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Msg# 11257

a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Marta July 02, 2012 - 16:20:20 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11259

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Sulriel of Menegroth July 02, 2012 - 16:30:29 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11261

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by sindarelleth July 02, 2012 - 16:49:39 Topic ID# 11257
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.

Msg# 11262

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by juno\_magic July 02, 2012 - 16:51:59 Topic ID# 11257
(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]
>

Msg# 11263

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Barbara Rich July 02, 2012 - 16:52:27 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11264

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll: Thank YOU! Posted by juno\_magic July 02, 2012 - 17:00:11 Topic ID# 11257
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]
>

Msg# 11265

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by linaewen0 July 02, 2012 - 17:40:19 Topic ID# 11257
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]
>

Msg# 11266

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Marta July 02, 2012 - 17:45:34 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11267

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Marta July 02, 2012 - 18:02:00 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11268

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Marta July 02, 2012 - 18:13:08 Topic ID# 11257
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

Msg# 11269

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Kaylee Arafinwiel July 02, 2012 - 18:14:07 Topic ID# 11257
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]
>

Msg# 11270

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Marta July 02, 2012 - 18:26:56 Topic ID# 11257
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
>
>
>

Msg# 11271

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Marta July 02, 2012 - 18:28:52 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11272

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by thequeenly1 July 02, 2012 - 18:37:12 Topic ID# 11257
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]
>

Msg# 11273

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Marta July 02, 2012 - 18:41:01 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11274

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by annettekupke July 02, 2012 - 18:56:21 Topic ID# 11257
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.

Msg# 11275

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Marta July 02, 2012 - 19:15:22 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11276

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Berni Crumb July 02, 2012 - 19:20:02 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11277

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Marta July 02, 2012 - 19:36:25 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11278

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Marta July 02, 2012 - 19:44:12 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11279

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by mvoltfan July 02, 2012 - 20:15:16 Topic ID# 11257
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

Msg# 11280

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Elena Tiriel July 02, 2012 - 20:50:38 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11281

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Marta July 02, 2012 - 21:10:41 Topic ID# 11257
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
>

Msg# 11282

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by ellfine2000 July 02, 2012 - 21:40:41 Topic ID# 11257
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]
>

Msg# 11283

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Marta July 02, 2012 - 21:49:16 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11284

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Ellin Ithilwen July 03, 2012 - 2:00:57 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11288

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by surgeon\_ruth July 03, 2012 - 6:36:23 Topic ID# 11257
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]
>

Msg# 11292

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by lainien01 July 03, 2012 - 7:05:43 Topic ID# 11257
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!

Msg# 11293

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by nelyo\_russandol July 03, 2012 - 7:54:29 Topic ID# 11257
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]
>

Msg# 11294

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Doc Bushwell July 03, 2012 - 8:01:37 Topic ID# 11257
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.

Msg# 11297

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Marta July 03, 2012 - 8:42:28 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11299

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by esteliel@gmx.de July 03, 2012 - 9:24:24 Topic ID# 11257
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]

Msg# 11301

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Imhiriel July 03, 2012 - 10:04:35 Topic ID# 11257
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]
>

Msg# 11302

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Bonnie L. Sherrell July 03, 2012 - 10:43:27 Topic ID# 11257
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."

Msg# 11303

Re: a difficult decision, and a poll Posted by Bonnie L. Sherrell July 03, 2012 - 10:46:53 Topic ID# 11257
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."