo, go count the endless complaint posts, and you be the judge!

...Alex

[David Rosenthal]

Originally Posted by Alex Pepple

Nemo, go count the endless complaint posts, and you be the judge!

But don't just count them, read them. There is nothing like a "mass protest." There are some complaints, but they are mostly pretty mildly stated -- mostly people are saying the would prefer blind judging, giving reasons for that preference, and in some cases offer suggestions for how to do it. And I don't see much "insinuation" in most people's posts. If there is any "mass" sentiment expressed, it is praise for Cathy and Gail. Meanwhile, Cyn did seem to be unfairly addressed or misunderstood, as her post was pretty mild and reasoned, and contained anti-"whispering" language.

I am chiming in to say all of this because I don't think Cyn and Nemo should feel alone on their island.

David R.

[Cyn Neely]

It's your site Alex and you can do things however you want. You have done just fine without my help (smile) If you don't want to judge blind, then that's fine, you don't have to. I am getting mixed messages I think. My post was answering what I thought was your request for "preferences" and specifically removed any past judging (including Catherine's and Gail's) in the comment. Therefore, when Cathy named me as a "whisperer" I felt that was inappropriate because I was not whispering to anyone or beating her up or any such thing and Nemo happened to agree with me. I had not (and have not) read the mile long thread (who has that kind of time?) to see that I was just trodding in the same old shit. My bad, I guess. Never mind. I will quit now. I just hate being mis-judged. Have a great summer everyone