Part of this article speaks to policy at GOM and part to our policy as humans.
I haven’t been at GOM long enough to understand all that is done here, so if my remarks are out of place – just drop my carcass in the alley when you’re finished.
I gather that the submissions highlighted in red on the Review Manager screen are the equivalent of things growing hair in my fridge. They haven’t been left to age like fine wines; they’ve been left to rot as unfit for reviewer consumption. Everyone is hoping someone else will do the dirty job! They’ve been sniffed and returned.
Here’s my suggestion, arising out of my experience this week. I believe things that have turned red with age should be offered the option of a painless death – that is, deletion.
There was a particular item in the red zone – obviously I can’t give any details – which I sampled. I nearly passed out it was so bad. What to do? Shove it back in the fridge? Serve it up on the old review platter seasoned with PLENTY of sarcasm? Shoot it and put me out of its misery?
To make the long short, I opted for number three, wrote the perpetrator of the piece, and – by offering samples of what might be said publicly – got him not only to ask me to chuck it, but to thank me!
Now, I noticed from reading Thomas James’ article, “So you Want to be a Star?” and the responses following it, that hurt feelings and wounded pride are among the issues we are dealing with at this site. Face it. No one wants to be told, no matter how tactfully, “You suck!” But if it MUST be said, it hurts a lot less when said privately.
Oh, I know. They offered it for review, but I’m suggesting that we go ‘the extra mile.’ It doesn’t take much to offer a sampler to those who are going to be flayed publicly.
If we really mean to help people – and I believe that we do – we should think of setting some policy of compassion for things growing red or sprouting numbers from 1 to 4.
Just my opinion: serve me with onions, please.
Cam
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