[Brian Allgar]

But would that stop competition editors from becoming members, and thus accessing the threads?

[John Whitworth]

I don't think they would go that far.

[Chris O'Carroll]

The idea of getting all hole-and-corner about our activity here doesn't feel right. We've been operating on the assumption that we have nothing to hide, that we're not doing anything wrong, and that all the comps editors out there know about us and are OK with us. Vicky's objection is based on a misconception about what's going on in this forum, and I continue to hope that she'll change her view of the situation once she understands the truth. If we were to go into hiding, we might be signaling that there's something shady about enjoyable comp-related activity that is, in reality, completely above-board.

[Carolyn Thomas-Coxhead]

I agree 100% with Chris: D and A is simply a workshop/blog with (as far as I can see) absolutely no axe to grind. No need to try to subvert anything.

It's beginning to look increasingly clear, from the correspondence between Vicky and Chris, that Vicky has just got the wrong end of the stick, quite innocently, I'm sure. She must have had the idea that The Staggers compo was being shafted in some way - and well done to her for thinking of protecting the comp, frankly - but if she listens to Chris and also looks at the thread then surely good sense will prevail and we can continue sharing and honing our fun ideas without fear of losing that chance of a few ackers in the bank and, if lucky, the Tesco bonus.

[Graham King]

Originally Posted by Carolyn Thomas-Coxhead

I agree 100% with Chris: D and A is simply a workshop/blog with (as far as I can see) absolutely no axe to grind. No need to try to subvert anything.
...
It's beginning to look increasingly clear, from the correspondence between Vicky and Chris, that Vicky has just got the wrong end of the stick, quite innocently, I'm sure.
...surely good sense will prevail and we can continue sharing and honing our fun ideas without fear of losing that chance of a few ackers in the bank and, if lucky, the Tesco bonus.

I concur!

I also observe that usually minimal or no honing goes on in-forum; most entries seem to be simply posted here for shared enjoyment, not for collaborative improvement.
If joint work on entries had been seen as a problem (and it seems to me the only substantial objection one might raise to raise to our sharing here, as being a potential unfairness to solo entrants) then surely that reason would have been highlighted in emails sent.

Maybe indeed the mistaken perception was that ES was 'nicking' the comp idea from NS and pre-empting it somehow. I'll be glad to learn that misunderstanding has been set right and that the NS disqualification ruling can therefore be reversed.