wwjd?
I’ve gotten some flak over my blog post about that short-story competition.
“C” left a numbered-list comment to point out his/her disdain over the fact that I asked my blogging community to vote. He/she clearly does not like my writing, stating that my story was “terrible,” “full of cliches, ambiguities, abstracts,” and “does not deserve to win.” While harsh, C’s remarks made me chuckle (“WWJD?”), and graciously taught me the word carousel.
Some discussion has even arisen in the comments over at the contest itself. “Babygurl69″ (dontcha just love that?!) bluntly asks how my story is possibly getting any votes. She again FYI’d me about the word carousel, and pointed out that my “worthless anecdote” is “littered with dialogue ambiguity.”
C showed up there as well, rehashing most of the same arguments he/she aired on my blog and soaboxing about the fact that my blog post “received nearly 500 comments“. Too bad C didn’t actually read those comments; 90% had nothing to do with the contest and everything to do with authenticity in relationships.
Mr. Scocco answered them both, and even seemed to defend both my blog and my writing ability (well, kinda).
The most ironic part is that I’ve remained in second place since the contest started. All this hoo-ha, and I’m not even winning.
And now here I sit, pondering this whole situation and wondering: What would Jesus do? (I wonder how His response to C would have differed from mine.)
In all honesty (as always), I don’t think there’s anything wrong with asking my friends to support me in an internet-based writing contest that is open to votes from the general population. I see it like I see American Idol or any of those other reality TV shows whose winners are determined by the voting public. If only seasoned professionals voted, we may very well end up with a different outcome, but that’s not how the game works.
What do you think?
@danielleH says:
Seriously!?
It’s an online writing competition that you have every right to enter and every right to solicit votes.
Gimme a break.
I’ve not read all 500+ comments, but I’m sorry that some people are giving you grief about it.
I love your story.
I love you.
@danielleH says:
Dang.
I went and read all those comment was and I have to say you answered much more graciously than I was wanting to in your defense!!
You definatley did wjwd.
Good for you. I was wanting to jump in and argue back…but…what’s the point?
I wouldn’t have even known you were in that contest unless you told us about it…so whatever. I also think your story was universal and heartwarming. I can’t remember but didn’t you post it before (I am almost certain I read it and LOVED it the first time I read it) just like I did the second time when I voted for it. People are stupid and like to whine about stupid stuff when their lives don’t have anything to be worried about then writing contests.
There is no point in even responding to such criticism. C did it to be mean. Letting C get to you only lets C win.
Alece… you did nothing wrong soliciting votes. Everyone does it. {{{{{HUGS}}}}
Oh this post made me laugh a great deal…. is that bad? ;-)
Ahhhh, people amaze me. Really, they do. Very very funny.
I think your writing rocks dear and I love ya oh so much!
@coloraturajoy says:
Oh COME ON!
Seriously? I mean…really?
Well, I hope it hasn’t gotten you down or anything; there’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking that of people. It IS a lot like American Idol or some of the other competitions, partially based on skill, partially based on popularity.
And I liked it. And I voted for you. So there.
Dear Alece,
i love you.
The day i win ANYTHING because i am ‘popular’ more than because of my effort or God-given talent is the day i cease entering any form of competition.
This may just be because i am notoriously unpopular? :-)
The only exception for me would be if i entered a popularity contest – the mere thought of which is enough to give me cause to vomit.
The culture that is rife amongst Western Youth today of ‘Fame’ mostly and purely for fame’s sake is one i have a great deal of personal revulsion for.
‘C’ seems to me to be a budding writer. it would be a fair guess that s/he seems to think voting in the comp should be more on each writing’s merit than pure popularity. I found her/his comment at the comp to be a fair and reasonable one – much more so than her/his comment on your blog.. but as a writer s/he is entitled to offer their views on your writing ability in the context of ‘destructive’ criticism’ – i do not see any positives s/he left for your consideration?
As a budding writer myself i did not share ‘C’ or babygurl69/s opinions and liked the post the first time you posted it – my only criticism is that from my view a short story is a work of fiction and i believe yours was a work of factual relation requiring more insight than actual creativity and feel it therefore lacked something vis-a-vis the competition.
i did follow your advice though and only read yours before voting!
and yes, you got my vote you little miss popularity you! :-)
so – are you gonna write some fiction for us one day??
As for Anna’s last comment – perhaps it should have read ‘everyone she knows does it’…. i have no intentions of asking for votes from blogfriends to boost ‘assessment’ of any talent i may or may not have.
I have less qualms about supporting a good friend to win puppy-voting competitions or writing popularity contests. :-)
btw – if it is ANY consolation – i believe number two is ‘winning’ for the same reason you are coming second currently.
their blog maybe harder to ‘trace’ is all :-)
<B
Alece – you amaze me. Seriously. You handled both the original comment and this post with SO much graciousness. I really do not think I would have done that. I would have either replied in like fashion or would have realized not to do that and been silent for … oh, weeks … trying to figure out what I SHOULD say.
I was going to pop over here already (before knowing about this) and say a big “THANK YOU” for being such a great role model. I’m sure you don’t realize all the ways you effect, challenge, and strengthen other people and especially those of us on this blogosphere, but you do. I myself have learned a lot from you. So thank you.
Personally, “C” might need a couple cookies, a tall glass of milk, and a “just let it all out” session. I am around and work with budding authors, and let me just say that much tension will probably destroy any joy you could have recieved out of writing well and of appreciating others who do the same.
PS: I am so amazed that someone is willing to say such mean and demoralizing things a complete stranger. If they are a writer at all (as they claim) they should know the feeling of having their brainchild ruthlessly hacked at by someone who doesn’t care about their well-being. Perhaps this person has only recieved negativity in their lifetime. Perhaps they don’t know what it is to mutually rejoice at another’s joys. That is sad. Perhaps we should reach out in compassion.
OMG-osh! I probably shouldn’t be laughing…but seriously?! People are F-U-N-N-Y!
Now ‘scuse me…I’m off vote as many times as allowed! *wink*
…danielle
@danielleH says:
I was thinking about this and I thought
What would Jesus want?
“Jesus would people to choose Him”.
So. there.
Grrrrrr…my flesh ran in overdrive reading this, waste, unwanted useless material,…ie. garbage! I thin C may have a bit of jealousy or inferiority complex going….my advice to Mr. C:
Mark 11:25 – “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in Heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
Oh, and… Luke 6:37″Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven.”
Ok, I’m gonna go call some more people to vote for you now… grrrrrr
Sounds like a combination of someone with too much free time and a big heaping scoop of jealousy.
hahaha!!!
Alece, I’m going to second something you said at my blog:
I love my blog family! :lol:
Ya’ll ROCK!
c stands for a lot of things i wont type as this is a family friendly site but i can say it stands cor courage.
courage is what it takes write a story and have the whole word read it and then tell you what they think about it..
wonder if”c” has the courage to write something, enter it and then let all of us know that c did it so we can use big english words to pull c’s writing thru the ringer….
as all of you know my man niels wife the g&g girl has been asking a lot of suggestions lately on what she should do , should say , should give and then she has been putting picktures and blogs on here telling you and showing you what she has done..
i see some said that the blog after dc is one you that you , her friends are looking forward too..
i wonder if you can then also suggest several activity,s they could perform that you would want to read about, or difrent places the can go to do these activity,s and or possisions they can find themselfs in during these activity,s…
it seems like they are tired of these missionary posisions they have and are ready to break free from that for a weekend or so…
so lets see what you want to read….
when noah were building the arc they told him he was wasting wood …
as you are learning to write to change peoples destinys you will find the ignorant c’s ….
never stop writing , nevevr stop entering and never stop telling us… if you didnt blog about it i would not have known and would have missed that special event in your life..
“it seems like they are tired of these missionary posisions they have and are ready to break free from that for a weekend or so…”
OH
YOUR
HOLY
SMOKIN
COW
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!
So AB, how was the goodie bag?!
p.s. @ AB:
the red heels are in the mail. In fact, they are scheduled to arrive today. :shock: HAHA!!
Sounds like some people forgot to take their anti-bitter pills that day.
I hope you win!
@atangie says:
Ya’ done good kid!
@cassgirl says:
Whomever wins doesn’t count.
What counts is my Alece stood up, stood out and stamped out…
She rocks!!!
oh C… have a good day and be blessed on your carousel ride.!!
Alece, your blog never fails to entertain. I think of some posts and then think, “I could never post that.” I love that you DO! I’d love to know what you decided NOT to post. :)
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Niel, you are TOO funny!
Way to be a man. ‘Lece has some serious kinght-in-shining-armor power at her back. LOL! We need a serious jousting tournament. Anti against C. hahahahahahahahaha
Yeah, I thought I was posting that comment over hear… I was busy earlier in the week when I say your earlier post in my RSS reader and thought “I’ll check it out later.” So, I forgot all about it.
Thanks for this follow-up post. And kudos for stepin’ outta the boat.
According to UPS, you are now the proud owner of size 7.5 varsity red pumps from Wet Seal!
Go break those babies in! :lol:
@cassgirl says:
Brandy, You really did send the pumps?
YESIDID! HAHA!!
I’m sending you something in your email….(Heidi)
@cassgirl says:
I love mail
Fine day for Alece to take off….I want to see if those shoes fit!
@cassgirl says:
It’s Friday… she’s probably partying!! ha!!!
oooh maybe the shoes inspired her to get out and woooork it! hahaha!
I meant dancing. That kind of work it. Not pretty woman work it. :shock: hahahaha!!
Alece has red heels!!!
AH!
I love it.
Maybe you should’ve gotten pink, though, so as not to let them clash with her undies so much.
Red was the anti-bloggers request. :shock: HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
I love that we’re discussing red heels matching with her undies. hahahaha!!! She is going to die when she reads this! haha!
I’m off to bed girlies…. night!
She will. I wish I could see her beautiful face while she does.
Arby, you’re a genius-lady. Thanks for spicing things up a bit. Or ho-ing Alece out a bit, if you will (Heidi…). ;)
*giggling*
Okay so I’m not gone YET. I had to post some way cool pics on my blog. Check ‘em out!
Okay for reals now…. I’m going! I’m going!
:lol:
I loved your story Alece and vote for it. Unfortunately I could only vote once.
I think all the writers did a good job. Since anyone can vote it’s really a popularity contest. I would guess that every contestant told all their friends and family to vote for their story.
Perhaps your friend “C” just needs a partner like Niel to help them take their mind off being so competitive.
If you have seen any of the political adds polluting our airwaves you can see that instead of constructive dialogue we just prefer to sling mud.
Hey, Roo or Ed, swing by my place quick…there’s a new thingymajiggy I want to try out. :D
Kthanks
I checked it, I checked it!
hello-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oooo
I keep missing everyone by an hour. Bran! And, she’s gone, I’m sure.
everybody — my oh my, i’ve missed so much. i wish i had time right now to reply to some of these more specifically (a-hem! anti-blogger), but alas, i don’t.
i have such a kuh-ray-zee weekend, and (as you probably noticed already) i haven’t had much opportunity to get online. my poor laptop is going to go through withdrawals. oh wait, that would be me.
just know i’ve loved all these comments. and i can’t wait to reconnect with everybody.
(sigh)
shoes?! did you get THE shoes?! :shock:
heehee :lol:
Seriously. That’s all I wanna know, now! Shoes. It’s all about the shoes!
Go, Bran, go!
I will just chime in to say…you are right. There is nothing wrong with asking friends to chime in and vote. C and Babygrul need to….ah, chill out!
my my. You two are having fun, aren’t you? Haha.
us? fun? neeeeeeverrrrr. :lol: heehee
Naw. :D
If your still having issues, let me know and I
ll open a can of whoop a$$ on someone.
Of course that means that I’ll sick tam on them :)
did Brent just say a$$?! Looks a lot like ass to me.
he he he :lol:
I didn’t say a$$ I said a$$.
there is clearly a difference :)
@tamhodge says:
consider the can open!!!!
@tamhodge says:
i got your breast.
i mean back!
oopsies!
did someone say breast?
@cassgirl says:
It’s not breast… it’s lullabooby!!!
Speaking of which, anyone know what kind of bees make milk????
…
…
…
…
Ready?
..
..
Boo-bees!
Oh NO. That was … horribly awesome.
And yes, Arby. Someone said breast. :D
brent — i appreciate your willingness to be a can-opener for me. really, i do.
Ya, I know :)
By the way, I think I am more excited about September than, you know who…
I just realized what I said and it made no sense…never mind :)
How about I just leave a whole bunch of comments about cheese and rice…
Oh ya…loved the video of you 3 ladies. It seriously brought a tear to my eye.
who are you more excited than? more than me for sure. i’m sad i can’t be there.
and really? a tear? wow.
we were all disappointed that we didn’t get to see you the night we had our skype date with tam. sheesh, church is always getting in the way of fun.
@tamhodge says:
i love you alece!
youre just so dang darn dagammit lovable!
psh.