Agreed. I hope once F&F have had a break from the challenges and all the "constructive criticism" about the scoring methodology, they might consider bringing them back in some other format.
If I might suggest something for future consideration, perhaps a challenge where the scores are private, and shared only with the author. No winners, no public display of scores, but any author who wants can see how many people scored their piece, and what the total (or average, or distribution -- whatever Februs finds easy to do logistically) scores were.
Authors get some potentially useful quantitative feedback on their story (in addition to the large numbers of thoughtful comments that the challenges seem to draw) and no one gets bent out of shape about how things were scored. Talking about scores in the forums can be strictly forbidden.
Or even, as I suggested before, totally without scores. Just anonymous stories on a challenge theme, put up for review and comment for a few weeks before the reveal, as now, but with no scores.
The challenges are so much fun to read and participate in, it's a shame to throw the baby out with the bath water.
That said, I totally understand why F&F have decided as they have, and completely respect their right to do what makes sense for them.
Thanks as always, for all you do, Flopsy and Februs! |