[MR] A&S Judging Question Part Two

[Margaret Cochrane]

Not to mention that people regularly forget the power of their words.  
Or forget what they said last time they discussed a particular topic with you.
I got low marks for a technique on a particular entry, and the comment said "I'm teaching this technique at my class at University, please come, you need help with this," so I duly went to University (with my very tiny baby), and was told on getting in to the class, "Oh, you already know how to do this, don't worry about it!"
Same person for both the negative and positive comments.  I still don't know what she really thinks - I rather suspect it would depend on when I asked her.

-----Original Message-----
>From: Carolle Cox <chinrescue at comcast.net>
>Sent: Oct 17, 2007 4:31 PM
>To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
>Subject: Re: [MR] A&S Judging Question Part Two
>
>
>This issue comes up repeatedly in more Kingdoms than one. 
>
>Entrants work hard on a piece (or body of work, heaven forefend), giving it
>their very best application of skill and research.  Naturally, they expect
>their entry to do at least fairly well.  Or, at the very least, not gather
>any gratuitously nasty comments. Many people finally give up and quit
>entering because it's not worth the pain of the nasty remarks, or almost
>worse yet, no remarks at all from judges.  Right or wrong, people's hearts
>get tied up in these projects, and then they get hurt. 
>
>Judges, on the other hand, are volunteers like the folks at Troll or on the
>field of battle.  Frequently, they're asked to judge in areas they are not
>conversant with, and/or read long sets of documentation on forty different
>items in less time than it takes to really read one.  Sometimes, they're
>pressed into service literally at the event, and their heads just aren't
>quite in it. Personally, I've heard comments from judges who are faced with
>entry topics they know literally nothing about - they're not happy.  Most of
>them would Like to do a good job of evaluating the entries and leave helpful
>critiques.  There just isn't a reasonable way to accomplish it.  In a
>perfect world, our work would be judged by someone who has studied the art
>forms themselves, and can score the work accurately and then offer positive
>and helpful commentary on our efforts. In real life, this is so impossible
>as to be almost funny. Think about the number of judges that would be
>required, and the depth of experience they'd need to have...
>
>I'm on no one's 'side' here; just trying to achieve a balanced view of the
>situation in the artisan world.  If we want to, we can take a clear picture
>and use it to improve the system.  If we don't, these posts can degenerate
>into some pretty unacceptable comments and name-calling.  I'd rather see the
>former than the latter.
>
>In service to the Dream, 
>Gerita della Mara
>
>
>Carolle Cox
>Japanese Chin Rescue and Care Volunteer
>www.japanesechinrescue.org
>Pituitary Disease Support
>www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PituitaryDiseaseSupport
> 
>People are like stained glass windows.  They sparkle and shine when the sun
>is out, but when darkness sets in, their beauty is revealed only if there is
>a light from within. -- Elizabeth Kübler-Ross
> 
>This is a private email.  It is not to be shared or forwarded without
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>
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-Margaret
-----------------------------------------------------
Margaret Cochrane (quarterly sable and gules, two feathers fesswise argent)
Kappellenberg
Windmasters' Hill, Atlantia