As everyone knows it is time begin a new Blogging for Progress Scholarship Competition. I am very excited to see how many new users we have gained in the past couple of weeks. I am equally happy to see that some of our prominant bloggers, who did not win the contest last semester, but came close, have also returned. However, there are some house-keeping issues that follow a new competition.
First of all it is important to remember to be polite and be fair. Even though this is just a blog, all of us still need to be conscious of peoples' feelings and recognize before we post things that our opinions always sound harsher in print. Sometimes we all, me included, write things and think we sound perfectly conversational, however in someone else's mind, our statements undoubtedly are argumentative. I am not going to say names, but for anyone who was here last semester, I am still disappointed by the behavior I saw toward the end of the competition between certain bloggers. It was uncalled for and unprofessional, and I hope that we can all be mature and courteous enough this semester that I dont ever have to touch on this subject again.
In tandom with that subject, comes the new ratings system. Please dont abuse it. In other words, dont rate other users' posts poorly just becasue you do not like that user. If the blog was well-written then rate it as such. Or just dont rate it at all. The rating system is meant as a feedback for users during the contest so that they can track their progress as a blogger and it really does not serve its purpose if people abuse it.
Also, please remember to blog on topic. By this I mean, on subjects that fall into the progressive categories and principles. If you are not sure your blog falls into either of those two groups, then it probably should not be posted on PU. I dont say this to be mean, I say this because I am really dedicated to keeping the integrity of the site high.
And as always, if you have any questions, you can direct them to me personally if you feel uncomfortable posting them for the world to see. Or you can post them in our forum, where they are likely to be answered quicker since we have several moderaters that are on here at opposite times.
Bon Chance!
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Aloha kâkou! Aloha to all of us!
I was worried when I went on the forum and saw a post about people stalking the site 24/7 to get the best chance to win. I thought this wasn't fair because alot of other people have lives to live out and are earnestly trying to put their best foot forward.
I want people to be fair and rate based on content. Does it have to be a school popularity contest?
I'm trying my best to engage my readers and I'm appalled that someone who has the time of day to sit on the computer for most of their lives is going to get the upper hand just because they have the leisure to do so!!
Unfortunately that is how the mechanism of this site works, and it is probably a bit fairer and less subjective than picking out the 3 best blogs and giving them the money. As always those who have the time and energy to write many blogs that garner many comments will win. The rating system and other changes should help to keep things even, but it is still going to take a lot of time if you want to win.
In an entirely pragmatic and non-threatening way I suggest you decide now seriously you are going to take this. Do some thinking about the way the contest is judged and the way points are accrued. The person with the most blogs and comments will win, period (I am still not certain if the rating system affects points). That means time and effort and decent typing skills.
Whether you win or not (I realized about 3/4 of the way through last time that I didn't have the time to post enough blogs) you will meet many interesting people and get in many interesting conversations. I am certain people will like you much better when you post real blogs and not two paragraph gibberish, and you will be rewarded with high ratings.
Res ipsa loquitur.
memor mori, mahalo.
The rating system does not affect points as far as I know. It is just a feedback source fo writers.
And it is not necessarially the blogger with the most posts that wins. 5 comments = 1 post. There are many other easy ways to rack up points as well. Good luck figuring them out, lol.
Francesca Chambers
My fingers are crossed that this go around is better than the last. The fighting between users was absolutely childish last contest and likely turned off many would be awesome additions to PU. I wish bloggers that resorted to name calling and fighting constantly would be given the boot from PU for that very reason (turning potential users off). I'd personally rather discuss (anything) with many of those that read those fighting blogs and say forget it than any of those that fight all the time. Folks, let's be above childish and petty bickering this time... please!
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss
This is my first time being part of this scholarship.
What do you want a marxist bubble? I am rather far to the right (although on certain issues I moderate, and the most boring thing I have ever done is log onto the freeper website.
There was no debate. All I ever read was "Bush is awesome." Are you insecure in your beliefs? You dont want them to be challenged?
Verbal wars are apart of the experience. Politics is a dirty game; always has been always will be. When bloggers insist on making comments that are not at all in accord with reason I have a hard time not telling them that they are an idiot.
Finally, people do not rate on the prose, or the excellent presentation, but rather based on views. Nothing honest is going to come of the rating system. Some of the most pointless blogs garner rather high ratings with this system.
By the way, unless you want to waste youre entire semester blogging, you will not win the scholarship. I personaly joined for the debate, and the verbal fisticuffs.
"Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil."-C.S. Lewis