What are your thoughts? Do you care? What do you think of the nominations?

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

Answers

I'm like you about the Legacy Award---although at least this time (as opposed to some in the past) it's three who really DID make a big impact on the OLJ world. Renee was often my source of the best new journals and was a dynamite writer to boot, and Lucy's a good writer but is even more influential for doing the Archipelago ring, the first specialized ring within Open Pages, the first select one.

Yet I nominated Diane, and I know why I did it. Not only does she keep a dynamite journal, but her WHY WEB JOURNALS SUCK is perhaps the most influential single article about OLJs ever published, and for that alone she should get the Legacy. I'm friends with the other two, and I hope it doesn't hurt them, but I'm going to vote for Diane.

One nice thing about the Legacy Awards is that I CAN'T win the site awards any more....and I really wasn't expecting to win any particular entry awards. It's nice to not worry about it from a personal angle and look on the outside. I'd like a reader's choice award, and I'd like a slice-of-life award---yes, they might all fall under humor or drama, but is a quietly ironic one going to win against Rob or Pamie or Dave Van or Stee? Probably not. But of course it doesn't matter, I can spotlight the entries I think are good in Lives On-Line, and of course anyone who has an OLJ can link or promote anyone else's entry that they think is worth calling other people's attention to.

I was more pleased with the nominations this time than I have in previous ones. I thought it was a better, more representative sampling. I would have included Dave Van among the "humor" category, but that's just me.

Al of Nova Notes.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

I just want everyone to know (like I told you in an email) that several weeks ago I nominated you for best overall journal website (whatever the title of that specific category is.) I have an online journal, ALIVE AT FORTY-FIVE! (plug-plug) that I have neglected for months (slug-slug) and it pales in comparision to what you do, as do most other journals I have surfed across.

Your website offers everything. (I keep looking for the quarter slot on my monitor to insert my quarter so it will wash my laundry. (Where is it, Beth? My clothes are starting to stink?) How in the world do you find time to do it all?

I am sorry for all my over-enthusiasm, and I swear I am not a stalker like you are with Sara. (Just kidding.) I just appreciate all your efforts and I am thoroughly flabbergasted that you don't win the Diarist.Net best overall journal every time.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

I don't care. BUT. That's only because I don't *have* an online journal and so I can't vote and so caring would be like caring about elections in this country when I'm not a citizen and can't vote here either. (in other words, i do a little but i try to pretend i don't. heh.) I want a Reader's Choice award! Let us sloths have our say!

marianne PS (although, if it weren't for us readers-only, who would slavishly read and adore all of you. i mean, you guys are BUSY. you don't have TIME for long rambling adoring emails to tens of people you don't know. (granted, some of you manage it anyway, i have it on good faith;). ))

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

I checked my referrer logs this morning and saw all those lovely "xeney.coms" popping up. I love that. Then I come over and read the damn thing and I'm completely floored. Thank you!

And if you want to stalk me, well, I'd be honored. You could, like, casually hang around outside of my office and leave little notes on my car. I could pretend like you're a big nuisance but I'd secretly be thrilled.

Whaddya say? Wanna come to Florida and stalk me?

sa

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

I think the awards are a good idea, and a nice way to acknowledge people who have made a contribution to the community.

However, like Beth, I was also struck by the fact that the "old guard" has been conspicuously absent from the lists of nominees. Gus and Gabby (and at the risk of sounding immodest, I) have never been nominated for anything, and most of the people who have been nominated for legacy awards haven't been nominated for anything else: Lucy, Diane, Kymm, etc.

I can see why people might feel that these "old-timers" might have already had their share of kudos, but I think it would be nice to have an award system which acknowledges those whose success is long-lived.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

Catherine Jamieson (of Naked Eye) and I had an email conversation about this whole thing yesterday. The point I made to her, which I will re-state here in this more public forum, is that it's nice to get respect from people you admire. For example, when you (Beth) and Sara complimented my *humble* site, I was trembling and wagging my tail in a manner not unlike I imagine Doc does when you scratch him in that special spot...

And so the Diarist Awards serve a purpose. I would like to see a write-in slot, but when I suggested that to Ryan of Diarist.net, he reminded me that I *could* have nominated Catherine during that phase of the process (I'd nominate her for Best Use of Multimedia, for sure).

Since I don't really participate much in the "community," I was out of the loop on the dates of the nomination process. Next time, I'll be more prepared.

Molly (Sleep

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

I agree with Jen here. Definitely. I was actually nominated for Best Writing by someone this last go round, which I only knew about when we, the panel, were given the list of nominees. I was very touched, because the person who did it is someone who I like and respect and so I sent s/he a thank you email. Much to my surprise, I was quite pleased to be nominated.

I don't think that anyone who has kept a journal for less than 18 months should even be nominated for the Legacy Award.

I think, maybe, that part of the situation is that a lot of people who are currently active in the community haven't been around long enough to fully appreciate Gus or Diane or Ceej or Nigel or Jen or Ryan/Kat etc. Does anyone remember when, upon Sage's return this past year, that (newish) people on diary-l got upset that a big deal was being made about it?

At the same time, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the idea that just because there are people who've been around since back in the day, that they automatically deserve mega-props from the newbies - or anyone. It's a fine line to tread.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

Oh, God. It's awfully embarrassing being the Susan Lucci of anything. And I don't even get to be a pretentiously experimental Susan Lucci. And damn that Toni-- people have to be on crack to vote for my entry.

Well, I'm more concerned with the death of Story Magazine than these awards. I was oh so close to getting in there-- and now their going out of business. I'm the Susan Lucci of Story Magazine too.

Hey, Bob Marley says everything's gonna be all right.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

Well, Jim, I hate to sound sappy, but in this case I think it probably is a big honor to have been nominated for Best Writing ... in every single quarter. That's pretty damn impressive, if you ask me.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

I just find it fun that a nomination apparently means that you will get a small jump in hits every quarter. I was nominated last quarter and I'm seeing http://www.diarist.net/blabbityblah showing up all over again in my logs.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

Oh, don't get me wrong, Beth. I'm honored. Three panels, three nominations. That's very kind of them. But I'm just not sweating it.

Funny thing is, I probably get more attention by being a finalist every time than I would if I just won the damn thing. Sort of like-- well, Susan Lucci.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

BETH DOESN'T CARE ABOUT ME AND MY STUPID COLLABORATIVE ENTRY!!! I MUST KILL MYSELF NOW!!!

Even though there's no way mine is anywhere near the winners' circle... someone wrote about the high school hostage crisis at Olivehurst High School in Marysville.

Damnit, why couldn't they have held my school hostage instead, then I'd have a chance of winning (and maybe some of the inbreeding would have slowed down...)

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

Oops, sorry Stasi, I did actually vote for you! I just don't care about the particular subject -- I don't know why collaborative entries should get their own category. Please don't come to my house and sick your dog on me.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

Whoo! I feel special that I voted for nearly all the same people that Beth did, on the entry finalists, that is.

I had a real hard time voting for site finalists, because I just don't feel like I have the time to really sit down and read eveyrone and make an informed decision. I could just go randomly pick people, but I don't feel that would be fair.

As for the awards themselves, my views are beginning to change a bit ont he awards. I think I'm lightening up. *Grin*

As happens every quarter, Diary-L had a run of Diarist.net talk recently. Someone mentioned that comparing journals was stoopid because comparing peoples' lives is something that should not be done. I responded (the same way a couple of other people did, really) that it's not comparing the lives, but comparing the telling of the lives. How people share their stories with us.

And as for the "same old crowd" getting the awards or being nominated or any "in" vs. "out" crowd period? I'm SO sick of that discussion that I just don't care anymore. People are going to believe what they want about the Journal Community's "Class System", and the people who are accused of being in the "in" crowd are never going to come right out and say: "Yes! There is an in crowd and you are SOOOO not a part of it, and you never will be! Mop the floor! Clean up this code! What the hell is that IMG SRC doing there?!? Didn't I tell you to put that away?!? And you want to be IN? HA! It will never happen!"

We all just need to climb up on that stool and take a big ole' step over ourselves. (=

Just my humble lil' opinion, of course. (=

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

LOL Jolene! So I think it's about time you came over here and cleaned the house for the omnipresent and ever-so "in" stasi? Yes, I think so.

Ok Beth, I won't sick Bailey on you, THIS TIME! I'll get you next time gadget... next time.

No really, I think the reason collab entries are a category is because you're asked to write on a certain topic, instead of just what is on your mind that day. Sometimes it's hard to come up with a really good entry about your favorite kind of ice cream, you know? Or in my case, "losing a friend." I like the collabs, because they challenge me to write something thoughtful and focused, rather than just spew about any given topic I well please. And so being nominated for that writing is more special to me, because it was thought out and planned writing rather than spontaneous stuff. In my opinion, besides the "best writing" award, it's one of the most complimentary awards you can receive in regards to your actual writing skills.

Or not.

hehe --stasi

-- Anonymous, November 09, 1999

I think the awards are nice, but for a limited purpose. It's great that people who write interesting or funny entries get recognition. Peer review doesn't necessarily evaluate on-line journals as art, though, which they are. OLJs are valid objects for literary criticism, and such criticism could help bring the art form to more self-consciousness (check out http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Birdland/2546/index.html if you don't think some members of the community have achieved that consciousness).

I do not mean to invalidate the awards that are given, or to suggest that a panel of on-line journalers can't, or isn't entitled to, recognize quality in their peers' writing. I am saying that the awards are not likely to be objective judgments of quality. The OLJ world is, as anyone can see, rife with clicques and grudges. Some of the best OLJs are written by the most offensive clicque-hangers and grudge-keepers -- good art precisely it makes me edgy. Obviously, however, a panel that doesn't belong to the same clicques or hold the same grudges isn't going to make an award to that artist.

Is this a problem? OLJs aren't intended to make money, so no one's economic interest is being hurt. But awards lead to links, in turn leading to more hits, which encourage the writer to keep writing. Assuming that it is important to foster good art (I think it is), then a more objective sort of award-making device is desirable.

-- Anonymous, November 10, 1999

(I couldn't get in here to post all yesterday, kept getting timeouts. what's up with that?)

Since I can't vote, it is a bit like reading about elections in a foreign country. Since I've been reading some journals for a while now, I still am opinionated about the awards.

I'm not sure how much they mean. Many people seem to say they voted for the one they were most familiar with rather than the "best" one. I agree with Tom that the awards aren't objective. I don't know that that's bad, but it seems naive to claim otherwise. As far as legacy awards are concerned, do people know enough about who's really been most influential etc? Again it seems like people say they voted for the one that inspired them or whatever. I only know who's been influential on me, yet there are people who are apparently pillars of hte journaling community who I've only recently become aware of or never got into reading.

It seems to come down to style preferences, for me at least. There are journals whose authors are "good" writers by some objective standard, but I just don't like their style. I like the humor-in- everyday-life ones better than the how-I-survive-each-day ones. The latter ones seem to win a lot of prizes, though, so somebody must like them. But I roll my eyes (mentally) when people refer to certain of these as great writing. I agree with somebody somewhere who said it's like the Academy Awards, where the actor who played an autistic alcoholic in a wheelchair, with an accent, is gonna win.

you can't go by hits, either - there are a couple I read regularly because the person annoys me so much, yet I can't wait to see what idiotic thing they'll say next.

Oh, I'll admit it - if I did a journal, I'd want to win prizes, and would be a little sulky if I didn't. The old "how can they like HER when I'm so much more DESERVING" thing. I've been thinking about doing a journal and the envy I'd feel if I wasn't popular may not be another source of angst that I need in my life. I'm still getting over not being one of hte popular kids in the online community to which I belong.

-- Anonymous, November 10, 1999

Well, there is a buzz going on for Readers' Choice awards to go along with the Diarist.net awards. There's a discussion forum here if any of you non-journaling journal readers want to get involved.

-- Anonymous, November 10, 1999