Paula’s Comments (group member since Oct 28, 2015)

Paula’s comments from the Science Fiction Microstory Contest group.

So 4th or 5th choice votes can count for more than 1st or 2nd choice votes, if from more people? Oh yes, I recall being on a literary magazine that used that mode.
Interesting how different the results by different methods.
I wonder wouldn't the current method make more sense if everyone had to vote for the same number of stories? Or maybe it would maybe just make different sense, lol.
Thanks, Andy and Gary, for the clarifications.

Jot, truly I'm not "trying to be difficult" but I don't see how the voting algorithm works anymore. First round, yes--that's clear, and easy to get that.
Second round is okay but took some work to follow.
Third round--??? Seems to read that Jon has 4 first place votes, Jack has 3 first place votes, and Jack wins--as well he might--it's a beautiful and clever story--but how the voting algorithm works to get this is a bit opaque.
Would you be willing to go over with us again how the voting method works. Thank you so much. May be good for new members to know this, in any case.

Probably I had then such a question, Carrie, but I've been tweeting considerably since and don't now recall the then issue.
"shark week episode"--wow. TELL us about it--those are great.
Working on one's novel/s is always good. Also on one's short story collection/s. Everyone here is busy with one or other of these, it seems. More news on these, people?!
Meanwhile, I'm sticking with my "view" (if so it's termed) that free will ("decision") is simply one perspective on what some others would call random and most would call, in some form or other, "caused" behaviors.
But the evolution of our decision apparati is incredibly interesting. As is Richard's point re what happens to a society lacking some sort of concept of morality/responsibility . . . theoretically, anyway; most successfully surviving animal groupings seem to do without (as far as we know :) ) one.

Good job, Jack!

As I'm sure Sharon, too, will make clear for you, Karl, the real point is that, in copyright law and in generally in publishing contracts, and ISBN numbers and etc, a work has to be a new edition to not be treated as the same work--meaning it has to have some changes done to it; whether yours have been enough or not will determine the outcome. This is the first volume that has had this rule.

Yep,

Well, thanks, Jeremy. Good to know someone else here chooses to respond to a philosophical issue with something other than science hypotheses. . .

Free will is just another way of looking at what can equally be termed "chance" or "determined" or "caused" (by this or that physiological/historical/or etc. factualty). It's not a dispute, just a choice (so to speak) among theories and/or rhetorics. Not a conflict.

I believe Space X-it has been privatized, not politicized, however.

Well hell, Andy, my as yet unpublished Sound-Bytes of the Garbage Era! novel, involving catastrophes from nuclear near-annihilation to quasi-bubonic viral plague to near-212 Fahrenheit global "warming" to the Apparitions (never clarified but you don't want them catching you) to the Triads of Ascending Clouds has nearly been overtaken already in several details; but do we let such matters bother us? No--non--nein--lolo--lala--etc. Just dig deeper. And harder. And faster.

Heather, writing nonfiction is good. You have a real knack for it. It's not "science fiction microstories" but it is good stuff.
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And Richard, I hear ya!
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Really, people, having a very active fb page on which I get lots and lots of political commentary (more than enough), I'd be for strongly limiting any political hassling on this (group) site. . . Seriously.

Well, Karl, you know, what people don't know (don't hear of) doesn't hurt them. Just sayin'.

Heather, it is a magnificent book, is it not? I too think it has profundity--but let's wait until you've finished it before we discuss it; I will say this, that to me the crux of it seems to be in the point intended by its last few lines (and how that relates, or is, or comes from, its general point re NDEs and metaphor). Anyhow, enjoy! . . . Oh, and agreed that Willis is bravely doing what truth in art requires of us and yet many writers/artists avoid. But has that avoidance cause? Oh wow, check that ending.
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Andy, yes--again, and even more than on those other occasions, voting to reach a single "winner" among this bunch of mostly winning-quality stories is (near)-impossible. I'm lost among 4 or 5 that seem exceptionally best of these; winner's likely to be the one that, along with everything else, grabs my heartstrings. But the everything elses are so strong, too, this time.

Karl, John, others with basic questions re the anthology, please see the thread "anthology. . . technical details. . ." in this sf contest/anthology discussion; for details contact Sharon.

Did you have any pieces in the 2015 contest, Karl? If so, you can send up to 3 (of those you sent to the contest, only). But you'll need to do so in the next few days. Contact Sharon (SK Kraftchek) for full details.

A quick note, Heather--if you were let alone by the admins and were allowed to pass through grade school etc. without having to actually attend through the boredom and conformity attempts upon one, your school must have been quite *good.* Otoh, those teacher remarks certainly sound to have made up for it; of course they wouldn't want anyone to slip through the cookie-cuttering. :)
Justin, how are those who never get selected for a "win" here to get any of your novel(la)s? And you know, of course, we all want to read one another's work.

I've started wondering if maybe this should be an sf and history authors group! Just jokin'--but seriously some of the alternate history tales are so extremely good, and in ways quite different from the styles, modes, and emphases of our other stories here over the months/years!
And Andy and Andy, there's a new revolution happening, I've been told--but interesting, well-executed (as it were, or wasn't) retelling of the old.
Jot, your tale cracked me up. lol--cool. More seriously, those millions of cells and which connected must be an early alternate-history example for us all.
Which reminds me (as does much else, since I finished reading the book only a day or so ago), have any of you read Willis's novel Passage? Mind-blower.

It's happening, Marianne. Sharon, I, and perhaps JJ too got delayed---jobs stuff, et.--but are back on it again. Sorry for the delay.

This brings up a question I've wondered occasionally--very occasionally, but still . . . Did On the Beach (film or book) influence the Kennedys to stand down a bit during the Cuban Crisis? JFK having been, after all, a Navy guy.

Thanks so much, Jack. Appreciated.
Jack wrote: "Paula wrote: "Oops--yes, I did. Thanks. Heather. I've never been good at remembering names exactly, but . . . yes, I mean Carrie. Well--no hurry; we can all quiz her when she returns."

I believe C..."