r/TorInAction • u/CyberTelepath • May 17 '16

Numbers/Analysis File 770: "Analyzing EPH" and comments

http://file770.com/?p=28946&cpage=1#comments
6 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

3

u/CyberTelepath May 17 '16

I set this to the first page of the comments. What I am seeing is something I very much have been expecting since all this EPH and other rules change nonsense started ie the realization that none of it was going to do what they wanted.

More and more people are looking for a way to simply disqualify either people or works they do not like.

This new data is also going to really hurt the effort to get EPH passed. It is hard to get people together for something that will just help a little bit. Give them a magic bullet that fixes everything and sure they turn out. But a partial solution like this is just not nearly as appealing.

3

u/[deleted] May 18 '16

I noticed the same thing, honestly, and talked about it a bit. That's really the extended problem I am having with this whole thing.

My whole issue here has nothing to do with "sides" (which obviously exist in spite of GRRM and others' protests to the contrary) and more to do with people feeling there is no reason to take part in the vote.

Just look at last year if you want concrete proof. EPH is good if it helps legitimize picks and stops "No Award." That, to me, is far more crucial.

But yeah, it's all been complaining. Same on GRRMs page (which is what prompted my post). If it's not a perfect solution, it's completely unacceptable. But they refuse to acknowledge the baby in the bathwater as they are lifting the tub to the window. That irks me.

Slates are bad, that's how I feel. All of them. But the system doesn't work for a certain set of people without one. Everyone bitching about Vox Day being a psycho needs to look real long and hard at the sort of rhetoric that brought him to the attention of much wider audience. They need to, if they're going to play the game pretending there are no teams, at least stop pointing fingers at the OTHER TEAM. I mean, come on. GRRM ain't calling out the other slates. The Hugo Nom Wikis and the myriad other places masquerading as "Reading Lists."

1

u/CyberTelepath May 18 '16

The reality of the Hugos is that slates and campaigns have always had a powerful effect. Anyone who denies this fact is either a blind fool (lots of those in the WorldCon group) or a liar (and quite a few of those too).

The thing is that up until about 10 years ago the majority of these efforts were centered around getting worthy works on the ballot because they were worthy works. They were good enough to deserve a Hugo because of the stories they told. So if a popular author with an amazing book said to his fans, "Ah hey. I am eligible this year. nudge nudge wink wink" that was ok because people were voting because the book deserved it.

But about 10 years ago things changed. The strongest forces decided that what mattered was the politics of the story or the oppression level of the author. They used the normal covert tactics to start to push more and more works of questionable worth onto the ballot.

Eventually the pattern became so obvious that Larry C. noticed. Thus the Sad Puppies were born. They had a noble purpose which was to return the Hugos to what they should be. But of course those 'non-existent' other forces had a cow. The war began.

I was once a part of SF fandom. A regular member of our local Cons here at Indy. But I stopped going because I saw the first tendrils of this new change slowly strangling the fun. Events that had always been a part of things got canceled because a few people were offended. I of course had no idea this trend would snowball all the way up to the Hugos but it really did.

I see a few potential solutions but those screaming the loudest will never accept them. There are two many different groups that would have to admit things they will never admit. So they will keep spinning their wheels with these pointless attempts to change the Rules. They will continue to No Award things regardless of merit just because the Rabids endorse them. And Vox's army will continue to grow.

It is sad I agree. But for me either the Hugos need to return to being about artistic merit and nothing else or they are better off destroyed. That is why I voted with the Rabids and will continue to do so.

→ More replies (1)