It's also "rather funny" that you quote what I've said and then go and change the wording to mean something else, something you can attack. I never said anything about excluding people, quite the opposite.
Writing's like drawing. Some people will tell you they can't draw but everyone can, regardless of their assessment of their own ability. Some people can do rudimentary renderings, others will create masterpieces.
Clearly the contest isn't about literary excellence. It's just a bit of fun. It isn't being judged on ethnicity or education, nor should it, just story-telling.
My momentary concern, to use the drawing example, was that rather than being a "fan art" contest it would be more like "colouring" contest. But Lord Gareth and Stupid Miner have well and truly laid that concern to rest, and they did it without insulting or attacking. Isn't the proper use of language a marvelous thing?
When I first replied, I wasn't trying to insult you. Yours just happened to be the post I hit reply to. Nevertheless, you answered me and it became a debate.
You state that you never said anything about excluding people. If that's the case, why did you provide justification for excluding people? You in essence say it's not the end of the world for them if they can't participate.
Let me ask you another series of questions.
1. Did you organize this contest and will you be putting the work in reading and judging all the submissions?
2. Are you obligated to submit a story?
3. Are you obligated to read the submissions if the contest organizer should post them?
I will admit that I'm working under the assumption here that your answer is no to all three. If that is indeed true, it leaves me wondering as to why do people feel a need to question the contest organizer's decisions about his or her own contest? It feels very much like people just want to rain on someone else's parade. It also feels very much like a statement of "better than" as in "I am better than posting in a contest that doesn't demand perfect spelling, grammar, and punctuation." I realize this is more of Lord God's tone in his posts, but you do still that "I'm better than 'colouring' contests" in your own arguments.
I don't care if you do feel you are above these sorts of things. That is your prerogative. When you feel the need to tell everyone else, however, it becomes annoying. Again, I'm primarily referring to Lord GOD's posts, but let me also warn that your arguments started sounding more and more like him and these sorts of arguments have consequences which you might not imagine.
A contest is supposed to be a fun feel-good sort of thing. It's supposed to foster community, to let us come here and share stories based on this game we love. My alliance loves Mesanna and the EMs too, but I fear the Stratics boards have a reputation for being a festering sore of negativity and many would rather not leave themselves open to criticism.
I tried my best to get people to give it a chance, but then they came back and said the contest is already being criticized.
UO has often been touted for it's community and much blame has been leveled at the Devs for the community not being what it once was. Let me point out, however, that the players have far more impact on the community than the Devs ever could. If you feel the need to be negative and tear down the hard works of others, then you're not helping the community at all.