[MR] A little more on competitions

[William Fleming]

An interesting idea.  An open display which permits for the leaving of tokens and comments by those who regard the works of art can provide the necessary suggestions and ego strokes for an artist.  However, if we eliminate all competition, I think we lose something.

Imagine a list field where warriors thrust cut and tilt against pells but not against each other, a range where archers shoot at blank targets the size of barns, and no authority is assigned by poling or tourney.  No one loses - no one wins.  Would this be bliss or boredom.  Success is not fair, it is the result of effort, talent, and luck.  What in life is fair.

There are bad judges but there are also bad competitors.  These problems may be solved either by eliminating competition or by having both judges and competetors accept and embrace their responsibilities in a chivilrous and courteous manner.

As judges we are not asigned to meet out punishment on the unworthy but to teach and encourage.  It has been my happy misfortune to act as judge in several brewing contests.  Each time I take on that role I am filled with anticipation and dread.  Knowing that I will be sujecting my tongue, throat, and tummy to both nectar and noxious concoctions.  I pray that the competitors have not only worked with their best skill but that they have not submitted their brews untasted.  When brewing goes bad it goes very-very bad and the temptation as a judge is to
inflict an equal pain on the artisan as he has inflicted on me but I do not.  I have stood in his place and felt his sense of fear as weeks and months of work and preparation are placed before a judge.  Judges must see themselves more as instructors than as reviewers.  They should speak from their experience and knowledge explaining their oppinion in gentle and courteous terms.

When I take a blow in the lists (alas an all too frequent occurance in my case) it is up to me to aknowlege the hit and withdraw in a graceful manner.  If I wish not to be hit as often I can either cease to enter the lists or practice more and improve my skill.  So it is with all arts.  Testing yourself head to head with other artisans is thrilling.  When I enter a competition I thrill to the efforts of my competitors.  They spur me on to greater efforts.  They are my adversaries, cousins, muses, and supporters all in one.  Just as on the field of
combat, when we strive together in art we become more than what we are alone.  We are titans!

I pray do not criticize the failures of a few judges.  Rather become a judge yourself.

Please do not cease to compete.  Rather compete more often.


--Ruaidhri

Diane wrote:

> All of the comments I'm reading just serve to re-inforce my desire to not have competitions. People are always hurt/offended. Perhaps a more gentle thing is to have display with comments. Granted, those who enter competitions for the sole purpose of wanting the accolade of an award will feel slighted, but display with commentary will help to put all on an even footing with no sniping that I should have won the prize when someone else did-for what ever reason the other person won. Granted, I am also strongly in favor of tactful, informative commentary.
>
> Brigantia
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