Yahoo Forum Archive

Thank you Marta. (Haven't had time to read the comments there yet - off to church!)

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hi curiouswombat,
>
> Thanks for the reminder. In all the shuffle I hadn't gotten around to it,
> but I have now. You can see that post here:
>
> http://mefas.livejournal.com/309037.html
>
> Marta
>
> On Sat, Jun 30, 2012 at 5:47 PM, voirreyj <voirreyjohnson@...> wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> > Marta - I know you are all busy at the moment, but could I ask again, on
> > behalf of anyone else who watches the LJ community for news, rather than
> > being a member of the Yahoo group, that one of the five people with posting
> > access to it put a short post to say that this discussion is happening
> > here? Possibly with a link?
> >
> > I doubt all 125 people who watch the LJ group are also part of this group.
> >
> > Perhaps just 'once the new season is under way we will be hosting a
> > discussion here of the problems people foresee with the new ratings system
> > as there have been a number of people posting about this on the Yahoo group
> > (insrt link here!)'
> >
> > At the moment it is all a bit cliquey as the only people aware of this
> > discussion are going to be those with Yahoo accounts.
> >
> > Thank you, curiouswombat
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Hey all -

I was looking at the site and see it has been updated with the stories that competed last years...or at least, I saw my story that competed. The reviews I received don't seem to be there, though, and I was wondering if there was some kind of glitch about the upload. I think there should have been 13 (there might have been more): instead, I see the last review I received, from the exquisite IgnobleBard, repeated three times:

http://archive.mefawards.org/story_info.php?story=487&year=2011

I also wondered if we have any history of author responses we made to reviews received? The onus was probably on me to make a back-up, but I failed to do that, so I figured I'd ask.

~ The Lauderdale

Hi Lauderdale,

Sorry about that. With everything that's been going on recently, I had to
abandon my work on getting the archive updated. I only managed to get the
2011 stories uploaded. There had been a glitch with importing the reviews
(we have an entirely new database format starting in 2011, so I can't use
the same methods used in previous years), but I never got back to fixing
it. I'll go delete the reviews that are in there for now (just from the
archive, the original reviews are still in my copy of the 2011 awards
database).

The archive is on the back burner right now while we deal with everything
else. Review replies will be included with the import, but I really have no
idea when I'll be able to get back to working on the archive at this time.
If there is a particular review or reply you are looking for, I can try to
find it for you in the database after the awards are under way (next
weekend?).

Thanks,
Aranel

On Sun, Jul 1, 2012 at 11:20 AM, mvoltfan <cartoon6@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Hey all -
>
> I was looking at the site and see it has been updated with the stories
> that competed last years...or at least, I saw my story that competed. The
> reviews I received don't seem to be there, though, and I was wondering if
> there was some kind of glitch about the upload. I think there should have
> been 13 (there might have been more): instead, I see the last review I
> received, from the exquisite IgnobleBard, repeated three times:
>
> http://archive.mefawards.org/story_info.php?story=487&year=2011
>
> I also wondered if we have any history of author responses we made to
> reviews received? The onus was probably on me to make a back-up, but I
> failed to do that, so I figured I'd ask.
>
> ~ The Lauderdale
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I am sorry, Marta, that that LJ post seems to have developed a life of its own - I suppose I should have guessed...

But there will now be a good deal of useful stuff there for you, and as many others as possible, to consider once this year's awards are up and running, rather than everyone feeling that 'we'll look at it in September' is just fobbing them off. Not that I want to imply that you meant it that way - just that it seems as if some saw it as such.

curiouswombat

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hi curiouswombat,
>
> Thanks for the reminder. In all the shuffle I hadn't gotten around to it,
> but I have now. You can see that post here:
>
> http://mefas.livejournal.com/309037.html
>
> Marta
>
> On Sat, Jun 30, 2012 at 5:47 PM, voirreyj <voirreyjohnson@...> wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> > Marta - I know you are all busy at the moment, but could I ask again, on
> > behalf of anyone else who watches the LJ community for news, rather than
> > being a member of the Yahoo group, that one of the five people with posting
> > access to it put a short post to say that this discussion is happening
> > here? Possibly with a link?
> >
> > I doubt all 125 people who watch the LJ group are also part of this group.
> >
> > Perhaps just 'once the new season is under way we will be hosting a
> > discussion here of the problems people foresee with the new ratings system
> > as there have been a number of people posting about this on the Yahoo group
> > (insrt link here!)'
> >
> > At the moment it is all a bit cliquey as the only people aware of this
> > discussion are going to be those with Yahoo accounts.
> >
> > Thank you, curiouswombat
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Real life has been consuming my time the last few days. I, too, would like to
be made part of any group that discusses this situation, both because I'm on the
ratings team this year, and because I write stories that examine many very adult
themes in spite of being purposely written to lessen the impact of the topics so
as not to be terrifically offensive.
Bonnie L. Sherrell
Teacher at Large

"Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." LOTR

"Don't go where I can't follow."

"The archive is on the back burner right now while we deal with everything else."

That's perfectly understandable. Thank you for your quick reply.

~ The Lauderdale

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Aranel Took <araneltook@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Lauderdale,
>
> Sorry about that. With everything that's been going on recently, I had to
> abandon my work on getting the archive updated. I only managed to get the
> 2011 stories uploaded. There had been a glitch with importing the reviews
> (we have an entirely new database format starting in 2011, so I can't use
> the same methods used in previous years), but I never got back to fixing
> it. I'll go delete the reviews that are in there for now (just from the
> archive, the original reviews are still in my copy of the 2011 awards
> database).
>
> The archive is on the back burner right now while we deal with everything
> else. Review replies will be included with the import, but I really have no
> idea when I'll be able to get back to working on the archive at this time.
> If there is a particular review or reply you are looking for, I can try to
> find it for you in the database after the awards are under way (next
> weekend?).
>
> Thanks,
> Aranel
>
> On Sun, Jul 1, 2012 at 11:20 AM, mvoltfan <cartoon6@...> wrote:
>
> > Hey all -
> >
> > I was looking at the site and see it has been updated with the stories
> > that competed last years...or at least, I saw my story that competed. The
> > reviews I received don't seem to be there, though, and I was wondering if
> > there was some kind of glitch about the upload. I think there should have
> > been 13 (there might have been more): instead, I see the last review I
> > received, from the exquisite IgnobleBard, repeated three times:
> >
> > http://archive.mefawards.org/story_info.php?story=487&year=2011
> >
> > I also wondered if we have any history of author responses we made to
> > reviews received? The onus was probably on me to make a back-up, but I
> > failed to do that, so I figured I'd ask.
> >
> > ~ The Lauderdale
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

"The archive is on the back burner right now while we deal with everything else."

That's perfectly understandable. Thank you for your quick reply.

~ The Lauderdale

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Aranel Took <araneltook@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Lauderdale,
>
> Sorry about that. With everything that's been going on recently, I had to
> abandon my work on getting the archive updated. I only managed to get the
> 2011 stories uploaded. There had been a glitch with importing the reviews
> (we have an entirely new database format starting in 2011, so I can't use
> the same methods used in previous years), but I never got back to fixing
> it. I'll go delete the reviews that are in there for now (just from the
> archive, the original reviews are still in my copy of the 2011 awards
> database).
>
> The archive is on the back burner right now while we deal with everything
> else. Review replies will be included with the import, but I really have no
> idea when I'll be able to get back to working on the archive at this time.
> If there is a particular review or reply you are looking for, I can try to
> find it for you in the database after the awards are under way (next
> weekend?).
>
> Thanks,
> Aranel
>
> On Sun, Jul 1, 2012 at 11:20 AM, mvoltfan <cartoon6@...> wrote:
>
> > Hey all -
> >
> > I was looking at the site and see it has been updated with the stories
> > that competed last years...or at least, I saw my story that competed. The
> > reviews I received don't seem to be there, though, and I was wondering if
> > there was some kind of glitch about the upload. I think there should have
> > been 13 (there might have been more): instead, I see the last review I
> > received, from the exquisite IgnobleBard, repeated three times:
> >
> > http://archive.mefawards.org/story_info.php?story=487&year=2011
> >
> > I also wondered if we have any history of author responses we made to
> > reviews received? The onus was probably on me to make a back-up, but I
> > failed to do that, so I figured I'd ask.
> >
> > ~ The Lauderdale
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[Note: This letter represents the collective position of the MEFA
participants listed below.]

Following on from the letter we posted here at the MEFAwards Yahoo
Groups on 29th June 2012, titled "MEFAwards 2012 Ratings System:
Objections and Alternative Proposals"
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/message/11147> , and from the
MEFAwards Admin response
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/message/11148> , the ensuing
debate involving a wide range of members suggests that there is an
immediate need for a forum in a user-friendly venue to openly discuss
the issues raised about the current ratings policy. The ultimate
objective of this discussion is the agreement on a new, improved policy
and procedure for the MEFA Awards in the 2013 season.

We recognise the pressures that the opening of the current 2012 season
of the awards will place on the MEFA Admin team in the short term, but
we believe it is crucial that the discussion is not delayed until
September, as it has been proposed by the Admin team. A postponement of
this discussion might result in an undesirable reduction of the current
level of engagement by all parties and perhaps cause an erroneous
perception about the matter being settled, implying acceptance of the
2012 policy for subsequent years.

Therefore, we have created a new MEFA Ratings Discussion Community
<http://mefa-ratings.livejournal.com/> on LJ, fully open to posts and
comments by all, so as to encourage wide participation in the debate
from as many MEFA members as possible. After quick consultation, it was
apparent that LJ will improve usability over the current forum based on
the Yahoo Groups platform. Equally, though we appreciate the new post
about the topic in the MEFA LJ community, participants can only comment
on the existing entry, and soon it will prove cumbersome to everyone to
navigate through a large single thread.

We urge the MEFA Admin team to join us in the MEFA Ratings Discussion
Community <http://mefa-ratings.livejournal.com/> where they will be
most welcome at all times, and we look forward to collectively
discussing and agreeing the best option for the implementation of new
and simplified ratings policy and procedure in 2013.

Signed,

Aeärwen
Elfscribe
Elleth
Grey Gazania
Jael
Kimberleighe
Oshun
Pandemonium_213
Russandol
Samtyr
Scarlet10
Spiced Wine
Surgical Steel
The Lauderdale




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello Russandol and all,

As I have previously explained, I'm not able to follow a detailed policy
discussion on the eve of the new awards, especially with my own RL
obligations right now. I did make one post to the [mefas] LJ community that
several people have used to discuss the new content advisory policy. I
actually had asked people not to to debate the policy now, but I haven't
stopped people from doing that in that LJ post.

We need this Yahoo group to focus on the business of running the awards -
new authors and voters will join it to find out how things actually are run
this year, and to get help as they try to find their way around a complex
site. The LJ community also serves a similar purpose for those people more
comfortable with LJ than Yahoo.

If you and the other people interested in how the MEFA handles ratings want
to discuss it among yourself, that's of course your right. Anyone who wants
to should feel free to do that on their own.

Marta

On Sun, Jul 1, 2012 at 7:15 PM, nelyo_russandol <nmrussandol@gmail.com>wrote:

> **
>
>
> [Note: This letter represents the collective position of the MEFA
> participants listed below.]
>
> Following on from the letter we posted here at the MEFAwards Yahoo
> Groups on 29th June 2012, titled "MEFAwards 2012 Ratings System:
> Objections and Alternative Proposals"
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/message/11147> , and from the
> MEFAwards Admin response
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/message/11148> , the ensuing
> debate involving a wide range of members suggests that there is an
> immediate need for a forum in a user-friendly venue to openly discuss
> the issues raised about the current ratings policy. The ultimate
> objective of this discussion is the agreement on a new, improved policy
> and procedure for the MEFA Awards in the 2013 season.
>
> We recognise the pressures that the opening of the current 2012 season
> of the awards will place on the MEFA Admin team in the short term, but
> we believe it is crucial that the discussion is not delayed until
> September, as it has been proposed by the Admin team. A postponement of
> this discussion might result in an undesirable reduction of the current
> level of engagement by all parties and perhaps cause an erroneous
> perception about the matter being settled, implying acceptance of the
> 2012 policy for subsequent years.
>
> Therefore, we have created a new MEFA Ratings Discussion Community
> <http://mefa-ratings.livejournal.com/> on LJ, fully open to posts and
> comments by all, so as to encourage wide participation in the debate
> from as many MEFA members as possible. After quick consultation, it was
> apparent that LJ will improve usability over the current forum based on
> the Yahoo Groups platform. Equally, though we appreciate the new post
> about the topic in the MEFA LJ community, participants can only comment
> on the existing entry, and soon it will prove cumbersome to everyone to
> navigate through a large single thread.
>
> We urge the MEFA Admin team to join us in the MEFA Ratings Discussion
> Community <http://mefa-ratings.livejournal.com/> where they will be
> most welcome at all times, and we look forward to collectively
> discussing and agreeing the best option for the implementation of new
> and simplified ratings policy and procedure in 2013.
>
> Signed,
>
> Aeýrwen
> Elfscribe
> Elleth
> Grey Gazania
> Jael
> Kimberleighe
> Oshun
> Pandemonium_213
> Russandol
> Samtyr
> Scarlet10
> Spiced Wine
> Surgical Steel
> The Lauderdale
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>
> If you and the other people interested in how the MEFA handles ratings
> want to discuss it among yourself, that's of course your right. Anyone who
> wants to should feel free to do that on their own.
>
>

I accidentally hit "send" instead of the backspace key; my apologies.
*head/desk* I meant to say:

If you and other people interested in how the MEFA handles ratings want to
discuss it among yourself, that's of course your right. Anyone who wants to
should feel free to do so in the group provided or on their own. However, I
won't personally be able to participate.

Marta


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Enter your vote today! A new poll has been created for the
MEFAwards group:

Which of the following would you prefer:

o Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies currently announced
o Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final season


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Hey guys,



Over the last several days this list has been buzzing about our new content
advisory policy. This list has actually only been one aspect of everything
that's going on. Elliska, the member whose job contract I mentioned a few
days ago, has been attacked through anonymous reviews of her stories. She
also had her perceived religious identity attacked ý and, while this
perception turned out to be wrong, it hit much closer to the mark when it
came to me. (Right or wrong, personal attacks like this are completely
inappropriate.) I also have been accused of purposely obstructing the
discussions about rating, of filibustering and censoring authors and trying
to put off changes rather than taking people seriously. I've also been
talked down to and embarrassed before large groups of people.



The truth of the matter is I'm just a grad student. The MEFAs are playtime
for me, a way to relax and encourage creativity ý scheming is entirely too
much work. :-) But they do take a lot of my time. During the busy parts of
the awards (nominations and categorizing) I probably worked on the awards
at least 3-4 hours a night, out of a fondness for this fandom generally and
this awards in particular. I continued to work the rest of the year trying
to make the MEFAs better, albeit for less time (I'd estimate ten hours a
week on average during the rest of the year). I've also donated several
hundred of dollars toward hosting costs over the years.



Other people have worked many more hours than I have, and for much longer
periods of time; our first administrator Ainaechoiriel, and our webmasters
Aranel Took, Tanaqui, and Anthony Holder jump to mind, not to mention all
the liaisons, categorizers, banner makers and other volunteers who have
been "insufficiently reluctant" over the years. None of us were paid in
anything except gratitude (which we certainly appreciated!), and in the
hope that the MEFAs were a positive contribution to the fandom. We did this
because it made our corner of the internet a better place, and because it
was fun.



But these last several days have not been fun. I don't mind vigorous debate
and was fully prepared to discuss people's concerns with them, once I had
the time to do that. This wasn't a delaying tactic ý it's the simple
reality that I didn't have time right now to discuss policies and to give
these concerns the consideration they deserve. But the way people presented
and kept pressing these complaints has made the MEFAs less a pleasure and
more a stressful burden for me.



Speaking for myself, I have gone from sorta-kinda dreading the 2012 awards,
to wanting to quit after the 2012 awards, to wanting to quit *now*. I have
also talked to several other volunteers without whose help I could not run
these awards, and they told me that they also didn't want to carry on with
the MEFAs. (In the interest of transparency: that's Aranel Took, Inkling,
and Elliska.) On top of getting ready for the 2012 awards and trying to
answer concerns about the new content advisory policy, we started having
one of the most difficult discussions I've ever had: whether to keep
putting on the MEFAs.



I have loved working with the MEFAs since they started eight years ago. As
far as I know, Inkling, Elliska, and Aranel Took all feel similarly toward
the awards, or at least they did until recently. We've had a lot of fun
putting them on, and many of the authors, readers and other volunteers who
participated seemed to enjoy them. But after discussing the current state
of things, we all came to the same conclusion: it simply isn't worth the
effort anymore. If the reaction to the ratings policy is any indication,
we're also apparently out of synch with the priorities of many fandom
members. If that's right, then other people more in the swing of fandom
these days can probably put on events that will make better use of peoples'
time.



The bottom line: I am not willing to put so much time and energy into
running an awards that lately has become so painful ý certainly not past
the 2012 awards. Aranel, Elliska, and Inkling aren't willing to do that
either. Other people have of course been crucial to the MEFAs' success; I'm
certainly aware of that (and thankful to those people!), and I don't want
to dismiss their hard work. But the four of us are the volunteers most
experienced with the processes required to manage the membership as well as
the nomination and categorization seasons--the core administrative parts of
the awards. With all of us leaving together, we do not believe that MEFAs
can continue to function adequately.



In light of that, we don't plan to run the MEFAs in 2013 or in any future
years. That doesn't mean the spirit of the MEFAs has to die. We invite
people who like our basic format (awards where you vote by leaving comments
ý a style of awards that actually originated in the Star Trek fandom years
ago, not with us) to develop their own awards set up along similar lines.
You can code your own website or, if you want to start small, run it
through a listserv or other online forum like we did back in 2004.



Aranel has also agreed to continue to host the MEFA Archive, so our archive
of past nominations, winners, and reviews will still be available at
www.mefawards.org. I've always said after every year that just because the
voting ends, it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the nominated stories.
You can still read the stories and leave them reviews at their archive even
if MEFA voting is closed ý what author doesn't love a new review on an old
piece? If anything, that applies now more than ever.



As for the 2012 awards, we are basically ready to go with those ý but I
only want to do that if people still want them. I'd like everyone's opinion
here. Should 2011 be our last year, or would you like one more round? I've
set up two polls, one at the [MEFAwards] Yahoo group and another at the
[mefas] LiveJournal community, asking the following question:



*Which of the following would you prefer:*

*1. **Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies
currently announced*

*2. **Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final
season*



Please vote at *one* of these places by Friday night. If you cannot vote at
either Yahoo or LJ, email me at mefasupportATgmailDOTcom. The poll will
stay open until 11:59 PM on Friday July 6.



(The Yahoo version is available at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639)



And thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! I'll do a
more proper thank-you once we decide whether to have the 2012 awards or
not. This group has brought so many talented and passionate people from
different archives and corners of fandom together ý very appropriate for a
group built around our love of the Fellowship of the Nine and all the
alliances before it that made that quest possible.



Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,

Marta


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

well. somehow i'm unable to access the group with the yahoo id that the
messages are being sent to, but I would love to see the 2012 go on as
planned. I am fine with the rules and policies as currently announced.

* **
*Becky Burkheart*
*Write Horses Right ~ avoid the The 33 Worst Mistakes Writers Make About
Horses<http://aconspiracyofauthors.com/acoajoom/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=77>

*Short and Twisted Fairy
Tales<http://www.amazon.com/Short-Twisted-Fairy-Tales-ebook/dp/B008C33UEK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340341155&sr=1-1>
Unique
twists on seven classic fairy tales*

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 4:18 PM, <MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

>
> Enter your vote today! A new poll has been created for the
> MEFAwards group:
>
> Which of the following would you prefer:
>
> o Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies currently
> announced
> o Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final season
>
>
> To vote, please visit the following web page:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639
>
> Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
> not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
> web site listed above.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'm very sorry it has come to this. I would love to see one more year, as
i've already said, but it it's not to be, I completely understand.

As far as I'm concerned, the world will be a bit smaller and darker without
the generosity and cooperation that made the MEFAs special. It's the only
part of the fandom I have held on to for a few years now and I'm very
saddened to see it end.
* **
*Becky Burkheart*
*Write Horses Right ~ avoid the The 33 Worst Mistakes Writers Make About
Horses<http://aconspiracyofauthors.com/acoajoom/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=77>

*Short and Twisted Fairy
Tales<http://www.amazon.com/Short-Twisted-Fairy-Tales-ebook/dp/B008C33UEK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340341155&sr=1-1>
Unique
twists on seven classic fairy tales*

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 4:20 PM, Marta <marta.fandom@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hey guys,
>
>
>
> Over the last several days this list has been buzzing about our new content
> advisory policy. This list has actually only been one aspect of everything
> that's going on. Elliska, the member whose job contract I mentioned a few
> days ago, has been attacked through anonymous reviews of her stories. She
> also had her perceived religious identity attacked ý and, while this
> perception turned out to be wrong, it hit much closer to the mark when it
> came to me. (Right or wrong, personal attacks like this are completely
> inappropriate.) I also have been accused of purposely obstructing the
> discussions about rating, of filibustering and censoring authors and trying
> to put off changes rather than taking people seriously. I've also been
> talked down to and embarrassed before large groups of people.
>
>
>
> The truth of the matter is I'm just a grad student. The MEFAs are playtime
> for me, a way to relax and encourage creativity ý scheming is entirely too
> much work. :-) But they do take a lot of my time. During the busy parts of
> the awards (nominations and categorizing) I probably worked on the awards
> at least 3-4 hours a night, out of a fondness for this fandom generally and
> this awards in particular. I continued to work the rest of the year trying
> to make the MEFAs better, albeit for less time (I'd estimate ten hours a
> week on average during the rest of the year). I've also donated several
> hundred of dollars toward hosting costs over the years.
>
>
>
> Other people have worked many more hours than I have, and for much longer
> periods of time; our first administrator Ainaechoiriel, and our webmasters
> Aranel Took, Tanaqui, and Anthony Holder jump to mind, not to mention all
> the liaisons, categorizers, banner makers and other volunteers who have
> been "insufficiently reluctant" over the years. None of us were paid in
> anything except gratitude (which we certainly appreciated!), and in the
> hope that the MEFAs were a positive contribution to the fandom. We did this
> because it made our corner of the internet a better place, and because it
> was fun.
>
>
>
> But these last several days have not been fun. I don't mind vigorous debate
> and was fully prepared to discuss people's concerns with them, once I had
> the time to do that. This wasn't a delaying tactic ý it's the simple
> reality that I didn't have time right now to discuss policies and to give
> these concerns the consideration they deserve. But the way people presented
> and kept pressing these complaints has made the MEFAs less a pleasure and
> more a stressful burden for me.
>
>
>
> Speaking for myself, I have gone from sorta-kinda dreading the 2012 awards,
> to wanting to quit after the 2012 awards, to wanting to quit *now*. I have
> also talked to several other volunteers without whose help I could not run
> these awards, and they told me that they also didn't want to carry on with
> the MEFAs. (In the interest of transparency: that's Aranel Took, Inkling,
> and Elliska.) On top of getting ready for the 2012 awards and trying to
> answer concerns about the new content advisory policy, we started having
> one of the most difficult discussions I've ever had: whether to keep
> putting on the MEFAs.
>
>
>
> I have loved working with the MEFAs since they started eight years ago. As
> far as I know, Inkling, Elliska, and Aranel Took all feel similarly toward
> the awards, or at least they did until recently. We've had a lot of fun
> putting them on, and many of the authors, readers and other volunteers who
> participated seemed to enjoy them. But after discussing the current state
> of things, we all came to the same conclusion: it simply isn't worth the
> effort anymore. If the reaction to the ratings policy is any indication,
> we're also apparently out of synch with the priorities of many fandom
> members. If that's right, then other people more in the swing of fandom
> these days can probably put on events that will make better use of peoples'
> time.
>
>
>
> The bottom line: I am not willing to put so much time and energy into
> running an awards that lately has become so painful ý certainly not past
> the 2012 awards. Aranel, Elliska, and Inkling aren't willing to do that
> either. Other people have of course been crucial to the MEFAs' success; I'm
> certainly aware of that (and thankful to those people!), and I don't want
> to dismiss their hard work. But the four of us are the volunteers most
> experienced with the processes required to manage the membership as well as
> the nomination and categorization seasons--the core administrative parts of
> the awards. With all of us leaving together, we do not believe that MEFAs
> can continue to function adequately.
>
>
>
> In light of that, we don't plan to run the MEFAs in 2013 or in any future
> years. That doesn't mean the spirit of the MEFAs has to die. We invite
> people who like our basic format (awards where you vote by leaving comments
> ý a style of awards that actually originated in the Star Trek fandom years
> ago, not with us) to develop their own awards set up along similar lines.
> You can code your own website or, if you want to start small, run it
> through a listserv or other online forum like we did back in 2004.
>
>
>
> Aranel has also agreed to continue to host the MEFA Archive, so our archive
> of past nominations, winners, and reviews will still be available at
> www.mefawards.org. I've always said after every year that just because the
> voting ends, it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the nominated stories.
> You can still read the stories and leave them reviews at their archive even
> if MEFA voting is closed ý what author doesn't love a new review on an old
> piece? If anything, that applies now more than ever.
>
>
>
> As for the 2012 awards, we are basically ready to go with those ý but I
> only want to do that if people still want them. I'd like everyone's opinion
> here. Should 2011 be our last year, or would you like one more round? I've
> set up two polls, one at the [MEFAwards] Yahoo group and another at the
> [mefas] LiveJournal community, asking the following question:
>
>
>
> *Which of the following would you prefer:*
>
> *1. **Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies
> currently announced*
>
> *2. **Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final
> season*
>
>
>
> Please vote at *one* of these places by Friday night. If you cannot vote at
> either Yahoo or LJ, email me at mefasupportATgmailDOTcom. The poll will
> stay open until 11:59 PM on Friday July 6.
>
>
>
> (The Yahoo version is available at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639)
>
>
>
> And thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! I'll do a
> more proper thank-you once we decide whether to have the 2012 awards or
> not. This group has brought so many talented and passionate people from
> different archives and corners of fandom together ý very appropriate for a
> group built around our love of the Fellowship of the Nine and all the
> alliances before it that made that quest possible.
>
>
>
> Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,
>
> Marta
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Becky,

Thanks for letting me know. Please just don't vote in either place and I'll
include your vote when I combine the two polls on Saturday.

Marta

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 5:24 PM, Sulriel of Menegroth <sulriel@gmail.com>wrote:

> **
>
>
> well. somehow i'm unable to access the group with the yahoo id that the
> messages are being sent to, but I would love to see the 2012 go on as
> planned. I am fine with the rules and policies as currently announced.
>
> * **
> *Becky Burkheart*
> *Write Horses Right ~ avoid the The 33 Worst Mistakes Writers Make About
> Horses<
> http://aconspiracyofauthors.com/acoajoom/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=77
> >
>
> *Short and Twisted Fairy
> Tales<
> http://www.amazon.com/Short-Twisted-Fairy-Tales-ebook/dp/B008C33UEK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340341155&sr=1-1
> >
> Unique
> twists on seven classic fairy tales*
>
>
> On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 4:18 PM, <MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > Enter your vote today! A new poll has been created for the
> > MEFAwards group:
> >
> > Which of the following would you prefer:
> >
> > o Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies currently
> > announced
> > o Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final season
> >
> >
> > To vote, please visit the following web page:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639
> >
> > Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
> > not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
> > web site listed above.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
>
> >
> > Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Oh this is a sad thing. I loved finding new stories at the MEFAs. I voted for one more year. Thanks to all the volunteers for all their hard work. I have really enjoyed the MEFAs.

(I think Yahoo ate my first attempt at posting this. Should the message show up after all, I apologise for spamming the list.)

Thank YOU.

Wholeheartedly I echo your thank-you, and add thank YOU, too.

The MEFA awards have been the best fanfic awards I know. I have always loved their constructive, comment-based approach and their friendly, inclusive atmosphere. I've had lots of fun participating in previous years, as a writer, reader, and volunteer.

As such I also know how much work the awards are, and how much stress they can cause even without the drama of the last days. I really appreciate all the effort that has been put into the awards. It's sad to see them end, even sadder to see them end like that, but especially under the circumstances I understand and respect the decision made by you and the other volunteers.

I've just been involved in the demise of a fanfic archive in another fandom, so I especially appreciate that the MEFAs archive will remain as a digital monument of fannish creativity.

May the stars indeed shine gently upon the ways of all volunteers and participants of the MEFAs, now and in future!

~Juno

(x-posted to LJ)

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hey guys,
>
>
>
> Over the last several days this list has been buzzing about our new content
> advisory policy. This list has actually only been one aspect of everything
> that's going on.

<snip>

>
> And thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! I'll do a
> more proper thank-you once we decide whether to have the 2012 awards or
> not. This group has brought so many talented and passionate people from
> different archives and corners of fandom together – very appropriate for a
> group built around our love of the Fellowship of the Nine and all the
> alliances before it that made that quest possible.
>
>
>
> Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,
>
> Marta
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I am sick to my stomach and trying not to cry.

The promoters should probably post links to the polls at the various
groups, don't you think, so that as many people as possible can vote?

Dreamflower

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 4:20 PM, Marta <marta.fandom@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hey guys,
>
>
>
> Over the last several days this list has been buzzing about our new content
> advisory policy. This list has actually only been one aspect of everything
> that's going on. Elliska, the member whose job contract I mentioned a few
> days ago, has been attacked through anonymous reviews of her stories. She
> also had her perceived religious identity attacked ý and, while this
> perception turned out to be wrong, it hit much closer to the mark when it
> came to me. (Right or wrong, personal attacks like this are completely
> inappropriate.) I also have been accused of purposely obstructing the
> discussions about rating, of filibustering and censoring authors and trying
> to put off changes rather than taking people seriously. I've also been
> talked down to and embarrassed before large groups of people.
>
>
>
> The truth of the matter is I'm just a grad student. The MEFAs are playtime
> for me, a way to relax and encourage creativity ý scheming is entirely too
> much work. :-) But they do take a lot of my time. During the busy parts of
> the awards (nominations and categorizing) I probably worked on the awards
> at least 3-4 hours a night, out of a fondness for this fandom generally and
> this awards in particular. I continued to work the rest of the year trying
> to make the MEFAs better, albeit for less time (I'd estimate ten hours a
> week on average during the rest of the year). I've also donated several
> hundred of dollars toward hosting costs over the years.
>
>
>
> Other people have worked many more hours than I have, and for much longer
> periods of time; our first administrator Ainaechoiriel, and our webmasters
> Aranel Took, Tanaqui, and Anthony Holder jump to mind, not to mention all
> the liaisons, categorizers, banner makers and other volunteers who have
> been "insufficiently reluctant" over the years. None of us were paid in
> anything except gratitude (which we certainly appreciated!), and in the
> hope that the MEFAs were a positive contribution to the fandom. We did this
> because it made our corner of the internet a better place, and because it
> was fun.
>
>
>
> But these last several days have not been fun. I don't mind vigorous debate
> and was fully prepared to discuss people's concerns with them, once I had
> the time to do that. This wasn't a delaying tactic ý it's the simple
> reality that I didn't have time right now to discuss policies and to give
> these concerns the consideration they deserve. But the way people presented
> and kept pressing these complaints has made the MEFAs less a pleasure and
> more a stressful burden for me.
>
>
>
> Speaking for myself, I have gone from sorta-kinda dreading the 2012 awards,
> to wanting to quit after the 2012 awards, to wanting to quit *now*. I have
> also talked to several other volunteers without whose help I could not run
> these awards, and they told me that they also didn't want to carry on with
> the MEFAs. (In the interest of transparency: that's Aranel Took, Inkling,
> and Elliska.) On top of getting ready for the 2012 awards and trying to
> answer concerns about the new content advisory policy, we started having
> one of the most difficult discussions I've ever had: whether to keep
> putting on the MEFAs.
>
>
>
> I have loved working with the MEFAs since they started eight years ago. As
> far as I know, Inkling, Elliska, and Aranel Took all feel similarly toward
> the awards, or at least they did until recently. We've had a lot of fun
> putting them on, and many of the authors, readers and other volunteers who
> participated seemed to enjoy them. But after discussing the current state
> of things, we all came to the same conclusion: it simply isn't worth the
> effort anymore. If the reaction to the ratings policy is any indication,
> we're also apparently out of synch with the priorities of many fandom
> members. If that's right, then other people more in the swing of fandom
> these days can probably put on events that will make better use of peoples'
> time.
>
>
>
> The bottom line: I am not willing to put so much time and energy into
> running an awards that lately has become so painful ý certainly not past
> the 2012 awards. Aranel, Elliska, and Inkling aren't willing to do that
> either. Other people have of course been crucial to the MEFAs' success; I'm
> certainly aware of that (and thankful to those people!), and I don't want
> to dismiss their hard work. But the four of us are the volunteers most
> experienced with the processes required to manage the membership as well as
> the nomination and categorization seasons--the core administrative parts of
> the awards. With all of us leaving together, we do not believe that MEFAs
> can continue to function adequately.
>
>
>
> In light of that, we don't plan to run the MEFAs in 2013 or in any future
> years. That doesn't mean the spirit of the MEFAs has to die. We invite
> people who like our basic format (awards where you vote by leaving comments
> ý a style of awards that actually originated in the Star Trek fandom years
> ago, not with us) to develop their own awards set up along similar lines.
> You can code your own website or, if you want to start small, run it
> through a listserv or other online forum like we did back in 2004.
>
>
>
> Aranel has also agreed to continue to host the MEFA Archive, so our archive
> of past nominations, winners, and reviews will still be available at
> www.mefawards.org. I've always said after every year that just because the
> voting ends, it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the nominated stories.
> You can still read the stories and leave them reviews at their archive even
> if MEFA voting is closed ý what author doesn't love a new review on an old
> piece? If anything, that applies now more than ever.
>
>
>
> As for the 2012 awards, we are basically ready to go with those ý but I
> only want to do that if people still want them. I'd like everyone's opinion
> here. Should 2011 be our last year, or would you like one more round? I've
> set up two polls, one at the [MEFAwards] Yahoo group and another at the
> [mefas] LiveJournal community, asking the following question:
>
>
>
> *Which of the following would you prefer:*
>
> *1. **Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies
> currently announced*
>
> *2. **Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final
> season*
>
>
>
> Please vote at *one* of these places by Friday night. If you cannot vote at
> either Yahoo or LJ, email me at mefasupportATgmailDOTcom. The poll will
> stay open until 11:59 PM on Friday July 6.
>
>
>
> (The Yahoo version is available at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639)
>
>
>
> And thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! I'll do a
> more proper thank-you once we decide whether to have the 2012 awards or
> not. This group has brought so many talented and passionate people from
> different archives and corners of fandom together ý very appropriate for a
> group built around our love of the Fellowship of the Nine and all the
> alliances before it that made that quest possible.
>
>
>
> Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,
>
> Marta
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thank YOU.

Wholeheartedly I echo your thank-you, and add thank YOU, too.

The MEFA awards have been the best fanfic awards I know. I have always loved their constructive, comment-based approach and their friendly, inclusive atmosphere. I've had lots of fun participating in previous years, as a writer, reader, and volunteer.

As such I also know how much work the awards are, and how much stress they can cause even without the drama of the last days. I really appreciate all the effort that has been put into the awards. It's sad to see them end, even sadder to see them end like that, but especially under the circumstances I understand and respect the decision made by you and the other volunteers.

I've just been involved in the demise of a fanfic archive in another fandom, so I especially appreciate that the MEFAs archive will remain as a digital monument of fannish creativity.

May the stars indeed shine gently upon the ways of all volunteers and participants of the MEFAs, now and in future!

~Juno

(x-posted to LJ)

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hey guys,
>
>
>
> Over the last several days this list has been buzzing about our new content
> advisory policy. This list has actually only been one aspect of everything
> that's going on.

<snip>


> And thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! I'll do a
> more proper thank-you once we decide whether to have the 2012 awards or
> not. This group has brought so many talented and passionate people from
> different archives and corners of fandom together – very appropriate for a
> group built around our love of the Fellowship of the Nine and all the
> alliances before it that made that quest possible.
>
>
>
> Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,
>
> Marta
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

It really is very sad that it has come to this! I will miss the awards very much -- but I support the decision to take this route. I am voting for the awards to continue this year, but if the vote goes against that, then I just want to say thanks for letting me be a part of all this. Bless you!

Lin

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hey guys,
>
>
>
> Over the last several days this list has been buzzing about our new content
> advisory policy. This list has actually only been one aspect of everything
> that's going on. Elliska, the member whose job contract I mentioned a few
> days ago, has been attacked through anonymous reviews of her stories. She
> also had her perceived religious identity attacked – and, while this
> perception turned out to be wrong, it hit much closer to the mark when it
> came to me. (Right or wrong, personal attacks like this are completely
> inappropriate.) I also have been accused of purposely obstructing the
> discussions about rating, of filibustering and censoring authors and trying
> to put off changes rather than taking people seriously. I've also been
> talked down to and embarrassed before large groups of people.
>
>
>
> The truth of the matter is I'm just a grad student. The MEFAs are playtime
> for me, a way to relax and encourage creativity – scheming is entirely too
> much work. :-) But they do take a lot of my time. During the busy parts of
> the awards (nominations and categorizing) I probably worked on the awards
> at least 3-4 hours a night, out of a fondness for this fandom generally and
> this awards in particular. I continued to work the rest of the year trying
> to make the MEFAs better, albeit for less time (I'd estimate ten hours a
> week on average during the rest of the year). I've also donated several
> hundred of dollars toward hosting costs over the years.
>
>
>
> Other people have worked many more hours than I have, and for much longer
> periods of time; our first administrator Ainaechoiriel, and our webmasters
> Aranel Took, Tanaqui, and Anthony Holder jump to mind, not to mention all
> the liaisons, categorizers, banner makers and other volunteers who have
> been "insufficiently reluctant" over the years. None of us were paid in
> anything except gratitude (which we certainly appreciated!), and in the
> hope that the MEFAs were a positive contribution to the fandom. We did this
> because it made our corner of the internet a better place, and because it
> was fun.
>
>
>
> But these last several days have not been fun. I don't mind vigorous debate
> and was fully prepared to discuss people's concerns with them, once I had
> the time to do that. This wasn't a delaying tactic – it's the simple
> reality that I didn't have time right now to discuss policies and to give
> these concerns the consideration they deserve. But the way people presented
> and kept pressing these complaints has made the MEFAs less a pleasure and
> more a stressful burden for me.
>
>
>
> Speaking for myself, I have gone from sorta-kinda dreading the 2012 awards,
> to wanting to quit after the 2012 awards, to wanting to quit *now*. I have
> also talked to several other volunteers without whose help I could not run
> these awards, and they told me that they also didn't want to carry on with
> the MEFAs. (In the interest of transparency: that's Aranel Took, Inkling,
> and Elliska.) On top of getting ready for the 2012 awards and trying to
> answer concerns about the new content advisory policy, we started having
> one of the most difficult discussions I've ever had: whether to keep
> putting on the MEFAs.
>
>
>
> I have loved working with the MEFAs since they started eight years ago. As
> far as I know, Inkling, Elliska, and Aranel Took all feel similarly toward
> the awards, or at least they did until recently. We've had a lot of fun
> putting them on, and many of the authors, readers and other volunteers who
> participated seemed to enjoy them. But after discussing the current state
> of things, we all came to the same conclusion: it simply isn't worth the
> effort anymore. If the reaction to the ratings policy is any indication,
> we're also apparently out of synch with the priorities of many fandom
> members. If that's right, then other people more in the swing of fandom
> these days can probably put on events that will make better use of peoples'
> time.
>
>
>
> The bottom line: I am not willing to put so much time and energy into
> running an awards that lately has become so painful – certainly not past
> the 2012 awards. Aranel, Elliska, and Inkling aren't willing to do that
> either. Other people have of course been crucial to the MEFAs' success; I'm
> certainly aware of that (and thankful to those people!), and I don't want
> to dismiss their hard work. But the four of us are the volunteers most
> experienced with the processes required to manage the membership as well as
> the nomination and categorization seasons--the core administrative parts of
> the awards. With all of us leaving together, we do not believe that MEFAs
> can continue to function adequately.
>
>
>
> In light of that, we don't plan to run the MEFAs in 2013 or in any future
> years. That doesn't mean the spirit of the MEFAs has to die. We invite
> people who like our basic format (awards where you vote by leaving comments
> – a style of awards that actually originated in the Star Trek fandom years
> ago, not with us) to develop their own awards set up along similar lines.
> You can code your own website or, if you want to start small, run it
> through a listserv or other online forum like we did back in 2004.
>
>
>
> Aranel has also agreed to continue to host the MEFA Archive, so our archive
> of past nominations, winners, and reviews will still be available at
> www.mefawards.org. I've always said after every year that just because the
> voting ends, it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the nominated stories.
> You can still read the stories and leave them reviews at their archive even
> if MEFA voting is closed – what author doesn't love a new review on an old
> piece? If anything, that applies now more than ever.
>
>
>
> As for the 2012 awards, we are basically ready to go with those – but I
> only want to do that if people still want them. I'd like everyone's opinion
> here. Should 2011 be our last year, or would you like one more round? I've
> set up two polls, one at the [MEFAwards] Yahoo group and another at the
> [mefas] LiveJournal community, asking the following question:
>
>
>
> *Which of the following would you prefer:*
>
> *1. **Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies
> currently announced*
>
> *2. **Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final
> season*
>
>
>
> Please vote at *one* of these places by Friday night. If you cannot vote at
> either Yahoo or LJ, email me at mefasupportATgmailDOTcom. The poll will
> stay open until 11:59 PM on Friday July 6.
>
>
>
> (The Yahoo version is available at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639)
>
>
>
> And thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! I'll do a
> more proper thank-you once we decide whether to have the 2012 awards or
> not. This group has brought so many talented and passionate people from
> different archives and corners of fandom together – very appropriate for a
> group built around our love of the Fellowship of the Nine and all the
> alliances before it that made that quest possible.
>
>
>
> Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,
>
> Marta
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Hi Becky,

Thanks for letting me know. I've marked down that you want that option.
Will let you and everyone else know what we're doing this weekend.

I also really appreciate the impact the MEFAs made on your fannish
experience. It's nice to know you and others enjoyed these awards so much.

Marta

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 5:29 PM, Sulriel of Menegroth <sulriel@gmail.com>wrote:

> I'm very sorry it has come to this. I would love to see one more year, as
> i've already said, but it it's not to be, I completely understand.
>
> As far as I'm concerned, the world will be a bit smaller and darker without
> the generosity and cooperation that made the MEFAs special. It's the only
> part of the fandom I have held on to for a few years now and I'm very
> saddened to see it end.
> * **
> *Becky Burkheart*
> *Write Horses Right ~ avoid the The 33 Worst Mistakes Writers Make About
> Hor


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Sanderelleth,

Thank you - it's sad for all of us, but it's the right decision. I'll let
everyone know whether we'll have another year this weekend, after everyone
has had a chance to vote in it.

Marta

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 5:49 PM, sindarelleth <sindarelleth@yahoo.com> wrote:

> **
>
>
> Oh this is a sad thing. I loved finding new stories at the MEFAs. I voted
> for one more year. Thanks to all the volunteers for all their hard work. I
> have really enjoyed the MEFAs.
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Juno,

> (I think Yahoo ate my first attempt at posting this. Should the message show up after all, I apologise for spamming the list.)
>

Actually, it did show up eventually. Thanks for sending it along twice.

> Thank YOU.
>
> Wholeheartedly I echo your thank-you, and add thank YOU, too.
>

I really appreciate hearing this, and all your support over the years.
So can I thank you for a thank you? Do we risk setting off some kind
of chain reaction? I appreciate it, in any event. *hugs*

> I've just been involved in the demise of a fanfic archive in another fandom, so I especially appreciate that the MEFAs archive will remain as a digital monument of fannish creativity.
>

Too many people have spent too many hours writing all those reviews,
and doing everything else that goes into these awards, for the MEFAs
to fade entirely for the interwebz. Of course having the archive
around isn't the same as doing new awards, but I'm glad we're able to
do this much.

Marta

I remember how proud and happy I was when I had stories nominated in 2010 and 2011, and when I actually placed in my first ever MEFA with the most unlikely story I would never have expected to be nominated. I was proud, too, of the honourable mention one of my stories got last year. I was looking forward to this year, even if I wasn't nominated myself, to making nominations starting tomorrow and giving the stories and authors I've loved the recognition they deserve, as well as finding new authors and stories to love and enjoy.

MEFA has been, for the few years I've known about it, a way to show my appreciation for those authors and stories I know, and to find new ones, to widen my perspective on what fandom is and what's out there, and to meet new people. I am really, really disheartened to see the MEFAs go, though I understand that all of you have real lives which are more important than fandom, and all this bashing has got to be a blow difficult to recover from. It's not fair, and it's not right. :( I hope 2012 can continue as planned, and I guess 13's not a lucky number even for 2013. :( I feel like such a newcomer to the fandom still, and I know nothing about running an awards contest, but I'd like to learn how to help, if I could.

With heartfelt wishes for the awards to continue this year, and then to continue on somehow afterwards,

Kaylee Arafinwiel

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hey guys,
>
>
>
> Over the last several days this list has been buzzing about our new content
> advisory policy. This list has actually only been one aspect of everything
> that's going on. Elliska, the member whose job contract I mentioned a few
> days ago, has been attacked through anonymous reviews of her stories. She
> also had her perceived religious identity attacked – and, while this
> perception turned out to be wrong, it hit much closer to the mark when it
> came to me. (Right or wrong, personal attacks like this are completely
> inappropriate.) I also have been accused of purposely obstructing the
> discussions about rating, of filibustering and censoring authors and trying
> to put off changes rather than taking people seriously. I've also been
> talked down to and embarrassed before large groups of people.
>
>
>
> The truth of the matter is I'm just a grad student. The MEFAs are playtime
> for me, a way to relax and encourage creativity – scheming is entirely too
> much work. :-) But they do take a lot of my time. During the busy parts of
> the awards (nominations and categorizing) I probably worked on the awards
> at least 3-4 hours a night, out of a fondness for this fandom generally and
> this awards in particular. I continued to work the rest of the year trying
> to make the MEFAs better, albeit for less time (I'd estimate ten hours a
> week on average during the rest of the year). I've also donated several
> hundred of dollars toward hosting costs over the years.
>
>
>
> Other people have worked many more hours than I have, and for much longer
> periods of time; our first administrator Ainaechoiriel, and our webmasters
> Aranel Took, Tanaqui, and Anthony Holder jump to mind, not to mention all
> the liaisons, categorizers, banner makers and other volunteers who have
> been "insufficiently reluctant" over the years. None of us were paid in
> anything except gratitude (which we certainly appreciated!), and in the
> hope that the MEFAs were a positive contribution to the fandom. We did this
> because it made our corner of the internet a better place, and because it
> was fun.
>
>
>
> But these last several days have not been fun. I don't mind vigorous debate
> and was fully prepared to discuss people's concerns with them, once I had
> the time to do that. This wasn't a delaying tactic – it's the simple
> reality that I didn't have time right now to discuss policies and to give
> these concerns the consideration they deserve. But the way people presented
> and kept pressing these complaints has made the MEFAs less a pleasure and
> more a stressful burden for me.
>
>
>
> Speaking for myself, I have gone from sorta-kinda dreading the 2012 awards,
> to wanting to quit after the 2012 awards, to wanting to quit *now*. I have
> also talked to several other volunteers without whose help I could not run
> these awards, and they told me that they also didn't want to carry on with
> the MEFAs. (In the interest of transparency: that's Aranel Took, Inkling,
> and Elliska.) On top of getting ready for the 2012 awards and trying to
> answer concerns about the new content advisory policy, we started having
> one of the most difficult discussions I've ever had: whether to keep
> putting on the MEFAs.
>
>
>
> I have loved working with the MEFAs since they started eight years ago. As
> far as I know, Inkling, Elliska, and Aranel Took all feel similarly toward
> the awards, or at least they did until recently. We've had a lot of fun
> putting them on, and many of the authors, readers and other volunteers who
> participated seemed to enjoy them. But after discussing the current state
> of things, we all came to the same conclusion: it simply isn't worth the
> effort anymore. If the reaction to the ratings policy is any indication,
> we're also apparently out of synch with the priorities of many fandom
> members. If that's right, then other people more in the swing of fandom
> these days can probably put on events that will make better use of peoples'
> time.
>
>
>
> The bottom line: I am not willing to put so much time and energy into
> running an awards that lately has become so painful – certainly not past
> the 2012 awards. Aranel, Elliska, and Inkling aren't willing to do that
> either. Other people have of course been crucial to the MEFAs' success; I'm
> certainly aware of that (and thankful to those people!), and I don't want
> to dismiss their hard work. But the four of us are the volunteers most
> experienced with the processes required to manage the membership as well as
> the nomination and categorization seasons--the core administrative parts of
> the awards. With all of us leaving together, we do not believe that MEFAs
> can continue to function adequately.
>
>
>
> In light of that, we don't plan to run the MEFAs in 2013 or in any future
> years. That doesn't mean the spirit of the MEFAs has to die. We invite
> people who like our basic format (awards where you vote by leaving comments
> – a style of awards that actually originated in the Star Trek fandom years
> ago, not with us) to develop their own awards set up along similar lines.
> You can code your own website or, if you want to start small, run it
> through a listserv or other online forum like we did back in 2004.
>
>
>
> Aranel has also agreed to continue to host the MEFA Archive, so our archive
> of past nominations, winners, and reviews will still be available at
> www.mefawards.org. I've always said after every year that just because the
> voting ends, it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the nominated stories.
> You can still read the stories and leave them reviews at their archive even
> if MEFA voting is closed – what author doesn't love a new review on an old
> piece? If anything, that applies now more than ever.
>
>
>
> As for the 2012 awards, we are basically ready to go with those – but I
> only want to do that if people still want them. I'd like everyone's opinion
> here. Should 2011 be our last year, or would you like one more round? I've
> set up two polls, one at the [MEFAwards] Yahoo group and another at the
> [mefas] LiveJournal community, asking the following question:
>
>
>
> *Which of the following would you prefer:*
>
> *1. **Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies
> currently announced*
>
> *2. **Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final
> season*
>
>
>
> Please vote at *one* of these places by Friday night. If you cannot vote at
> either Yahoo or LJ, email me at mefasupportATgmailDOTcom. The poll will
> stay open until 11:59 PM on Friday July 6.
>
>
>
> (The Yahoo version is available at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639)
>
>
>
> And thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! I'll do a
> more proper thank-you once we decide whether to have the 2012 awards or
> not. This group has brought so many talented and passionate people from
> different archives and corners of fandom together – very appropriate for a
> group built around our love of the Fellowship of the Nine and all the
> alliances before it that made that quest possible.
>
>
>
> Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,
>
> Marta
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Hi Dreamflower,

I'm sorry this is so hard for you (and me). It *is* hard. But as
someone wise once said: I will not say do not weep; not all tears are
an evil.

I did send out a message to the promoters, immediately after I sent
this announcement but I think before you reply. I sent the GFIC one to
Cathleen, but if you like I can forward it to you as well.

Marta

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 5:52 PM, Barbara Rich <aelfwina@gmail.com> wrote:
> I am sick to my stomach and trying not to cry.
>
> The promoters should probably post links to the polls at the various
> groups, don't you think, so that as many people as possible can vote?
>
> Dreamflower
>
>
> On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 4:20 PM, Marta <marta.fandom@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hey guys,
>>
>>
>>
>> Over the last several days this list has been buzzing about our new content
>> advisory policy. This list has actually only been one aspect of everything
>> that's going on. Elliska, the member whose job contract I mentioned a few
>> days ago, has been attacked through anonymous reviews of her stories. She
>> also had her perceived religious identity attacked  and, while this
>> perception turned out to be wrong, it hit much closer to the mark when it
>> came to me. (Right or wrong, personal attacks like this are completely
>> inappropriate.) I also have been accused of purposely obstructing the
>> discussions about rating, of filibustering and censoring authors and trying
>> to put off changes rather than taking people seriously. I've also been
>> talked down to and embarrassed before large groups of people.
>>
>>
>>
>> The truth of the matter is I'm just a grad student. The MEFAs are playtime
>> for me, a way to relax and encourage creativity  scheming is entirely too
>> much work. :-) But they do take a lot of my time. During the busy parts of
>> the awards (nominations and categorizing) I probably worked on the awards
>> at least 3-4 hours a night, out of a fondness for this fandom generally and
>> this awards in particular. I continued to work the rest of the year trying
>> to make the MEFAs better, albeit for less time (I'd estimate ten hours a
>> week on average during the rest of the year). I've also donated several
>> hundred of dollars toward hosting costs over the years.
>>
>>
>>
>> Other people have worked many more hours than I have, and for much longer
>> periods of time; our first administrator Ainaechoiriel, and our webmasters
>> Aranel Took, Tanaqui, and Anthony Holder jump to mind, not to mention all
>> the liaisons, categorizers, banner makers and other volunteers who have
>> been "insufficiently reluctant" over the years. None of us were paid in
>> anything except gratitude (which we certainly appreciated!), and in the
>> hope that the MEFAs were a positive contribution to the fandom. We did this
>> because it made our corner of the internet a better place, and because it
>> was fun.
>>
>>
>>
>> But these last several days have not been fun. I don't mind vigorous debate
>> and was fully prepared to discuss people's concerns with them, once I had
>> the time to do that. This wasn't a delaying tactic  it's the simple
>> reality that I didn't have time right now to discuss policies and to give
>> these concerns the consideration they deserve. But the way people presented
>> and kept pressing these complaints has made the MEFAs less a pleasure and
>> more a stressful burden for me.
>>
>>
>>
>> Speaking for myself, I have gone from sorta-kinda dreading the 2012 awards,
>> to wanting to quit after the 2012 awards, to wanting to quit *now*. I have
>> also talked to several other volunteers without whose help I could not run
>> these awards, and they told me that they also didn't want to carry on with
>> the MEFAs. (In the interest of transparency: that's Aranel Took, Inkling,
>> and Elliska.) On top of getting ready for the 2012 awards and trying to
>> answer concerns about the new content advisory policy, we started having
>> one of the most difficult discussions I've ever had: whether to keep
>> putting on the MEFAs.
>>
>>
>>
>> I have loved working with the MEFAs since they started eight years ago. As
>> far as I know, Inkling, Elliska, and Aranel Took all feel similarly toward
>> the awards, or at least they did until recently. We've had a lot of fun
>> putting them on, and many of the authors, readers and other volunteers who
>> participated seemed to enjoy them. But after discussing the current state
>> of things, we all came to the same conclusion: it simply isn't worth the
>> effort anymore. If the reaction to the ratings policy is any indication,
>> we're also apparently out of synch with the priorities of many fandom
>> members. If that's right, then other people more in the swing of fandom
>> these days can probably put on events that will make better use of peoples'
>> time.
>>
>>
>>
>> The bottom line: I am not willing to put so much time and energy into
>> running an awards that lately has become so painful  certainly not past
>> the 2012 awards. Aranel, Elliska, and Inkling aren't willing to do that
>> either. Other people have of course been crucial to the MEFAs' success; I'm
>> certainly aware of that (and thankful to those people!), and I don't want
>> to dismiss their hard work. But the four of us are the volunteers most
>> experienced with the processes required to manage the membership as well as
>> the nomination and categorization seasons--the core administrative parts of
>> the awards. With all of us leaving together, we do not believe that MEFAs
>> can continue to function adequately.
>>
>>
>>
>> In light of that, we don't plan to run the MEFAs in 2013 or in any future
>> years. That doesn't mean the spirit of the MEFAs has to die. We invite
>> people who like our basic format (awards where you vote by leaving comments
>>  a style of awards that actually originated in the Star Trek fandom years
>> ago, not with us) to develop their own awards set up along similar lines.
>> You can code your own website or, if you want to start small, run it
>> through a listserv or other online forum like we did back in 2004.
>>
>>
>>
>> Aranel has also agreed to continue to host the MEFA Archive, so our archive
>> of past nominations, winners, and reviews will still be available at
>> www.mefawards.org. I've always said after every year that just because the
>> voting ends, it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the nominated stories.
>> You can still read the stories and leave them reviews at their archive even
>> if MEFA voting is closed  what author doesn't love a new review on an old
>> piece? If anything, that applies now more than ever.
>>
>>
>>
>> As for the 2012 awards, we are basically ready to go with those  but I
>> only want to do that if people still want them. I'd like everyone's opinion
>> here. Should 2011 be our last year, or would you like one more round? I've
>> set up two polls, one at the [MEFAwards] Yahoo group and another at the
>> [mefas] LiveJournal community, asking the following question:
>>
>>
>>
>> *Which of the following would you prefer:*
>>
>> *1. **Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies
>> currently announced*
>>
>> *2. **Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final
>> season*
>>
>>
>>
>> Please vote at *one* of these places by Friday night. If you cannot vote at
>> either Yahoo or LJ, email me at mefasupportATgmailDOTcom. The poll will
>> stay open until 11:59 PM on Friday July 6.
>>
>>
>>
>> (The Yahoo version is available at:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639)
>>
>>
>>
>> And thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! I'll do a
>> more proper thank-you once we decide whether to have the 2012 awards or
>> not. This group has brought so many talented and passionate people from
>> different archives and corners of fandom together  very appropriate for a
>> group built around our love of the Fellowship of the Nine and all the
>> alliances before it that made that quest possible.
>>
>>
>>
>> Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,
>>
>> Marta
>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Hi Lin,

This is hard news to give, so I can only imagine it is hard news to
receive. Thank you for your understanding, whichever way the poll turns out.

Marta

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 6:36 PM, linaewen0 <marggrenawalt@sbcglobal.net>wrote:

> **
>
>
> It really is very sad that it has come to this! I will miss the awards
> very much -- but I support the decision to take this route. I am voting for
> the awards to continue this year, but if the vote goes against that, then I
> just want to say thanks for letting me be a part of all this. Bless you!
>
> Lin
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear Marta: I am so very sorry, and bitterly unhappy, that it has come to this. It is outrageous that you, Elliska, or anyone else should be the object of personal attacks, especially after all you have done in maintaining the MEFAs. For what my words are worth, I am very grateful to you, and to all the people who created the MEFAs, created and maintained the website, donated time and/or money, and worked so hard to create such a wonderful thing. Thank you, all of you, for your hard work and dedicated efforts. I *really* wish it had not come to this, but I quite understand and sympathize with your reasons for resigning. Thank you again for all your dedication and hard work, and take care, now and in the future. Sincerely, TheQueenly1, a.k.a. Darkover

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hey guys,
>
>
>
> Over the last several days this list has been buzzing about our new content
> advisory policy. This list has actually only been one aspect of everything
> that's going on. Elliska, the member whose job contract I mentioned a few
> days ago, has been attacked through anonymous reviews of her stories. She
> also had her perceived religious identity attacked – and, while this
> perception turned out to be wrong, it hit much closer to the mark when it
> came to me. (Right or wrong, personal attacks like this are completely
> inappropriate.) I also have been accused of purposely obstructing the
> discussions about rating, of filibustering and censoring authors and trying
> to put off changes rather than taking people seriously. I've also been
> talked down to and embarrassed before large groups of people.
>
>
>
> The truth of the matter is I'm just a grad student. The MEFAs are playtime
> for me, a way to relax and encourage creativity – scheming is entirely too
> much work. :-) But they do take a lot of my time. During the busy parts of
> the awards (nominations and categorizing) I probably worked on the awards
> at least 3-4 hours a night, out of a fondness for this fandom generally and
> this awards in particular. I continued to work the rest of the year trying
> to make the MEFAs better, albeit for less time (I'd estimate ten hours a
> week on average during the rest of the year). I've also donated several
> hundred of dollars toward hosting costs over the years.
>
>
>
> Other people have worked many more hours than I have, and for much longer
> periods of time; our first administrator Ainaechoiriel, and our webmasters
> Aranel Took, Tanaqui, and Anthony Holder jump to mind, not to mention all
> the liaisons, categorizers, banner makers and other volunteers who have
> been "insufficiently reluctant" over the years. None of us were paid in
> anything except gratitude (which we certainly appreciated!), and in the
> hope that the MEFAs were a positive contribution to the fandom. We did this
> because it made our corner of the internet a better place, and because it
> was fun.
>
>
>
> But these last several days have not been fun. I don't mind vigorous debate
> and was fully prepared to discuss people's concerns with them, once I had
> the time to do that. This wasn't a delaying tactic – it's the simple
> reality that I didn't have time right now to discuss policies and to give
> these concerns the consideration they deserve. But the way people presented
> and kept pressing these complaints has made the MEFAs less a pleasure and
> more a stressful burden for me.
>
>
>
> Speaking for myself, I have gone from sorta-kinda dreading the 2012 awards,
> to wanting to quit after the 2012 awards, to wanting to quit *now*. I have
> also talked to several other volunteers without whose help I could not run
> these awards, and they told me that they also didn't want to carry on with
> the MEFAs. (In the interest of transparency: that's Aranel Took, Inkling,
> and Elliska.) On top of getting ready for the 2012 awards and trying to
> answer concerns about the new content advisory policy, we started having
> one of the most difficult discussions I've ever had: whether to keep
> putting on the MEFAs.
>
>
>
> I have loved working with the MEFAs since they started eight years ago. As
> far as I know, Inkling, Elliska, and Aranel Took all feel similarly toward
> the awards, or at least they did until recently. We've had a lot of fun
> putting them on, and many of the authors, readers and other volunteers who
> participated seemed to enjoy them. But after discussing the current state
> of things, we all came to the same conclusion: it simply isn't worth the
> effort anymore. If the reaction to the ratings policy is any indication,
> we're also apparently out of synch with the priorities of many fandom
> members. If that's right, then other people more in the swing of fandom
> these days can probably put on events that will make better use of peoples'
> time.
>
>
>
> The bottom line: I am not willing to put so much time and energy into
> running an awards that lately has become so painful – certainly not past
> the 2012 awards. Aranel, Elliska, and Inkling aren't willing to do that
> either. Other people have of course been crucial to the MEFAs' success; I'm
> certainly aware of that (and thankful to those people!), and I don't want
> to dismiss their hard work. But the four of us are the volunteers most
> experienced with the processes required to manage the membership as well as
> the nomination and categorization seasons--the core administrative parts of
> the awards. With all of us leaving together, we do not believe that MEFAs
> can continue to function adequately.
>
>
>
> In light of that, we don't plan to run the MEFAs in 2013 or in any future
> years. That doesn't mean the spirit of the MEFAs has to die. We invite
> people who like our basic format (awards where you vote by leaving comments
> – a style of awards that actually originated in the Star Trek fandom years
> ago, not with us) to develop their own awards set up along similar lines.
> You can code your own website or, if you want to start small, run it
> through a listserv or other online forum like we did back in 2004.
>
>
>
> Aranel has also agreed to continue to host the MEFA Archive, so our archive
> of past nominations, winners, and reviews will still be available at
> www.mefawards.org. I've always said after every year that just because the
> voting ends, it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the nominated stories.
> You can still read the stories and leave them reviews at their archive even
> if MEFA voting is closed – what author doesn't love a new review on an old
> piece? If anything, that applies now more than ever.
>
>
>
> As for the 2012 awards, we are basically ready to go with those – but I
> only want to do that if people still want them. I'd like everyone's opinion
> here. Should 2011 be our last year, or would you like one more round? I've
> set up two polls, one at the [MEFAwards] Yahoo group and another at the
> [mefas] LiveJournal community, asking the following question:
>
>
>
> *Which of the following would you prefer:*
>
> *1. **Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies
> currently announced*
>
> *2. **Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final
> season*
>
>
>
> Please vote at *one* of these places by Friday night. If you cannot vote at
> either Yahoo or LJ, email me at mefasupportATgmailDOTcom. The poll will
> stay open until 11:59 PM on Friday July 6.
>
>
>
> (The Yahoo version is available at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639)
>
>
>
> And thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! I'll do a
> more proper thank-you once we decide whether to have the 2012 awards or
> not. This group has brought so many talented and passionate people from
> different archives and corners of fandom together – very appropriate for a
> group built around our love of the Fellowship of the Nine and all the
> alliances before it that made that quest possible.
>
>
>
> Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,
>
> Marta
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Hi Kaylee,

I'm glad you enjoyed the MEFAs in what time you've known about it. It's a
great program and we've had a good run over the years. I'll definitely be
in touch if we need anything for the 2012 awards, if that's what the group
decides they want. (And of course I'll let you and everyone know this
weekend what the majority chose.)

I said it above but I'll repeat it :-) - if you like finding new authors, I
really encourage you to take a look at our archive and try someone new.
It's not the same as when it's through an awards, but it can really be
quite rewarding. I know I've discovered several authors through reading
MEFA-nominated stories I never quite got around to during the awards.

Marta

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 7:14 PM, Kaylee Arafinwiel
<fuzzlebub85@comcast.net>wrote:

> **
>
>
> I remember how proud and happy I was when I had stories nominated in 2010
> and 2011, and when I actually placed in my first ever MEFA with the most
> unlikely story I would never have expected to be nominated. I was proud,
> too, of the honourable mention one of my stories got last year. I was
> looking forward to this year, even if I wasn't nominated myself, to making
> nominations starting tomorrow and giving the stories and authors I've loved
> the recognition they deserve, as well as finding new authors and stories to
> love and enjoy.
>
> MEFA has been, for the few years I've known about it, a way to show my
> appreciation for those authors and stories I know, and to find new ones, to
> widen my perspective on what fandom is and what's out there, and to meet
> new people. I am really, really disheartened to see the MEFAs go, though I
> understand that all of you have real lives which are more important than
> fandom, and all this bashing has got to be a blow difficult to recover
> from. It's not fair, and it's not right. :( I hope 2012 can continue as
> planned, and I guess 13's not a lucky number even for 2013. :( I feel like
> such a newcomer to the fandom still, and I know nothing about running an
> awards contest, but I'd like to learn how to help, if I could.
>
> With heartfelt wishes for the awards to continue this year, and then to
> continue on somehow afterwards,
>
> Kaylee Arafinwiel
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'm very sorry to hear this. I hope I've not contributed to the stress factor - I had concerns about the new rating system, but I thought it would have been possible to address this. Thanks for all the time and effort you have put into MEFA over the years.

Hello Darkover,

Thank you for the sympathy, and for understanding. I really appreciate it,
and I'm sure the other volunteers do, too. I'm glad that you and everyone
else commenting here got so much enjoyment out of these awards over the
years.

Marta

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 7:37 PM, thequeenly1 <fogleman6438@att.net> wrote:

> **
>
>
>
>
> Dear Marta: I am so very sorry, and bitterly unhappy, that it has come to
> this. It is outrageous that you, Elliska, or anyone else should be the
> object of personal attacks, especially after all you have done in
> maintaining the MEFAs. For what my words are worth, I am very grateful to
> you, and to all the people who created the MEFAs, created and maintained
> the website, donated time and/or money, and worked so hard to create such a
> wonderful thing. Thank you, all of you, for your hard work and dedicated
> efforts. I *really* wish it had not come to this, but I quite understand
> and sympathize with your reasons for resigning. Thank you again for all
> your dedication and hard work, and take care, now and in the future.
> Sincerely, TheQueenly1, a.k.a. Darkover
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have to say that I am appalled to hear of the personal attacks happening
to you, Marta, and the other individuals you mentioned.

It certainly never crossed my mind that the MEFA team was being
obstructionist in any way by asking that the debate on the issue at hand be
temporarily postponed until the team's workload during the nomination
season eased to give them enough time to be able to give the issue the
close attention it deserves.

I come to this discussion late due to a malfunctioning computer, but after
reading the correspondence on the yahoo list, I want to cry. The anger and
nastiness that has spilled over the community has distressed me greatly.

I will not bother saying what my opinion of the rating policy is. It
appears to be a moot point now.

To the entire MEFA team, I thank you for the hundreds of hours that you
have devoted to the awards over the years. The awards were what got me into
LOTR Fanfiction as a writer. I'm so terribly sad to see them go.

A fellowship has been broken.

Rhyselle

On Jul 2, 2012 7:41 PM, "Marta" <marta.fandom@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Kaylee,
>
> I'm glad you enjoyed the MEFAs in what time you've known about it. It's a
> great program and we've had a good run over the years. I'll definitely be
> in touch if we need anything for the 2012 awards, if that's what the group
> decides they want. (And of course I'll let you and everyone know this
> weekend what the majority chose.)
>
> I said it above but I'll repeat it :-) - if you like finding new authors, I
> really encourage you to take a look at our archive and try someone new.
> It's not the same as when it's through an awards, but it can really be
> quite rewarding. I know I've discovered several authors through reading
> MEFA-nominated stories I never quite got around to during the awards.
>
> Marta
>
> On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 7:14 PM, Kaylee Arafinwiel
> <fuzzlebub85@comcast.net>wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> > I remember how proud and happy I was when I had stories nominated in 2010
> > and 2011, and when I actually placed in my first ever MEFA with the most
> > unlikely story I would never have expected to be nominated. I was proud,
> > too, of the honourable mention one of my stories got last year. I was
> > looking forward to this year, even if I wasn't nominated myself, to
> making
> > nominations starting tomorrow and giving the stories and authors I've
> loved
> > the recognition they deserve, as well as finding new authors and stories
> to
> > love and enjoy.
> >
> > MEFA has been, for the few years I've known about it, a way to show my
> > appreciation for those authors and stories I know, and to find new ones,
> to
> > widen my perspective on what fandom is and what's out there, and to meet
> > new people. I am really, really disheartened to see the MEFAs go, though
> I
> > understand that all of you have real lives which are more important than
> > fandom, and all this bashing has got to be a blow difficult to recover
> > from. It's not fair, and it's not right. :( I hope 2012 can continue as
> > planned, and I guess 13's not a lucky number even for 2013. :( I feel
> like
> > such a newcomer to the fandom still, and I know nothing about running an
> > awards contest, but I'd like to learn how to help, if I could.
> >
> > With heartfelt wishes for the awards to continue this year, and then to
> > continue on somehow afterwards,
> >
> > Kaylee Arafinwiel
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Annette,

I'm sorry it came to this, too. This wasn't really about the policy issues *per
se*; like you, I think we probably could have found common ground there.
But something about the way it was handled just drained me of the drive to
participate. The MEFAs take a LOT of time and energy, and as I tried to
explain, they simply weren't fun any more to help with.

I'm not laying blame on anyone here. This is an issue many people feel very
strongly about, so sometimes fandom events end over these kinds of
things. Thanks for the thanks (that feels odd to say!), in any event - I'm
glad you've enjoyed the awards over the years.

Marta

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 7:56 PM, annettekupke <annette@saltzenmund.co.uk>wrote:

> **
>
>
> I'm very sorry to hear this. I hope I've not contributed to the stress
> factor - I had concerns about the new rating system, but I thought it would
> have been possible to address this. Thanks for all the time and effort you
> have put into MEFA over the years.
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Berni,

Thank you for making it clear how much the MEFAs meant to you. I, too, am
really sorry it had to come to this. This has been a great group over the
years - I've grown so much since I first became involved with them in 2004,
so I have a lot of fond memories here.

> To the entire MEFA team, I thank you for the hundreds of hours that you

> have devoted to the awards over the years. The awards were what got me into
> LOTR Fanfiction as a writer. I'm so terribly sad to see them go.
>
>

Here, here! (hear what?) to that. These awards really have been a group
enterprise from day one, and I'm thankful to all the people who helped make
them what they are.

Marta


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I cast my vote and made my comments over at the lj post.

http://mefas.livejournal.com/309296.html#comments

I'm sorry that you and the other admins under so much pressure, Marta - I felt especially bad to hear about Elliska's experience - but still hope that there will be the chance of an option #3.

~ The Lauderdale

Marta,

My heart goes out to you and all the volunteers who have put so much time
and effort into the MEFAs. No one should ever be subject to personal
attacks and vituperation.

I will miss the MEFAs very much. Thank you for overseeing them so well and
for so long, and thanks also to the other volunteers whose combined efforts
have added so much pleasure to the fandom.

Warmest regards,
Barbara

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 2:20 PM, Marta <marta.fandom@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hey guys,
>
>
>
> Over the last several days this list has been buzzing about our new content
> advisory policy. This list has actually only been one aspect of everything
> that's going on. Elliska, the member whose job contract I mentioned a few
> days ago, has been attacked through anonymous reviews of her stories. She
> also had her perceived religious identity attacked ý and, while this
> perception turned out to be wrong, it hit much closer to the mark when it
> came to me. (Right or wrong, personal attacks like this are completely
> inappropriate.) I also have been accused of purposely obstructing the
> discussions about rating, of filibustering and censoring authors and trying
> to put off changes rather than taking people seriously. I've also been
> talked down to and embarrassed before large groups of people.
>
>
>
> The truth of the matter is I'm just a grad student. The MEFAs are playtime
> for me, a way to relax and encourage creativity ý scheming is entirely too
> much work. :-) But they do take a lot of my time. During the busy parts of
> the awards (nominations and categorizing) I probably worked on the awards
> at least 3-4 hours a night, out of a fondness for this fandom generally and
> this awards in particular. I continued to work the rest of the year trying
> to make the MEFAs better, albeit for less time (I'd estimate ten hours a
> week on average during the rest of the year). I've also donated several
> hundred of dollars toward hosting costs over the years.
>
>
>
> Other people have worked many more hours than I have, and for much longer
> periods of time; our first administrator Ainaechoiriel, and our webmasters
> Aranel Took, Tanaqui, and Anthony Holder jump to mind, not to mention all
> the liaisons, categorizers, banner makers and other volunteers who have
> been "insufficiently reluctant" over the years. None of us were paid in
> anything except gratitude (which we certainly appreciated!), and in the
> hope that the MEFAs were a positive contribution to the fandom. We did this
> because it made our corner of the internet a better place, and because it
> was fun.
>
>
>
> But these last several days have not been fun. I don't mind vigorous debate
> and was fully prepared to discuss people's concerns with them, once I had
> the time to do that. This wasn't a delaying tactic ý it's the simple
> reality that I didn't have time right now to discuss policies and to give
> these concerns the consideration they deserve. But the way people presented
> and kept pressing these complaints has made the MEFAs less a pleasure and
> more a stressful burden for me.
>
>
>
> Speaking for myself, I have gone from sorta-kinda dreading the 2012 awards,
> to wanting to quit after the 2012 awards, to wanting to quit *now*. I have
> also talked to several other volunteers without whose help I could not run
> these awards, and they told me that they also didn't want to carry on with
> the MEFAs. (In the interest of transparency: that's Aranel Took, Inkling,
> and Elliska.) On top of getting ready for the 2012 awards and trying to
> answer concerns about the new content advisory policy, we started having
> one of the most difficult discussions I've ever had: whether to keep
> putting on the MEFAs.
>
>
>
> I have loved working with the MEFAs since they started eight years ago. As
> far as I know, Inkling, Elliska, and Aranel Took all feel similarly toward
> the awards, or at least they did until recently. We've had a lot of fun
> putting them on, and many of the authors, readers and other volunteers who
> participated seemed to enjoy them. But after discussing the current state
> of things, we all came to the same conclusion: it simply isn't worth the
> effort anymore. If the reaction to the ratings policy is any indication,
> we're also apparently out of synch with the priorities of many fandom
> members. If that's right, then other people more in the swing of fandom
> these days can probably put on events that will make better use of peoples'
> time.
>
>
>
> The bottom line: I am not willing to put so much time and energy into
> running an awards that lately has become so painful ý certainly not past
> the 2012 awards. Aranel, Elliska, and Inkling aren't willing to do that
> either. Other people have of course been crucial to the MEFAs' success; I'm
> certainly aware of that (and thankful to those people!), and I don't want
> to dismiss their hard work. But the four of us are the volunteers most
> experienced with the processes required to manage the membership as well as
> the nomination and categorization seasons--the core administrative parts of
> the awards. With all of us leaving together, we do not believe that MEFAs
> can continue to function adequately.
>
>
>
> In light of that, we don't plan to run the MEFAs in 2013 or in any future
> years. That doesn't mean the spirit of the MEFAs has to die. We invite
> people who like our basic format (awards where you vote by leaving comments
> ý a style of awards that actually originated in the Star Trek fandom years
> ago, not with us) to develop their own awards set up along similar lines.
> You can code your own website or, if you want to start small, run it
> through a listserv or other online forum like we did back in 2004.
>
>
>
> Aranel has also agreed to continue to host the MEFA Archive, so our archive
> of past nominations, winners, and reviews will still be available at
> www.mefawards.org. I've always said after every year that just because the
> voting ends, it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the nominated stories.
> You can still read the stories and leave them reviews at their archive even
> if MEFA voting is closed ý what author doesn't love a new review on an old
> piece? If anything, that applies now more than ever.
>
>
>
> As for the 2012 awards, we are basically ready to go with those ý but I
> only want to do that if people still want them. I'd like everyone's opinion
> here. Should 2011 be our last year, or would you like one more round? I've
> set up two polls, one at the [MEFAwards] Yahoo group and another at the
> [mefas] LiveJournal community, asking the following question:
>
>
>
> *Which of the following would you prefer:*
>
> *1. **Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies
> currently announced*
>
> *2. **Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final
> season*
>
>
>
> Please vote at *one* of these places by Friday night. If you cannot vote at
> either Yahoo or LJ, email me at mefasupportATgmailDOTcom. The poll will
> stay open until 11:59 PM on Friday July 6.
>
>
>
> (The Yahoo version is available at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639)
>
>
>
> And thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! I'll do a
> more proper thank-you once we decide whether to have the 2012 awards or
> not. This group has brought so many talented and passionate people from
> different archives and corners of fandom together ý very appropriate for a
> group built around our love of the Fellowship of the Nine and all the
> alliances before it that made that quest possible.
>
>
>
> Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,
>
> Marta
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Elena Tiriel,

It seems like I'm saying "thanks for the thanks" an awful lot tonight.
But I mean it every time. It's very nice hearing how many people
appreciate the MEFAs. So thanks for the thanks. I know the other
volunteers are glad to hear you enjoyed the awards over the years.

Marta

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 9:50 PM, Elena Tiriel <ElenaTiriel@gmail.com> wrote:
> Marta,
>
> My heart goes out to you and all the volunteers who have put so much time
> and effort into the MEFAs. No one should ever be subject to personal
> attacks and vituperation.
>
> I will miss the MEFAs very much. Thank you for overseeing them so well and
> for so long, and thanks also to the other volunteers whose combined efforts
> have added so much pleasure to the fandom.
>
> Warmest regards,
> Barbara
>

I'm sorry to see the MEFAS go away. I have thoroughly enjoyed them over the years and have a great amount of respect for those who have worked on them, volunteering their time, talent, and well-written stories to make the awards happen. I've met some fascinating people through the MEFAs as well.

Hugs to Marta and company for all they have done and for having the courage to get up from the table, politely nod their heads, and walk away when things got too rowdy.

Ellie

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hey guys,
>
>
>
> Over the last several days this list has been buzzing about our new content
> advisory policy. This list has actually only been one aspect of everything
> that's going on. Elliska, the member whose job contract I mentioned a few
> days ago, has been attacked through anonymous reviews of her stories. She
> also had her perceived religious identity attacked – and, while this
> perception turned out to be wrong, it hit much closer to the mark when it
> came to me. (Right or wrong, personal attacks like this are completely
> inappropriate.) I also have been accused of purposely obstructing the
> discussions about rating, of filibustering and censoring authors and trying
> to put off changes rather than taking people seriously. I've also been
> talked down to and embarrassed before large groups of people.
>
>
>
> The truth of the matter is I'm just a grad student. The MEFAs are playtime
> for me, a way to relax and encourage creativity – scheming is entirely too
> much work. :-) But they do take a lot of my time. During the busy parts of
> the awards (nominations and categorizing) I probably worked on the awards
> at least 3-4 hours a night, out of a fondness for this fandom generally and
> this awards in particular. I continued to work the rest of the year trying
> to make the MEFAs better, albeit for less time (I'd estimate ten hours a
> week on average during the rest of the year). I've also donated several
> hundred of dollars toward hosting costs over the years.
>
>
>
> Other people have worked many more hours than I have, and for much longer
> periods of time; our first administrator Ainaechoiriel, and our webmasters
> Aranel Took, Tanaqui, and Anthony Holder jump to mind, not to mention all
> the liaisons, categorizers, banner makers and other volunteers who have
> been "insufficiently reluctant" over the years. None of us were paid in
> anything except gratitude (which we certainly appreciated!), and in the
> hope that the MEFAs were a positive contribution to the fandom. We did this
> because it made our corner of the internet a better place, and because it
> was fun.
>
>
>
> But these last several days have not been fun. I don't mind vigorous debate
> and was fully prepared to discuss people's concerns with them, once I had
> the time to do that. This wasn't a delaying tactic – it's the simple
> reality that I didn't have time right now to discuss policies and to give
> these concerns the consideration they deserve. But the way people presented
> and kept pressing these complaints has made the MEFAs less a pleasure and
> more a stressful burden for me.
>
>
>
> Speaking for myself, I have gone from sorta-kinda dreading the 2012 awards,
> to wanting to quit after the 2012 awards, to wanting to quit *now*. I have
> also talked to several other volunteers without whose help I could not run
> these awards, and they told me that they also didn't want to carry on with
> the MEFAs. (In the interest of transparency: that's Aranel Took, Inkling,
> and Elliska.) On top of getting ready for the 2012 awards and trying to
> answer concerns about the new content advisory policy, we started having
> one of the most difficult discussions I've ever had: whether to keep
> putting on the MEFAs.
>
>
>
> I have loved working with the MEFAs since they started eight years ago. As
> far as I know, Inkling, Elliska, and Aranel Took all feel similarly toward
> the awards, or at least they did until recently. We've had a lot of fun
> putting them on, and many of the authors, readers and other volunteers who
> participated seemed to enjoy them. But after discussing the current state
> of things, we all came to the same conclusion: it simply isn't worth the
> effort anymore. If the reaction to the ratings policy is any indication,
> we're also apparently out of synch with the priorities of many fandom
> members. If that's right, then other people more in the swing of fandom
> these days can probably put on events that will make better use of peoples'
> time.
>
>
>
> The bottom line: I am not willing to put so much time and energy into
> running an awards that lately has become so painful – certainly not past
> the 2012 awards. Aranel, Elliska, and Inkling aren't willing to do that
> either. Other people have of course been crucial to the MEFAs' success; I'm
> certainly aware of that (and thankful to those people!), and I don't want
> to dismiss their hard work. But the four of us are the volunteers most
> experienced with the processes required to manage the membership as well as
> the nomination and categorization seasons--the core administrative parts of
> the awards. With all of us leaving together, we do not believe that MEFAs
> can continue to function adequately.
>
>
>
> In light of that, we don't plan to run the MEFAs in 2013 or in any future
> years. That doesn't mean the spirit of the MEFAs has to die. We invite
> people who like our basic format (awards where you vote by leaving comments
> – a style of awards that actually originated in the Star Trek fandom years
> ago, not with us) to develop their own awards set up along similar lines.
> You can code your own website or, if you want to start small, run it
> through a listserv or other online forum like we did back in 2004.
>
>
>
> Aranel has also agreed to continue to host the MEFA Archive, so our archive
> of past nominations, winners, and reviews will still be available at
> www.mefawards.org. I've always said after every year that just because the
> voting ends, it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the nominated stories.
> You can still read the stories and leave them reviews at their archive even
> if MEFA voting is closed – what author doesn't love a new review on an old
> piece? If anything, that applies now more than ever.
>
>
>
> As for the 2012 awards, we are basically ready to go with those – but I
> only want to do that if people still want them. I'd like everyone's opinion
> here. Should 2011 be our last year, or would you like one more round? I've
> set up two polls, one at the [MEFAwards] Yahoo group and another at the
> [mefas] LiveJournal community, asking the following question:
>
>
>
> *Which of the following would you prefer:*
>
> *1. **Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies
> currently announced*
>
> *2. **Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final
> season*
>
>
>
> Please vote at *one* of these places by Friday night. If you cannot vote at
> either Yahoo or LJ, email me at mefasupportATgmailDOTcom. The poll will
> stay open until 11:59 PM on Friday July 6.
>
>
>
> (The Yahoo version is available at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639)
>
>
>
> And thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! I'll do a
> more proper thank-you once we decide whether to have the 2012 awards or
> not. This group has brought so many talented and passionate people from
> different archives and corners of fandom together – very appropriate for a
> group built around our love of the Fellowship of the Nine and all the
> alliances before it that made that quest possible.
>
>
>
> Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,
>
> Marta
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Hi Ellie,

Thank you. I'm glad you met some interesting people through these awards,
and that you've found them a good experience generally. It's sad when
things like this end, but I think it's definitely time to hang up my shoes.

Marta

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 10:40 PM, ellfine2000 <elliefin@gmail.com> wrote:

> **
>
>
> I'm sorry to see the MEFAS go away. I have thoroughly enjoyed them over
> the years and have a great amount of respect for those who have worked on
> them, volunteering their time, talent, and well-written stories to make the
> awards happen. I've met some fascinating people through the MEFAs as well.
>
> Hugs to Marta and company for all they have done and for having the
> courage to get up from the table, politely nod their heads, and walk away
> when things got too rowdy.
>
> Ellie
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

What can I say, that the others haven't said before me? I haven't been a part of the MEFA for very long (only since 2009), but I loved it. I hope we'll have it in the future too, somehow... I am sad about the personal attacks some of you experienced. It is *wrong*. You put so much of your time and energy into MEFA and I understand you're hurt.
Thanks for everything. *big hug*

Ellynn




________________________________
From: Marta <marta.fandom@gmail.com>
To: mefawards@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, July 2, 2012 11:20 PM
Subject: [MEFAwards] a difficult decision, and a poll

Hey guys,

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

There should be a third alternative in the poll. Have the 2012 season with the same rules/procedures as used in prior years in place. Would this require a month's postponement of the awards season? Yes. But it would return things to a ratings system that are understood and dialog can take off for future changes from there.

I don't like either of the two choices you've offered me in your "poll".

- Erulisse (one L)

I agree with Erulisse. Why can't we just have the old rating system and give people time to hash out the new one? But if I have to choose, I would choose to let the MEFAs go on.

Fiondil

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Sandra" <isisrising08@...> wrote:
>
> There should be a third alternative in the poll. Have the 2012 season with the same rules/procedures as used in prior years in place. Would this require a month's postponement of the awards season? Yes. But it would return things to a ratings system that are understood and dialog can take off for future changes from there.
>
> I don't like either of the two choices you've offered me in your "poll".
>
> - Erulisse (one L)
>

That said (in my previous post), I am appalled that actual threats have
been made against those who put the MEFAs on and if that is the case, I can't
blame you for wanting to leave this behind you.

I admit that I want a change in the ratings rules, but understand that time
constraints can be punishing for meeting deadlines while discussing what
would result in a complete overhaul of the criteria for rating a story. I
think it is very sad that emotions seem to have come to the forefront of the
issue on all sides, causing brusque tones and hurt feelings.

I was honored to be nominated and awed to win a MEFA last year and enjoyed
reading many stories from authors I had never heard of before. The MEFAs
provided a valuable service in the fanfic community by introducing people to
new stories and authors, not just those who were better known or promoted.
Although I will support whatever decisions you make, I really wish that
everyone could step back and take a deep breath, coming back to the negotiating
table with patience and the mutual desire to see the MEFAs strengthened and
more inclusive of the vast variety of fanfic writing that exists from Gen to
X.

- Erulisse (one L)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I first competed in the MEFAs in 2006, and you were my author liason, Marta - and it was a really fun experience. I respect what you've done to build the awards up.

However, I won't be voting in your poll as you've chosen to present it. Speaking for myself, I felt that the new ratings system was a weall-meant mistake caused by not involving *all* the stakeholders in the discussion. The response to the group of us who chose to bring forward concerns made me, personally, feel that my opinion as an author and voter in the MEFAs was not valued. This 'poll' which doesn't really present much choice at all, confirms for me that decisions have already been made and that my opinion doesn't actually count for much.

I'm sorry that this has become so stressful for you and sorry that you felt that you were personally attacked - as I said earlier, I respect what you've done to create the awards and hope you'll re-consider.

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hey guys,
>
>
>
> Over the last several days this list has been buzzing about our new content
> advisory policy. This list has actually only been one aspect of everything
> that's going on. Elliska, the member whose job contract I mentioned a few
> days ago, has been attacked through anonymous reviews of her stories. She
> also had her perceived religious identity attacked – and, while this
> perception turned out to be wrong, it hit much closer to the mark when it
> came to me. (Right or wrong, personal attacks like this are completely
> inappropriate.) I also have been accused of purposely obstructing the
> discussions about rating, of filibustering and censoring authors and trying
> to put off changes rather than taking people seriously. I've also been
> talked down to and embarrassed before large groups of people.
>
>
>
> The truth of the matter is I'm just a grad student. The MEFAs are playtime
> for me, a way to relax and encourage creativity – scheming is entirely too
> much work. :-) But they do take a lot of my time. During the busy parts of
> the awards (nominations and categorizing) I probably worked on the awards
> at least 3-4 hours a night, out of a fondness for this fandom generally and
> this awards in particular. I continued to work the rest of the year trying
> to make the MEFAs better, albeit for less time (I'd estimate ten hours a
> week on average during the rest of the year). I've also donated several
> hundred of dollars toward hosting costs over the years.
>
>
>
> Other people have worked many more hours than I have, and for much longer
> periods of time; our first administrator Ainaechoiriel, and our webmasters
> Aranel Took, Tanaqui, and Anthony Holder jump to mind, not to mention all
> the liaisons, categorizers, banner makers and other volunteers who have
> been "insufficiently reluctant" over the years. None of us were paid in
> anything except gratitude (which we certainly appreciated!), and in the
> hope that the MEFAs were a positive contribution to the fandom. We did this
> because it made our corner of the internet a better place, and because it
> was fun.
>
>
>
> But these last several days have not been fun. I don't mind vigorous debate
> and was fully prepared to discuss people's concerns with them, once I had
> the time to do that. This wasn't a delaying tactic – it's the simple
> reality that I didn't have time right now to discuss policies and to give
> these concerns the consideration they deserve. But the way people presented
> and kept pressing these complaints has made the MEFAs less a pleasure and
> more a stressful burden for me.
>
>
>
> Speaking for myself, I have gone from sorta-kinda dreading the 2012 awards,
> to wanting to quit after the 2012 awards, to wanting to quit *now*. I have
> also talked to several other volunteers without whose help I could not run
> these awards, and they told me that they also didn't want to carry on with
> the MEFAs. (In the interest of transparency: that's Aranel Took, Inkling,
> and Elliska.) On top of getting ready for the 2012 awards and trying to
> answer concerns about the new content advisory policy, we started having
> one of the most difficult discussions I've ever had: whether to keep
> putting on the MEFAs.
>
>
>
> I have loved working with the MEFAs since they started eight years ago. As
> far as I know, Inkling, Elliska, and Aranel Took all feel similarly toward
> the awards, or at least they did until recently. We've had a lot of fun
> putting them on, and many of the authors, readers and other volunteers who
> participated seemed to enjoy them. But after discussing the current state
> of things, we all came to the same conclusion: it simply isn't worth the
> effort anymore. If the reaction to the ratings policy is any indication,
> we're also apparently out of synch with the priorities of many fandom
> members. If that's right, then other people more in the swing of fandom
> these days can probably put on events that will make better use of peoples'
> time.
>
>
>
> The bottom line: I am not willing to put so much time and energy into
> running an awards that lately has become so painful – certainly not past
> the 2012 awards. Aranel, Elliska, and Inkling aren't willing to do that
> either. Other people have of course been crucial to the MEFAs' success; I'm
> certainly aware of that (and thankful to those people!), and I don't want
> to dismiss their hard work. But the four of us are the volunteers most
> experienced with the processes required to manage the membership as well as
> the nomination and categorization seasons--the core administrative parts of
> the awards. With all of us leaving together, we do not believe that MEFAs
> can continue to function adequately.
>
>
>
> In light of that, we don't plan to run the MEFAs in 2013 or in any future
> years. That doesn't mean the spirit of the MEFAs has to die. We invite
> people who like our basic format (awards where you vote by leaving comments
> – a style of awards that actually originated in the Star Trek fandom years
> ago, not with us) to develop their own awards set up along similar lines.
> You can code your own website or, if you want to start small, run it
> through a listserv or other online forum like we did back in 2004.
>
>
>
> Aranel has also agreed to continue to host the MEFA Archive, so our archive
> of past nominations, winners, and reviews will still be available at
> www.mefawards.org. I've always said after every year that just because the
> voting ends, it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the nominated stories.
> You can still read the stories and leave them reviews at their archive even
> if MEFA voting is closed – what author doesn't love a new review on an old
> piece? If anything, that applies now more than ever.
>
>
>
> As for the 2012 awards, we are basically ready to go with those – but I
> only want to do that if people still want them. I'd like everyone's opinion
> here. Should 2011 be our last year, or would you like one more round? I've
> set up two polls, one at the [MEFAwards] Yahoo group and another at the
> [mefas] LiveJournal community, asking the following question:
>
>
>
> *Which of the following would you prefer:*
>
> *1. **Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies
> currently announced*
>
> *2. **Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final
> season*
>
>
>
> Please vote at *one* of these places by Friday night. If you cannot vote at
> either Yahoo or LJ, email me at mefasupportATgmailDOTcom. The poll will
> stay open until 11:59 PM on Friday July 6.
>
>
>
> (The Yahoo version is available at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639)
>
>
>
> And thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! I'll do a
> more proper thank-you once we decide whether to have the 2012 awards or
> not. This group has brought so many talented and passionate people from
> different archives and corners of fandom together – very appropriate for a
> group built around our love of the Fellowship of the Nine and all the
> alliances before it that made that quest possible.
>
>
>
> Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,
>
> Marta
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Marta is away for much of the day for RL responsibilities. She will be back later this evening, if I am correct. But I will field this question (I am Elliska, one of the four admins who made this announcement).

Unfortunately, we cannot go back to the old system in a month. One of the things that much of the membership does not see is the work behind the scenes. After the awards are over, we do a post mortem and discuss what went well and what needs improvement. Our programmer, Aranel, another of the admins that made this announcement, participates in those discussions in order to know what coding changes to make. We work on the post mortum and the reprogramming of the site straight through until the next awards begin. The reason we are starting later this year (we normally start in June) is because there were so many changes to the code, including the ratings change. It took Aranel from January to now to make all those changes (remember, Aranel has a full time job and does this on the side). Putting it back wouldn't take that long, because all the changes weren't just for the ratings, of course. But it would take much longer than just a month.

Also, we made the change in the ratings because of a definite need--because our consciences would not allow us to see the same incident that prompted the change happen again. We cannot, in good conscience, go back to that system and risk that. Some good alternatives have been suggested, but again, programming them would take a long time and be a great deal of work. Unfortunately, because of the stress of this situation, we are not willing to do that.

But as we said, we do encourage others to take this award concept and make the changes in it that they see fit and run a new set of awards starting whenever they wish. Speaking only for myself here, it is my hope that with The Hobbit coming out, the fandom will be energized and so whoever decides to start a new awards will find an enthusiastic base of participants to make that new awards even more successful and fun than the MEFAs have been. To me, that would be the ultimate legacy for these awards! :-)

I am very happy you enjoyed the MEFAs. I am sure Marta will step in sometime later and second that and add to my comments. I just didn't want people to get their hopes up for this 'third option' because it simply isn't possible.

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Sandra" <isisrising08@...> wrote:
>
> There should be a third alternative in the poll. Have the 2012 season with the same rules/procedures as used in prior years in place. Would this require a month's postponement of the awards season? Yes. But it would return things to a ratings system that are understood and dialog can take off for future changes from there.
>
> I don't like either of the two choices you've offered me in your "poll".
>
> - Erulisse (one L)
>

I can't seem to access the site either so could you please include a vote for continuing from me?

All the best, Liz. Sent from my iPad

On 2 Jul 2012, at 22:30, Marta <marta.fandom@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Becky,
>
> Thanks for letting me know. Please just don't vote in either place and I'll
> include your vote when I combine the two polls on Saturday.
>
> Marta
>
> On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 5:24 PM, Sulriel of Menegroth <sulriel@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> **
>>
>>
>> well. somehow i'm unable to access the group with the yahoo id that the
>> messages are being sent to, but I would love to see the 2012 go on as
>> planned. I am fine with the rules and policies as currently announced.
>>
>> * **
>> *Becky Burkheart*
>> *Write Horses Right ~ avoid the The 33 Worst Mistakes Writers Make About
>> Horses<
>> http://aconspiracyofauthors.com/acoajoom/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=77
>>>
>>
>> *Short and Twisted Fairy
>> Tales<
>> http://www.amazon.com/Short-Twisted-Fairy-Tales-ebook/dp/B008C33UEK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340341155&sr=1-1
>>>
>> Unique
>> twists on seven classic fairy tales*
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 4:18 PM, <MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Enter your vote today! A new poll has been created for the
>>> MEFAwards group:
>>>
>>> Which of the following would you prefer:
>>>
>>> o Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies currently
>>> announced
>>> o Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final season
>>>
>>>
>>> To vote, please visit the following web page:
>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639
>>>
>>> Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
>>> not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
>>> web site listed above.
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------
>>
>>>
>>> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

I loved the MEFAs! I will miss them! And I voted for one more year. Hopefully we will get it so we can have one last round of fun. I have always enjoyed the MEFA's 'feel good, everyone is having fun and getting along' aspect. That is so rare in fandoms that it was a refreshing treat.

I run an archive in another fandom though. I am also the programmer for the site. I totally understand the time constraints of programming new functions into custom code (and this site is obviously custom--not one of those out-of-the-box programs you can buy). Between real life and required updates, I barely have time to code in new things. So I totally understand that this team might be exhausted, after all that's been going on, and feel ready to let it go.

Let's go out on a high note! And let's hope someone else brings in something great. I'd give a new awards a try if someone made one based on this vote by reviewing format. That's a cool idea and I've enjoyed voting!

I'm sorry to hear that someone has attacked elliska. She's been my liaison during the two MEFA season I competed, and always hepful when I first faced the nominations process.

The MEFAs have been an excellent way to discover many great authors and stories. I appreciate all the effort that has gone behind the scenes to make them possible. I was looking forward to competing this year again. Then the new ratings came as a shock. I won't repeat myself here as to why I would have liked to see the policy changed, all of it was detailed in the letters we posted here (I signed both) to raise our concern and urge to agree a solution that would satisfy all of us.

Now I'm stunned by a poll that only considers the two extreme alternatives, when clearly there are options in the middle. Several may have been rejected as too lengthy to implement.

Why not restore the site to the backup from the start of the 2011 awards, with the old ratings system? If you are concerned about stories that might need to be pulled out at the very last minute because of ratings issues, why not simply give a time limit to all complaints, and commit to a timely period to address them? No extra coding would be required, as the complaints' procedure is all manual. I know there were glitches, but they were not atrocious to live with.

The start of the MEFAs 2012 has been delayed for an extra six days, surely there's enough time to restore the previous code, point to a fresh copy of the database and tidy up any lose ends?

Can this option be considered, and maybe added to the poll?

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hey guys,
>
>
>
> Over the last several days this list has been buzzing about our new content
> advisory policy. This list has actually only been one aspect of everything
> that's going on. Elliska, the member whose job contract I mentioned a few
> days ago, has been attacked through anonymous reviews of her stories. She
> also had her perceived religious identity attacked – and, while this
> perception turned out to be wrong, it hit much closer to the mark when it
> came to me. (Right or wrong, personal attacks like this are completely
> inappropriate.) I also have been accused of purposely obstructing the
> discussions about rating, of filibustering and censoring authors and trying
> to put off changes rather than taking people seriously. I've also been
> talked down to and embarrassed before large groups of people.
>
>
>
> The truth of the matter is I'm just a grad student. The MEFAs are playtime
> for me, a way to relax and encourage creativity – scheming is entirely too
> much work. :-) But they do take a lot of my time. During the busy parts of
> the awards (nominations and categorizing) I probably worked on the awards
> at least 3-4 hours a night, out of a fondness for this fandom generally and
> this awards in particular. I continued to work the rest of the year trying
> to make the MEFAs better, albeit for less time (I'd estimate ten hours a
> week on average during the rest of the year). I've also donated several
> hundred of dollars toward hosting costs over the years.
>
>
>
> Other people have worked many more hours than I have, and for much longer
> periods of time; our first administrator Ainaechoiriel, and our webmasters
> Aranel Took, Tanaqui, and Anthony Holder jump to mind, not to mention all
> the liaisons, categorizers, banner makers and other volunteers who have
> been "insufficiently reluctant" over the years. None of us were paid in
> anything except gratitude (which we certainly appreciated!), and in the
> hope that the MEFAs were a positive contribution to the fandom. We did this
> because it made our corner of the internet a better place, and because it
> was fun.
>
>
>
> But these last several days have not been fun. I don't mind vigorous debate
> and was fully prepared to discuss people's concerns with them, once I had
> the time to do that. This wasn't a delaying tactic – it's the simple
> reality that I didn't have time right now to discuss policies and to give
> these concerns the consideration they deserve. But the way people presented
> and kept pressing these complaints has made the MEFAs less a pleasure and
> more a stressful burden for me.
>
>
>
> Speaking for myself, I have gone from sorta-kinda dreading the 2012 awards,
> to wanting to quit after the 2012 awards, to wanting to quit *now*. I have
> also talked to several other volunteers without whose help I could not run
> these awards, and they told me that they also didn't want to carry on with
> the MEFAs. (In the interest of transparency: that's Aranel Took, Inkling,
> and Elliska.) On top of getting ready for the 2012 awards and trying to
> answer concerns about the new content advisory policy, we started having
> one of the most difficult discussions I've ever had: whether to keep
> putting on the MEFAs.
>
>
>
> I have loved working with the MEFAs since they started eight years ago. As
> far as I know, Inkling, Elliska, and Aranel Took all feel similarly toward
> the awards, or at least they did until recently. We've had a lot of fun
> putting them on, and many of the authors, readers and other volunteers who
> participated seemed to enjoy them. But after discussing the current state
> of things, we all came to the same conclusion: it simply isn't worth the
> effort anymore. If the reaction to the ratings policy is any indication,
> we're also apparently out of synch with the priorities of many fandom
> members. If that's right, then other people more in the swing of fandom
> these days can probably put on events that will make better use of peoples'
> time.
>
>
>
> The bottom line: I am not willing to put so much time and energy into
> running an awards that lately has become so painful – certainly not past
> the 2012 awards. Aranel, Elliska, and Inkling aren't willing to do that
> either. Other people have of course been crucial to the MEFAs' success; I'm
> certainly aware of that (and thankful to those people!), and I don't want
> to dismiss their hard work. But the four of us are the volunteers most
> experienced with the processes required to manage the membership as well as
> the nomination and categorization seasons--the core administrative parts of
> the awards. With all of us leaving together, we do not believe that MEFAs
> can continue to function adequately.
>
>
>
> In light of that, we don't plan to run the MEFAs in 2013 or in any future
> years. That doesn't mean the spirit of the MEFAs has to die. We invite
> people who like our basic format (awards where you vote by leaving comments
> – a style of awards that actually originated in the Star Trek fandom years
> ago, not with us) to develop their own awards set up along similar lines.
> You can code your own website or, if you want to start small, run it
> through a listserv or other online forum like we did back in 2004.
>
>
>
> Aranel has also agreed to continue to host the MEFA Archive, so our archive
> of past nominations, winners, and reviews will still be available at
> www.mefawards.org. I've always said after every year that just because the
> voting ends, it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the nominated stories.
> You can still read the stories and leave them reviews at their archive even
> if MEFA voting is closed – what author doesn't love a new review on an old
> piece? If anything, that applies now more than ever.
>
>
>
> As for the 2012 awards, we are basically ready to go with those – but I
> only want to do that if people still want them. I'd like everyone's opinion
> here. Should 2011 be our last year, or would you like one more round? I've
> set up two polls, one at the [MEFAwards] Yahoo group and another at the
> [mefas] LiveJournal community, asking the following question:
>
>
>
> *Which of the following would you prefer:*
>
> *1. **Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies
> currently announced*
>
> *2. **Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final
> season*
>
>
>
> Please vote at *one* of these places by Friday night. If you cannot vote at
> either Yahoo or LJ, email me at mefasupportATgmailDOTcom. The poll will
> stay open until 11:59 PM on Friday July 6.
>
>
>
> (The Yahoo version is available at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639)
>
>
>
> And thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! I'll do a
> more proper thank-you once we decide whether to have the 2012 awards or
> not. This group has brought so many talented and passionate people from
> different archives and corners of fandom together – very appropriate for a
> group built around our love of the Fellowship of the Nine and all the
> alliances before it that made that quest possible.
>
>
>
> Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,
>
> Marta
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I'll just simply sign Steel's post below, as she reflects my opinions accurately, save that I first competed in 2007. I'll add that, based on my own experience in grad school, I well know that as one progresses in a program, the demands on one's time and energy become intense, as they should, so it's understandable that a step back from extracurriculars is necessary.

Pande a.k.a. Doc B.

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "surgeon_ruth" <surgsteel@...> wrote:
>
> I first competed in the MEFAs in 2006, and you were my author liason, Marta - and it was a really fun experience. I respect what you've done to build the awards up.
>
> However, I won't be voting in your poll as you've chosen to present it. Speaking for myself, I felt that the new ratings system was a weall-meant mistake caused by not involving *all* the stakeholders in the discussion. The response to the group of us who chose to bring forward concerns made me, personally, feel that my opinion as an author and voter in the MEFAs was not valued. This 'poll' which doesn't really present much choice at all, confirms for me that decisions have already been made and that my opinion doesn't actually count for much.
>
> I'm sorry that this has become so stressful for you and sorry that you felt that you were personally attacked - as I said earlier, I respect what you've done to create the awards and hope you'll re-consider.

Hello Sandra and everyone,

I understand that you and everyone else are anxious upset about the new
rating system. However, your suggestion that we delay the awards and go
back to the old system isn't realistic. The old system was pretty seriously
flawed, as the situation at the end of last year's awards showed. Everyone
agrees that it isn't fair to authors to pull out their stories so late in
the awards, and that's precisely what I'd have to do if the exact same
situation happened in the 2012 awards.

You suggested that we delay the awards and discuss the ratings systems in
more detail now. But that's an unrealistic request for several reasons. For
one thing, MEFAs aside, I don't have time to participate in a detailed
discussion like that would require right now. More importantly, the other
awards organizers and I simply aren't interested in rehashing this policy
for one last year. I'm willing to continue working with the MEFAs through
one more, for two real reasons. First, we are very nearly ready to start
the awards so, compared to most years, there's not that much work left to
do in order to get ready for it. And perhaps more importantly, I had
already said there would be MEFAs in 2012, before I had any indication
people had such passionate concerns about ratings. That is why I was
willing to run the MEFAs for one last year if that's what people wanted.

However, I'm not willing to make such major changes, nor am I willing to
delay things and start the whole process of lining up volunteers all over
again. That's not reasonable, given the circumstances. Of course, if anyone
thinks the 2012 content advisory system (or any other aspect of the
awards!) makes the awards not worth having, then you are free to vote that
way in the polls going on now. I can also put you on our don't-nominate
list whichever way the polls go.

I realize that a binary poll like this seems restrictive. It is, in many
ways. Unfortunately, other options like the ones you suggest would simply
require more time and effort than I'm willing to invest in the MEFAs.

Btw, Elliska was right that I'm not going to be around for a lot of today.
I'm headed out in an hour and won't be online again until at *least* 4 PM
(probably later). I'll answer as many emails as I can before then, and as
many as I can tonight when I get back. Thanks for the patience!

Marta

On Tue, Jul 3, 2012 at 5:41 AM, Sandra <isisrising08@aol.com> wrote:

> **
>
>
> There should be a third alternative in the poll. Have the 2012 season with
> the same rules/procedures as used in prior years in place. Would this
> require a month's postponement of the awards season? Yes. But it would
> return things to a ratings system that are understood and dialog can take
> off for future changes from there.
>
> I don't like either of the two choices you've offered me in your "poll".
>
> - Erulisse (one L)
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have a suggestion which would require no new coding and no major re-hashing of policy: leave the ratings system as is, but remove the mandatory ratings panel review for stories rated '5' and trust the authors to rate their stories appropriately. Commit to a deadline for complaints (not allowing complaints after a certain date) and commit to a speedy turnaround on complaints (I think HASA lets you keep a story checked out for review for a week). Trust the ratings panel to recuse themselves when appropriate (to avoid appearance of bias and/or because they just don't have time one particular week).

Requires no new coding on anyone's part, requires no re-work of the rating system, requires less work (most likely) for the ratings panel, and doesn't make those of us who've written stories with a 5 rating feel stigmatized.

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hello Sandra and everyone,
>
> I understand that you and everyone else are anxious upset about the new
> rating system. However, your suggestion that we delay the awards and go
> back to the old system isn't realistic. The old system was pretty seriously
> flawed, as the situation at the end of last year's awards showed. Everyone
> agrees that it isn't fair to authors to pull out their stories so late in
> the awards, and that's precisely what I'd have to do if the exact same
> situation happened in the 2012 awards.
>
> You suggested that we delay the awards and discuss the ratings systems in
> more detail now. But that's an unrealistic request for several reasons. For
> one thing, MEFAs aside, I don't have time to participate in a detailed
> discussion like that would require right now. More importantly, the other
> awards organizers and I simply aren't interested in rehashing this policy
> for one last year. I'm willing to continue working with the MEFAs through
> one more, for two real reasons. First, we are very nearly ready to start
> the awards so, compared to most years, there's not that much work left to
> do in order to get ready for it. And perhaps more importantly, I had
> already said there would be MEFAs in 2012, before I had any indication
> people had such passionate concerns about ratings. That is why I was
> willing to run the MEFAs for one last year if that's what people wanted.
>
> However, I'm not willing to make such major changes, nor am I willing to
> delay things and start the whole process of lining up volunteers all over
> again. That's not reasonable, given the circumstances. Of course, if anyone
> thinks the 2012 content advisory system (or any other aspect of the
> awards!) makes the awards not worth having, then you are free to vote that
> way in the polls going on now. I can also put you on our don't-nominate
> list whichever way the polls go.
>
> I realize that a binary poll like this seems restrictive. It is, in many
> ways. Unfortunately, other options like the ones you suggest would simply
> require more time and effort than I'm willing to invest in the MEFAs.
>
> Btw, Elliska was right that I'm not going to be around for a lot of today.
> I'm headed out in an hour and won't be online again until at *least* 4 PM
> (probably later). I'll answer as many emails as I can before then, and as
> many as I can tonight when I get back. Thanks for the patience!
>
> Marta
>
> On Tue, Jul 3, 2012 at 5:41 AM, Sandra <isisrising08@...> wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> > There should be a third alternative in the poll. Have the 2012 season with
> > the same rules/procedures as used in prior years in place. Would this
> > require a month's postponement of the awards season? Yes. But it would
> > return things to a ratings system that are understood and dialog can take
> > off for future changes from there.
> >
> > I don't like either of the two choices you've offered me in your "poll".
> >
> > - Erulisse (one L)
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Hello Ruth and everyone,

The poll actually was an attempt to offer a genuine choice, within the
confines of what Aranel, Elliska, Inkling, and I are willing to do. I'm
sorry it's not being perceived that way. The recent discussion on ratings
simply sapped my desire to help out with the MEFAs, and the other people I
mentioned in the announcement said they felt the same way. But we did feel
a sense of obligation to the people who like participating in the MEFAs
over the years, particularly since we'd already announced the 2012 awards
would be happening and many people had started looking for stories to
nominate.

In light of that, and since the 2012 site was so close to being ready for
the competition, I wanted to at least offer people the chance to have one
last year - if people wanted it. If on the other hand the majority thought
the new policies were so bad it would be better not to run the awards at
all (or even if there was simply little interest in another year), I'd
respect that as well.

You suggest that we just go back to the 2011 ratings system. I'd have to
check with Aranel to be certain, but I'm fairly sure it's not so simple.
Different components of the website usually rely on each other, so I'd
imagine changing the way the site handles rating would mean not just using
old code but adapting new code so it only affects this particular area.
That's more work than I'm willing to ask her to do. It would also mean
going back through all the FAQs and changing them to reflect the change.
I've already done that editing task once this year and still have the
headaches to prove it *g* - I'm not keen to jump back in for a second
round. Most importantly, however, it puts us in the exact same spot we were
in 2011. That means if a situation like Esteliel's came along I'd have to
handle it the same way I did with hers. Judging from the comments posted
here over the last several days, no one wants that. But the only way to
avoid it is to get into the details of the ratings policy. And I'm *
definitely* not willing to do that for one more year.

It's not that you and the other people who dislike the content advisory
system don't have good ideas. As I said repeatedly, I was willing (even
eager) to discuss them with you all at one point. However, that was when I
expected to keep volunteering with the MEFAs for years to come. But, as I
said above, this discussion has sapped my desire to keep on helping out
with the MEFAs. The other people I mentioned above have told me they feel
the same way. I'm willing to put on the MEFAs for another year, if that's
what most people involved with them want. But that's really *all* I'm
willing to do.

I understand why the poll seems limiting. It's limited by that reality,
though. I'm trying to give people as much choice as I can, given the limits
of what those of us responsible for changing the site (Aranel), signing up
new people (Elliska), and pressing the on switch (me) are willing to do.
I'm sorry we can't be more flexible here.

Marta

On Tue, Jul 3, 2012 at 7:36 AM, surgeon_ruth <surgsteel@gmail.com> wrote:

> **
>
>
> I first competed in the MEFAs in 2006, and you were my author liason,
> Marta - and it was a really fun experience. I respect what you've done to
> build the awards up.
>
> However, I won't be voting in your poll as you've chosen to present it.
> Speaking for myself, I felt that the new ratings system was a weall-meant
> mistake caused by not involving *all* the stakeholders in the discussion.
> The response to the group of us who chose to bring forward concerns made
> me, personally, feel that my opinion as an author and voter in the MEFAs
> was not valued. This 'poll' which doesn't really present much choice at
> all, confirms for me that decisions have already been made and that my
> opinion doesn't actually count for much.
>
> I'm sorry that this has become so stressful for you and sorry that you
> felt that you were personally attacked - as I said earlier, I respect what
> you've done to create the awards and hope you'll re-consider.
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Marta, Elliska, Aranel, and Inkling (and all the others who worked with them)--

Thank you for the years of hard work you've put in on these awards. They were a gift to the fandom. I was always impressed by how they made so many people happier. You should be proud of yourselves.

daw

I feel like some people have now begun to paint me as the person who
brought religion into all of this. I haven't - I only pointed out what was
told to me a few days ago: that one single person campaigned for two months
against my stories because of her religious views. I'm not out to attack
anyone here; I do not even know who, or where that took place, and I do not
not even want to know because that really doesn't matter to me in all of
this.

(I have, btw, not attacked anyone's religious views, or encouraged others
to do that. Nevertheless, as a Christian myself, I did not feel that those
should be the basis of campaigning against a running story. Lots of my
friends have different beliefs than I, but those have nothing to do with
the fanfiction they write.)

All that mattered to me, and which I've also said in the past, is that it
seems to me unfair to all other participants of the MEFAs to change the
rules because of one single incident based on one person's views.
Especially because I know that many of those who now get criticized for
wanting a peaceful, constructive discussion of the issues they saw, and who
now get categorized as troublemakers, only did so because they love the
MEFAs and wanted to see them keep succeeding.

I'm sad to see it end like this, but, as many others have pointed out, this
need not be the end of the discussion. Fandom is a fluid thing. It
encompasses so many different people from so many different corners of the
world with lots of different experiences. I have seen a great many changes
and developments for the better during the past 15 years, and I have no
doubt at all that the same will remain to be true for the Tolkien fandom.

Esteliel



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I would vote for SurgicalSteel's option for this year.

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "surgeon_ruth" <surgsteel@...> wrote:
>
> I have a suggestion which would require no new coding and no major re-hashing of policy: leave the ratings system as is, but remove the mandatory ratings panel review for stories rated '5' and trust the authors to rate their stories appropriately. Commit to a deadline for complaints (not allowing complaints after a certain date) and commit to a speedy turnaround on complaints (I think HASA lets you keep a story checked out for review for a week). Trust the ratings panel to recuse themselves when appropriate (to avoid appearance of bias and/or because they just don't have time one particular week).
>
> Requires no new coding on anyone's part, requires no re-work of the rating system, requires less work (most likely) for the ratings panel, and doesn't make those of us who've written stories with a 5 rating feel stigmatized.
>
> --- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <marta.fandom@> wrote:
> >
> > Hello Sandra and everyone,
> >
> > I understand that you and everyone else are anxious upset about the new
> > rating system. However, your suggestion that we delay the awards and go
> > back to the old system isn't realistic. The old system was pretty seriously
> > flawed, as the situation at the end of last year's awards showed. Everyone
> > agrees that it isn't fair to authors to pull out their stories so late in
> > the awards, and that's precisely what I'd have to do if the exact same
> > situation happened in the 2012 awards.
> >
> > You suggested that we delay the awards and discuss the ratings systems in
> > more detail now. But that's an unrealistic request for several reasons. For
> > one thing, MEFAs aside, I don't have time to participate in a detailed
> > discussion like that would require right now. More importantly, the other
> > awards organizers and I simply aren't interested in rehashing this policy
> > for one last year. I'm willing to continue working with the MEFAs through
> > one more, for two real reasons. First, we are very nearly ready to start
> > the awards so, compared to most years, there's not that much work left to
> > do in order to get ready for it. And perhaps more importantly, I had
> > already said there would be MEFAs in 2012, before I had any indication
> > people had such passionate concerns about ratings. That is why I was
> > willing to run the MEFAs for one last year if that's what people wanted.
> >
> > However, I'm not willing to make such major changes, nor am I willing to
> > delay things and start the whole process of lining up volunteers all over
> > again. That's not reasonable, given the circumstances. Of course, if anyone
> > thinks the 2012 content advisory system (or any other aspect of the
> > awards!) makes the awards not worth having, then you are free to vote that
> > way in the polls going on now. I can also put you on our don't-nominate
> > list whichever way the polls go.
> >
> > I realize that a binary poll like this seems restrictive. It is, in many
> > ways. Unfortunately, other options like the ones you suggest would simply
> > require more time and effort than I'm willing to invest in the MEFAs.
> >
> > Btw, Elliska was right that I'm not going to be around for a lot of today.
> > I'm headed out in an hour and won't be online again until at *least* 4 PM
> > (probably later). I'll answer as many emails as I can before then, and as
> > many as I can tonight when I get back. Thanks for the patience!
> >
> > Marta
> >
> > On Tue, Jul 3, 2012 at 5:41 AM, Sandra <isisrising08@> wrote:
> >
> > > **
> > >
> > >
> > > There should be a third alternative in the poll. Have the 2012 season with
> > > the same rules/procedures as used in prior years in place. Would this
> > > require a month's postponement of the awards season? Yes. But it would
> > > return things to a ratings system that are understood and dialog can take
> > > off for future changes from there.
> > >
> > > I don't like either of the two choices you've offered me in your "poll".
> > >
> > > - Erulisse (one L)
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>

Dear Marta et al,

I'm so very sorry to hear this. I haven't been involved in the MEFAS for some three years now because my hibernating muse precluded me from participating as an author, and RL prevented me from participating as a reviewer. But for some years before that, the MEFAS was THE big fandom event for me, and I loved it dearly - the stories, the reviews, whether I wrote them or read them, the awards, the archive, the community, everything.
I have been following the discussion over the last several days, not feeling it my place to weigh in when I wasn't active myself, but feeling ever more sadder as it went on. And now your post is what I've been dreading while still hoping it might be resolved positively - but often such things take on a life of their own, don't they...

In any case, please jot me down as someone who wants to see the MEFA awards extended at least for this year if possible.

And thousand thanks to you and Aranel, and to all the other volunteers, for your hard work and dedication during all this time, and also quick and friendly responsiveness, that has made the MEFAS such a joy to be involved in. I hope that despite the contentiousness and heartache you must be experiencing now, that at least you can derive gratification and pride from working on a project that made so many people creative and happy.

Imhiriel

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> *Which of the following would you prefer:*
>
> *1. **Have the 2012 MEFAs, using the same rules and policies
> currently announced*
>
> *2. **Not have the 2012 MEFAs, and let the 2011 awards be our final
> season*
>
>
>
> Please vote at *one* of these places by Friday night. If you cannot vote at
> either Yahoo or LJ, email me at mefasupportATgmailDOTcom. The poll will
> stay open until 11:59 PM on Friday July 6.
>
>
>
> (The Yahoo version is available at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/surveys?id=3107639)
>
>
>
> And thank you to everyone who has participated over the years! I'll do a
> more proper thank-you once we decide whether to have the 2012 awards or
> not. This group has brought so many talented and passionate people from
> different archives and corners of fandom together – very appropriate for a
> group built around our love of the Fellowship of the Nine and all the
> alliances before it that made that quest possible.
>
>
>
> Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo,
>
> Marta
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I'm upset as well. I've looked forward to the MEFAs for the years I've been
involved in the fandom, and am upset that people would react in such a manner as
to barrage people with hate mail and anonymous criticism as has happened.

I have written to some touchy topics over the years, although I've always done
my best to avoid outright titillation. I don't think that any of my stories
would be considered unacceptable to the MEFAs, although I've had one story rouse
sufficient controversy in some parts that there was a rather ineffective attempt
to convince the archive owners at MPTT to remove it.

I so hope that people will pull together and find the common ground, allowing
the MEFAs to go forward as we have become accustomed to.
Bonnie L. Sherrell
Teacher at Large

"Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." LOTR

"Don't go where I can't follow."

And I, too, thank all who have contributed to the MEFAs since its inception, and
particularly Marta and Elliska.
Bonnie L. Sherrell
Teacher at Large

"Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." LOTR

"Don't go where I can't follow."

Hello everyone,

I'm sad to be the bearer of bad news, but I am going to have to step in and end the possibility of a 2012 MEFAs.

This decision is my own. I informed Marta, Elliska, and Inkling today that I am unable to continue supporting the website. There are still some bugs to be worked out, we've been having database issues with the hosting company, and with everything that's been going on I haven't been able to give the site my full attention to have it totally ready to go. It's become too much stress to deal with and it's negatively affecting my Real Life. Real Life has to take priority.

The site is in a condition that it is impossible for someone else to take it over at this point for a 2012 awards. There are still a lot of things to do for updating the post-nominations seasons. There are still bugs from the new updates to work out. I have been the only tech support person for the last year or so, so nobody else is familiar with it. I am also the worst code documenter in the universe (if there was an Olympics for crappy code documentation, I would win the gold!), so it would be no easy task for someone else to take over the updates and bug fixes.

I will still host the MEFA Archive and I will finish updating the 2011 stories as soon as possible (after a break to de-stress).

I know many will be disappointed in me, probably very angry with me, and I am truly sorry. But I know there are others already planning new awards, so I suggest taking your ire with me and focusing that energy on helping them out or starting new awards.

I will preemptively address transferring the site code to someone else: Honestly, I'm a bit selfish about it and I'm really not willing to give away the work I've done. I also don't want to have to support the code (see: crappy documentation). And, really, your tech support and your users will be much happier if you decide what you want in your awards and then design your own site from the ground-up to do exactly what you want. It will work much better than trying to adapt someone else's code to fit your plans.

I ask that you please respect my decision and not try to persuade me to change my mind on anything I've said.

Apologies,
Aranel Took

Thank you for all your hardwork, Aranel.

--
"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


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I've voted for ending the MEFAs right now, so I'm fine with that decsision.

Also, fandom is supposed to be fun. Keeping up archives and awards sites is hard work. When it's no more fun but only stress and it starts affecting offline life in a negative way, it's time to stop. So I totally understand and support that decision.

I also understand and support your decision concerning the site and the code. While I'm not a web developer, I enjoy web design. Code can be just as much of a baby as fanfic. But much more important, I think it's a great opportunity to start with a clean slate, and from what I've seen so far, there are great ideas being discussed with much enthusiasm.

As Marta suggested, just because the time of the MEFAs is over does not mean that the spirit of the MEFAs is dead. Maybe it's just time for something new -- in time for the new movies of "The Hobbit".

Once more I can only say, thank you. Thank you for all you've done for the MEFAs and this fandom community. I hope that in time, fandom will be fun for you again. *hugs*

~Juno

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Aranel" <araneltook@...> wrote:
>
> Hello everyone,
>
> I'm sad to be the bearer of bad news, but I am going to have to step in and end the possibility of a 2012 MEFAs.
>

<snip>
> It's become too much stress to deal with and it's negatively affecting my Real Life. Real Life has to take priority.
>
<snip>
> Apologies,
> Aranel Took
>

As sad as I am to hear this, i understand and respect your decision. I
understand how difficult the entire situation is with all the ripples and
nuances (to say the least). You have my utmost respect and admiration for
all you have done for the fandom and the MEFAs thse last few years.
* **
*Becky Burkheart*
*Write Horses Right ~ avoid the The 33 Worst Mistakes Writers Make About
Horses<http://aconspiracyofauthors.com/acoajoom/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=77>

*Short and Twisted Fairy
Tales<http://www.amazon.com/Short-Twisted-Fairy-Tales-ebook/dp/B008C33UEK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340341155&sr=1-1>
Unique
twists on seven classic fairy tales*

On Tue, Jul 3, 2012 at 3:06 PM, Aranel <araneltook@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello everyone,
>
> I'm sad to be the bearer of bad news, but I am going to have to step in
> and end the possibility of a 2012 MEFAs.
>
> This decision is my own. I informed Marta, Elliska, and Inkling today that
> I am unable to continue supporting the website. There are still some bugs
> to be worked out, we've been having database issues with the hosting
> company, and with everything that's been going on I haven't been able to
> give the site my full attention to have it totally ready to go. It's become
> too much stress to deal with and it's negatively affecting my Real Life.
> Real Life has to take priority.
>
> The site is in a condition that it is impossible for someone else to take
> it over at this point for a 2012 awards. There are still a lot of things to
> do for updating the post-nominations seasons. There are still bugs from the
> new updates to work out. I have been the only tech support person for the
> last year or so, so nobody else is familiar with it. I am also the worst
> code documenter in the universe (if there was an Olympics for crappy code
> documentation, I would win the gold!), so it would be no easy task for
> someone else to take over the updates and bug fixes.
>
> I will still host the MEFA Archive and I will finish updating the 2011
> stories as soon as possible (after a break to de-stress).
>
> I know many will be disappointed in me, probably very angry with me, and I
> am truly sorry. But I know there are others already planning new awards, so
> I suggest taking your ire with me and focusing that energy on helping them
> out or starting new awards.
>
> I will preemptively address transferring the site code to someone else:
> Honestly, I'm a bit selfish about it and I'm really not willing to give
> away the work I've done. I also don't want to have to support the code
> (see: crappy documentation). And, really, your tech support and your users
> will be much happier if you decide what you want in your awards and then
> design your own site from the ground-up to do exactly what you want. It
> will work much better than trying to adapt someone else's code to fit your
> plans.
>
> I ask that you please respect my decision and not try to persuade me to
> change my mind on anything I've said.
>
> Apologies,
> Aranel Took
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Aranel, I think this year's MEFAs were just dumped on by Murphy's Law--
perhaps a sign that they have run their course. I have loved and enjoyed
them ever since they started and would be happy if a sudden miracle came
along to fix everything. (Where's a fairy godmother when you need one?)

But realistically it's not going to happen, and you have to do what you
have to do.

I hope that people will not go away with their heads hanging down and
berating themselves; you, Marta, Elliska, Inkling, Tanaqui and others have
done the heavy lifting of the MEFAs for years. There will be opportunities
for something new-- I hope that everyone will take a breath and rest up if
they need to-- but be glad to jump in and lend a hand when they are
refreshed.

While I am sad that we won't have one last season, I am not at all angry.

((((((((hugs)))))))))
Dreamflower

On Tue, Jul 3, 2012 at 3:06 PM, Aranel <araneltook@gmail.com> wrote:

> **
>
>
> Hello everyone,
>
> I'm sad to be the bearer of bad news, but I am going to have to step in
> and end the possibility of a 2012 MEFAs.
>
> This decision is my own. I informed Marta, Elliska, and Inkling today that
> I am unable to continue supporting the website. There are still some bugs
> to be worked out, we've been having database issues with the hosting
> company, and with everything that's been going on I haven't been able to
> give the site my full attention to have it totally ready to go. It's become
> too much stress to deal with and it's negatively affecting my Real Life.
> Real Life has to take priority.
>
> The site is in a condition that it is impossible for someone else to take
> it over at this point for a 2012 awards. There are still a lot of things to
> do for updating the post-nominations seasons. There are still bugs from the
> new updates to work out. I have been the only tech support person for the
> last year or so, so nobody else is familiar with it. I am also the worst
> code documenter in the universe (if there was an Olympics for crappy code
> documentation, I would win the gold!), so it would be no easy task for
> someone else to take over the updates and bug fixes.
>
> I will still host the MEFA Archive and I will finish updating the 2011
> stories as soon as possible (after a break to de-stress).
>
> I know many will be disappointed in me, probably very angry with me, and I
> am truly sorry. But I know there are others already planning new awards, so
> I suggest taking your ire with me and focusing that energy on helping them
> out or starting new awards.
>
> I will preemptively address transferring the site code to someone else:
> Honestly, I'm a bit selfish about it and I'm really not willing to give
> away the work I've done. I also don't want to have to support the code
> (see: crappy documentation). And, really, your tech support and your users
> will be much happier if you decide what you want in your awards and then
> design your own site from the ground-up to do exactly what you want. It
> will work much better than trying to adapt someone else's code to fit your
> plans.
>
> I ask that you please respect my decision and not try to persuade me to
> change my mind on anything I've said.
>
> Apologies,
> Aranel Took
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have simply been inactive in most of the time on this list. However, as an author of "adult content" stories, that could really be no other way.
 
And yet, anyone who purposefully acts in such a way as to cause suffering to another human being is, to my mind, an imbecile. True I do not agree with MEFAs policy on "adult content"  - banned, and yet directed at adult readers.This seems simply unatural to me - however, every website is free to decide what they want or otherwise, just as I am free to choose which sites to belong to , and which not to.
 
For me, ethically, banning sex or violence is a simple act of intolerance, and as such, I understand that it is me that should leave, and not vice-versa. You guys have made it very clear what you want and what you do not. Therefore I will, of course, remove myself from this list.
 
I would suggest stopping the MEFA awards as of 2011 - I really do not see the point in prolonging the agony, yet I do want to make my point clear. Both banning and attacking on the grounds of ethics, religious or not, is equitative - there is no difference.
 
Thank you then, for spending your free time to make others happy. Forget the idiots that think that attacking what they do not agree with, with grevous intent, is "intellectual", because it's not, and although I do not agree with your criteria, you do deserve a round of applause.
 
Alpha Ori

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thank you for all the hard work you've put into the MEFAs, Aranel. I
understand and respect your decision.

- Barbara


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'll really miss the MEFAs, even though I havent been active the past couple of years. I certainly understand your decision and I'm sorry it came to this. Please know that the work all the volunteers, and especially the core volunteers, have always been appreciated.

Enjoy all the free time you now have!

nautika

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Aranel" <araneltook@...> wrote:
>
> Hello everyone,
>
> I'm sad to be the bearer of bad news, but I am going to have to step in and end the possibility of a 2012 MEFAs.
>
> This decision is my own. I informed Marta, Elliska, and Inkling today that I am unable to continue supporting the website. There are still some bugs to be worked out, we've been having database issues with the hosting company, and with everything that's been going on I haven't been able to give the site my full attention to have it totally ready to go. It's become too much stress to deal with and it's negatively affecting my Real Life. Real Life has to take priority.
>
> The site is in a condition that it is impossible for someone else to take it over at this point for a 2012 awards. There are still a lot of things to do for updating the post-nominations seasons. There are still bugs from the new updates to work out. I have been the only tech support person for the last year or so, so nobody else is familiar with it. I am also the worst code documenter in the universe (if there was an Olympics for crappy code documentation, I would win the gold!), so it would be no easy task for someone else to take over the updates and bug fixes.
>
> I will still host the MEFA Archive and I will finish updating the 2011 stories as soon as possible (after a break to de-stress).
>
> I know many will be disappointed in me, probably very angry with me, and I am truly sorry. But I know there are others already planning new awards, so I suggest taking your ire with me and focusing that energy on helping them out or starting new awards.
>
> I will preemptively address transferring the site code to someone else: Honestly, I'm a bit selfish about it and I'm really not willing to give away the work I've done. I also don't want to have to support the code (see: crappy documentation). And, really, your tech support and your users will be much happier if you decide what you want in your awards and then design your own site from the ground-up to do exactly what you want. It will work much better than trying to adapt someone else's code to fit your plans.
>
> I ask that you please respect my decision and not try to persuade me to change my mind on anything I've said.
>
> Apologies,
> Aranel Took
>

You all worked hard on the MEFAs, and I'm glad to have been able to be in them, even if it was only two years. I wish everyone luck on future endeavors, and hope this won't ruin the fandom. Thank you all for doing the MEFAs for us. :)


Kaylee Arafinwiel

----- Original Message -----
From: "Aranel" <araneltook@gmail.com>
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 3, 2012 1:06:11 PM
Subject: [MEFAwards] Announcement from Aranel: Cancellation of MEFAs






Hello everyone,

I'm sad to be the bearer of bad news, but I am going to have to step in and end the possibility of a 2012 MEFAs.

This decision is my own. I informed Marta, Elliska, and Inkling today that I am unable to continue supporting the website. There are still some bugs to be worked out, we've been having database issues with the hosting company, and with everything that's been going on I haven't been able to give the site my full attention to have it totally ready to go. It's become too much stress to deal with and it's negatively affecting my Real Life. Real Life has to take priority.

The site is in a condition that it is impossible for someone else to take it over at this point for a 2012 awards. There are still a lot of things to do for updating the post-nominations seasons. There are still bugs from the new updates to work out. I have been the only tech support person for the last year or so, so nobody else is familiar with it. I am also the worst code documenter in the universe (if there was an Olympics for crappy code documentation, I would win the gold!), so it would be no easy task for someone else to take over the updates and bug fixes.

I will still host the MEFA Archive and I will finish updating the 2011 stories as soon as possible (after a break to de-stress).

I know many will be disappointed in me, probably very angry with me, and I am truly sorry. But I know there are others already planning new awards, so I suggest taking your ire with me and focusing that energy on helping them out or starting new awards.

I will preemptively address transferring the site code to someone else: Honestly, I'm a bit selfish about it and I'm really not willing to give away the work I've done. I also don't want to have to support the code (see: crappy documentation). And, really, your tech support and your users will be much happier if you decide what you want in your awards and then design your own site from the ground-up to do exactly what you want. It will work much better than trying to adapt someone else's code to fit your plans.

I ask that you please respect my decision and not try to persuade me to change my mind on anything I've said.

Apologies,
Aranel Took




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I am not angry toward those who have worked to make the MEFAs happen, although I
am understandably disappointed, particularly as I have been collecting stories
I've wished to nominate for much of this last year!

But I am more disappointed at those who made a mountain out of a few grains of
sand, and who sent hate mail to our volunteers and administrators. It was poor
return for all that they have done over the past few years to make the MEFAs an
event to respect.

Thank all of you once more for doing your best and indeed making the MEFAs a
competition we have been for the most part proud to take part in. As one who
has labored to write usable softward in dBase3+, I know how difficult it was to
get a simple UPS program written so my husband could use it independently (he
was totally blind). To do all that is involved in coding the site is amazing!
Thank you all, and particularly Aranel and those who have helped her with the
site, and Marta, who's kept the contest going all of these years. I bow to all
of you!
Bonnie L. Sherrell
Teacher at Large

"Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." LOTR

"Don't go where I can't follow."

Thank you for everything you have done for MEFA and for the fandom, Aranel.

Ellynn



________________________________
From: Aranel <araneltook@gmail.com>
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 3, 2012 10:06 PM
Subject: [MEFAwards] Announcement from Aranel: Cancellation of MEFAs

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I must confess that I haven't been an active participant of MEFAs all these years, mostly because real life always seemed to get in the way and keep me busy. However, I admire the effort and love you have put in these awards and I am very saddened by your decision to cancel them -although, I completely understand the reasons behind it.

I had waited until my last story was finished (that being almost five years now) and finally plucked up the courage to nominate it, but it seems it wasn't meant to be. Still, I would like to thank you for everything you have done for these awards; I have discovered many little treasures among the winners.

-Silent Niobe

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Aranel" <araneltook@...> wrote:
>
> Hello everyone,
>
> I'm sad to be the bearer of bad news, but I am going to have to step in and end the possibility of a 2012 MEFAs.
>
> This decision is my own. I informed Marta, Elliska, and Inkling today that I am unable to continue supporting the website. There are still some bugs to be worked out, we've been having database issues with the hosting company, and with everything that's been going on I haven't been able to give the site my full attention to have it totally ready to go. It's become too much stress to deal with and it's negatively affecting my Real Life. Real Life has to take priority.
>
> The site is in a condition that it is impossible for someone else to take it over at this point for a 2012 awards. There are still a lot of things to do for updating the post-nominations seasons. There are still bugs from the new updates to work out. I have been the only tech support person for the last year or so, so nobody else is familiar with it. I am also the worst code documenter in the universe (if there was an Olympics for crappy code documentation, I would win the gold!), so it would be no easy task for someone else to take over the updates and bug fixes.
>
> I will still host the MEFA Archive and I will finish updating the 2011 stories as soon as possible (after a break to de-stress).
>
> I know many will be disappointed in me, probably very angry with me, and I am truly sorry. But I know there are others already planning new awards, so I suggest taking your ire with me and focusing that energy on helping them out or starting new awards.
>
> I will preemptively address transferring the site code to someone else: Honestly, I'm a bit selfish about it and I'm really not willing to give away the work I've done. I also don't want to have to support the code (see: crappy documentation). And, really, your tech support and your users will be much happier if you decide what you want in your awards and then design your own site from the ground-up to do exactly what you want. It will work much better than trying to adapt someone else's code to fit your plans.
>
> I ask that you please respect my decision and not try to persuade me to change my mind on anything I've said.
>
> Apologies,
> Aranel Took
>

Hello everyone,

Thank you all for your words of support. It makes me feel much better about my decision and it means a lot to me the hear it. I was expecting to have to hide out in a Doomsday bunker. ;-)

I'm still sorry it had to end this way, but hopefully we can all move on now.

Thank you,
Aranel

*DO NOT write soprano orc stories*

Many who have enjoyed MEFAs and want to see them continue and evolve are taking up the suggestion of Marta et al to take over the awards or start new reviewer-based awards. Fans are talking here at this LJ, which you can access here:

http://mefa-ratings.livejournal.com/

The group is actually now called "MEFA Rebooted: Awards Planning Community" and the goal is simplification of the rules, broadening of eligible works (possibly even to artwork!), and building up a broader base of support and volunteers so as to increase participation, fan ownership, and reduce the burden of any individual admin.

If you have enjoyed the awards, and have your list of stories to nominate all set - DON'T THROW THAT LIST OUT! Come join the discussion and help get us all in position to start up again. A lot of work is already being done - but we still need more folks to make this a reality.

Come join the insufficiently reluctant!

Dwim

As the MEFAs come to a close, we are working on shutting down their active web presence. We have replaced the voting site with the MEFA archive. To bring closure and allow us all to move on, we are turning off posting at the MEFA Yahoo Groups and the MEFA LJ. They will remain online and viewable as a record of MEFA activities.

If you have any questions about the MEFA Archive, you may contact Aranel at araneltook@gmail.com (but please give her a few more days).

Adding my thanks to all the volunteers who have put so much of themselves into the MEFAs!

It's unfortunate that there has been some acrimony, but it's a natural product of everyone caring so much about their contributions, and of the limitations of typing at one another. If we could have all gathered in a big room with a neutral moderator it might have gone down differently.

It's also a fact that volunteer-based activities have high turnover -- in fact, they need to, to avoid burnout.

But it sounds like things are evolving quickly past this.

Wheelrider

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Aranel" <araneltook@...> wrote:
>
> Hello everyone,
>
> Thank you all for your words of support. It makes me feel much better about my decision and it means a lot to me the hear it. I was expecting to have to hide out in a Doomsday bunker. ;-)
>
> I'm still sorry it had to end this way, but hopefully we can all move on now.
>
> Thank you,
> Aranel
>

Dear Aranel: Please accept my gratitude to you and all the others who worked so hard to create and maintain the MEFAs. I very much wish the MEFAs weren't ending, especially as I only discovered them last year when other people were kind enough to nominate some of my stories, but I quite understand the reasons why you, Marta, and all the rest can no longer continue the MEFAs. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication. I hope you will continue to be a part of the Tolkien fandom, but no matter what you choose to do, best of luck in the future. Take care. Sincerely, Darkover

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear MEFA staff,

When I first joined this fandom in 2007, the MEFAs seemed to me an institution and the archive a regular treasure trove. Therefore I am saddened to hear about the cancellation of the MEFA's, but of course I understand how this huge undertaking could become... just too much.

As Aranel said, Real Life comes first!

Thank you, all of you who worked so hard over the years to make the MEFAs function; those of you who set up this award in the first place; those of you who patiently explained all the ins and outs to first-time participants *coughs* - probably for the 117th time that year.

Thank you to all you volunteers for the sheer determination that made you slave through the - I'm sure - numerous tiresome tasks required to run a project as complex as this.

One would have wished that the MEFAs hadn't ended on such a sad note, but please take with you the knowledge that many, many people in fandom have enjoyed your hard work, and accept our gratitude.

All the best,
Lissa

Hey guys,


By now most of you know that we won't be having a 2012 season of the MEFAs.
This news of course makes me very sad, because these awards have been one
of the few constants in my life. I also had some of my own stories that I
was looking forward to seeing compete in the awards, as I'm sure everyone
else did.


I've been thinking these last few days about Gandalf's words to the hobbits
just before the Ringbearers sailed west: *I will not say: do not weep, for
not all tears are an evil. *As sad as it is that the MEFAs are ending, the *
reason* it's so sad is because they were such a positive experience for so
many years. That makes me grateful on top of being sad. So the ending of
the MEFAs is definitely bittersweet, but with a measure of sweet mixed in
with the bitter.


I wanted to thank everyone who has been involved with the MEFAs. This
turned out to be harder than you'd think, because (unlike governments and
elephants) I *do* forget. I had every intention of thanking people going
all the way back to 2004 ý but since I can't find any lists from the time,
I'm sure I'd leave some people off. And that's the last thing I want to do!
I'd also have to name most people who are members of the [MEFAwards] Yahoo
group, and a fair few who aren't. I've always felt that with the MEFAs,
it's not just our formal volunteers ý liaisons, categorizers, banner makers
and so on ý but also people who participate in the awards by reviewing and
letting their pieces compete that have made our event such a great
experience over the years.


I do want to thank publicly everyone who had volunteered to help with the
2012 awards. The fact that we didn't end up needing your services doesn't
change the fact that you were willing to pitch in:

*
*


- *Banner-Makers*: cactuskim, Ellin Ithilwen, nautika, Nosterineth, and
Uvatha the Horseman
- *Categorizers*: Dreamflower, Elliska, Inkling, Linaewen, and Marta
- *Liaisons*: Agape4rivendell, Aliana, Angelica, Cathleen, Dreamflower,
Elliska, Inkling, Levade, Linaewen, and Virtuella
- *Membership Manager*: Elliska
- *Promoters*: Cathleen, Dawn Felagund, Dwimordene, Ellie, Inkling,
Larner, Neme Indil, and obsidianj
- *Ratings Panel*: curious wombat, Fiondil, Keiliss, Larner, Neume
Indil, Raksha the Demon, Russandol, and Sulriel
- *Technical Support*: Aranel Took and Tanaqui
- *Welcome Manager*: Nath

Additionally, the following people deserve special recognition.



- *Ainaechoiriel*, who gave us the awards to begin with
- *Anthony Holder, Aranel Took, and Tanqui*, who designed our website
and helped people use it
- *Aranel Took*, for designing our archive (and hosting it now so it
will still be on the web in the future)
- *Elliska*, who made sure each member only had one account on our
website
- *Elliska and Inkling*, who (as the longest serving liaisons) helped
hundreds of authors each year. The three of us also categorized the
majority of stories in recent years. All the liaisons and categorizers
worked hard; these two ladies were truly superlative.
- *Dreamflower and Linaewen*, who this last year really stepped up to
help run things behind the scenes, first with categorizing and then with
everything that came after.
- *Radbooks*, who for years helped out as both liaison and categorizer,
and also contributed many good ideas to our post-mortems
- *PipMer and Radbooks, *who both served as welcome managers.
- *Rhapsody, Fiondil, Beruthiel's Cat, Nieriel Raina and Neume Indil*,
who helped organize banners and made sure we had a good variety
- *Foxrafer, elea24, and Tanaqui*, who forwarded author replies to
their reviewers.
- *Annmarwalk, Rhapsody and Levade*, who posted MEFA reviews to Yahoo
and LJ by hand


As for myself, I've always either found people to volunteer in different
roles or done the work myself. That covers a lot of different tasks. In
recent years I typically was the one to write and update most of the text
you see on the website, and the announcements you saw around the interwebz
about the MEFAs. I also looked over each nomination to make sure the form
was filled out correctly, sent out emails to every competing author at
different points in the awards, answered any questions people had as best I
could, and worked with Aranel and Tanaqui to develop new web features
(strictly as a dreamer ý I never typed a line of code).


It's been a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. So I want to thank *you*,
any author or reviewer who made the awards possible. These awards have
given me some great opportunities to give back to fandom but also to grow
as a person. (I can't believe how young I was when I started helping out
here!)


If you want to do something to commemorate the MEFAs, I'd suggest two
things. First, thank a volunteer. Not me; I mean your liaison or the artist
who made that banner you liked. Someone who shaped your MEFA experience in
a much more personal way than I could have. Then go to our archive, at
www.mefawards.org and find a story that interests you and review it.
Rewarding authors through feedback ý particularly lesser-known ones whose
work is still first-rate ý is one of the things I always loved most about
these awards.


The MEFAs are ending, and that is certainly sad, though fandom will go on.
Even our awards won't vanish from the internet entirely. We will still keep
our archive online so you can find old stories and reviews. Even though
there won't be any new MEFA seasons, the thought of all those old
nominations I can still read is a comforting one. And while I'm turning off
new comments at the LJ community and Yahoo groups associated with the
MEFAs, the old messages at those groups will always be there.


If you need help with something MEFA-related, please email me and I'll get
back to you as quickly as I can. I also hope to respond to everyone who has
emailed me lately, though it may take some time. (I broke a bone in my hand
last week so typing for long periods can be painful.) So some of you may be
hearing from me in the future. In any event, I hope to see you at the
archives, LJ, and other fandom haunts.

*
*

*Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end
of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace!*

* *

Marta

(MEFA Admin.)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]