Excuse my making a thread for such a minor question, but I couldn't see anywhere else to fit it.
As I understand it, everyone's submissions are contained on a magical judge-only messageboard which the general public cannot access. Does it ever become possible to see your original entry thread and the comments made therein? I'd be interested in seeing what the judges' first impressions were for my own entry, if any (even if it was just, "Egad, this is horrible. Reject!").
I realize that every year there is a "critique my item" thread if you wanted get the judges' comments. So I'm assuming the answer is no. But I imagine that somehow enabling entrants to see only their own entry thread (maybe without the ability to comment) would save the judges a lot of work. :p
No, they will likely won't release access to the comments for your item.
I recall a few reasons that they have given why they wouldn't do it.
A lot of the comments they make aren't really helpful for designers. I response for a reject may be "Reject. Spell-in-a-can." with the next judge just hitting the reject button when they agree, no additional commentary needed.
Their unfiltered commentary would be seen as quite brutal in many cases, after so many items, they may be not so nice in their responses.
In the cases of other items, they may start comparing it to another entrants item, in which case, they can't give the contestant blanket access to their own item thread without letting them see the judge's thoughts on the other item as well.
What Joshua said: No.
Or what Jack said: You can't handle the truth!
This comes up every year, the answer will remain the same for many years to come.
Hah, all right, message received! Thanks. :D
Once round 1 is over we will start the customary "critique my item" thread. If you want to know your feedback, post your item there and we will cut and paste the relevant comments.
Its not so much that "you can't handle the truth," its more the bluntness with which we often discuss items could be interpreted the wrong way. We review so many items, as you know, that we develop a shorthand. But that bluntness could be interpreted wrong.
But beyond that, we judges expect our discussions to be confidential and we don't want to have to think about limiting our discussions while in the judges chambers. We want to be free to make whatever comments seem appropriate.
Plus, we often cross-reference items. For instance, in Item X's thread we may write: "This item, X, is similar to item Y but I think item Y is better because ABC." We have no real way to cross reference if Item Y's author has agreed that their entry can be public.
But the real reason we can't post the original comments is that I am just flat funnier than Sean, Neil and Ryan and they are big babies and don't want the world to be able to see it so they ganged up on me and prevented my comments from being public for fear their own shortfalls will be exposed.
But the real reason we can't post the original comments is that I am just flat funnier than Sean, Neil and Ryan and they are big babies and don't want the world to be able to see it so they ganged up on me and prevented my comments from being public for fear their own shortfalls will be exposed.
::scoff::
Please. One of my comments proved humorous enough that it warranted a "favorite" from a fellow judge. ;-P
Neil, you speaking about your comment being a favorite or the item? LOL
Definitely not the item. We blow off steam sometimes with a little invocation of humor to get us through.
::scoff::
Please. One of my comments proved humorous enough that it warranted a "favorite" from a fellow judge. ;-P
See the jealousy! :)
Yes. I see now how my desires were selfish. They are tearing you apart from each other! Can you not forgive a fool?
(Also Happy New Year! I played Champonge (Champagne + beer pong)