Wow. Thanks for the congrats. I was a tad bit wasted last night, and thought that all of the people IM'ing me were toying with my drunken emotions. :)

And one last thing about all that is going on here and in the judge's blog. A simple, yet effective suggestion for everyone.


Save that drama for your mamma!


I've said it all, go on with your day now.

Congratulations Kinetix, I knew you would do great on that one.


And damn, I was right about not winning this one, didn't even get one vote. What do you people do on your Friday nights? Actually go out and have a life?


Man, I need to get me one of those...something refreshingly tasty and has that "new car" smell to it.


That would be nice.

He-Pimp really is the Master of the Universe! :-b Congratulations!! Well deserved!

WOO-HOO KOTEX! Congrats.

congratulations kinetix!!! you totally deserve this win. i also would like to congratulate july. i was almost positive that you would take this one, and you almost did. awesome job on the IC.

i just finished the new (taped) survivor episode. how fitting. hope you all have a good weekend, it's going to be a tough one.

Holy Mary, mother of Bob! I go to a crap fair for one day and look what happens! All hell breaks loose!

What happened to the divinity, hip-loose, J-Lo, sex-toy happy fun times? :-(

Holy crap, that's a lot of words. No fucking way I can read all that.

Anyone care to summarize?

I actually agree with all of what you say, Matt. Well said. Although I guess a lot of those points depend on how you interpret them.

Anyway, all: please give me this one last opportunity to say something. This is where I officially Give Up. So far, almost everything I have said [to do with the contest] seems to have been mis-interpreted *or* taken out of context and used in a new way - often re-hashed and confused with things that have nothing to do with each other.

My main issue with this contest has not been anything to do with it directly. I have made some comments about IC's, etc, etc - but I thought it was okay to add a bit of spice and debate to the proceedings! Yes, I read the rules before applying, and I have been treating this as a game. Remember that fun declaration Ms.M and I hashed up in the beginning? This has been an interesting experience and it was really fun for the most part. Please belive me on that and stop treating my comments as if I was somehow losing sleep. I think Meg and the organisers have done a great job with the idea and the rest. I have no issues with them on the whole. I have no emotional scars as a result of the contest, nor am I likely to get any.

So, what IS the problem? Please allow me to have a say on various points that have been raised/discussed, whatever:

• For a reason totally unknown to me, Loudwoman decided to start bashing me on her forum at Quithappy's message board.
  
• At first I didn't know about it, but then Chrome posted links to it here in the blog and I found the messages.
  
• All what has followed - I am not going to re-tell the events blow by blow - has led to entire sections of my diary entries being posted on that board, several hundred individual messages containing anything from an innocent 'gingerbug-joke' to seriously sick messages referring to my health problems etc - stuff you'd only know if you read my diary. So nothing to do with the contest anymore - that's what a lot of people here are missing. LW just went off on some totally weird trip over me, for no apparent reason.
  
• I tried to remain dignified - and instead of public drama, I quietly contacted the board owner. When that bore no fruit, I contacted the host for the domain.
  
• I had no say in the fact that Loudwoman and Quithappy then decided to paste all my private email communications on various web sites (including this Blog) for everyone to see.
  
• I have never posted on Loudwoman's forum at the aforementioned messageboard.
  
• I know of only one person who decided to post there after chatting to me online one day (that was the goth abortion girl, Loudwoman).
  
• Anyone else posting there and saying things in my 'defence' might either be a reader of these contest-related blogs or a reader of my diary - or even one of the several people I chat with. Just please stop making up conspiracy theories that they are all me. For example, Ms.M and Angeline have both mentioned in their own way that they don't agree with the people bashing. I think you guys might be confusing messages left to say 'I don't agree with people-bashing overall' with some sort of 'For Gingerbug' movement.
  
• I am not Scourge.
  
• I am not Ms.M.
  

So please - July, Kinetix, Ladeeleroy, Meg, Uber - any other person who may have responded to various issues raised by me or whatever: I am cool with the contest, I have made some suggestions, meant as friendly opinions rather than anything else. My only real problem with this contest has been the indirect result of it - gaining a fan/hate club that I'd rather not have. The emotional scarring you refer to in your rules speaks specifically of the contest - and really - you're covered. Honestly. And I am not holding the organisers responsible for any of this - just kind of wish that ex-contestants *wouldn't* be able to post here (yes, I am aware of the contradiction!), as Kim posting in the blog and prolonging her dramatics certainly fuelled the 'bad side' of things.

I have not really had a chance to speak out. Everyone else has done the talking. Just read back on the blog etc and see. So that's why I'm taking up space now, with this post. I apologise for the disturbance: although as per something Meg said (versus what I am suggesting), ex-contestants are actually encouraged to post here. My kind of long-ass post is probably what she had in mind - so I genuinely do apologise. I guess I just needed to finally have a say.

Okay. Thanks for that chance.

Raw: To me it makes you a goddess. Make your signature "See ya- gotta teach!" maybe I'll change my mind. But I doubt it. You're a cool cookie.

Kotex: same here. 'Cept I don't really think much about what the judges blog says most of the time anyway.

Matt: Now you are my new hero.

Tel: Thems sure was a lotta words in the blog! You didn't hurt yourself, did you?

Meg: You rock.

Gingerbug: In the ENTRY FORM: "..If so, how do you feel about contestant alliances? (They are bound to happen, so if you think you'd be devastated if an alliance formed, please don't sign up.)" I'm not suggesting an alliance per se, but what this statement/question implies.

LadyLeroy: "sweaty balls"! You been talking to Chrome? That must mean a judge's alliance! Arrgh! (kidding, UHamster. You don't need to write it again)

What should be let go?
1)Unnecessary drama
2)Constant re-hashing of inconsequential events that can't be substantiated
3)Conspiracy theories.

I just think it's sad that we (and by we, I am not including everybody, because we've all seen the danger all-inclusive statements seem to cause around here) have to be constantly reminded that this is just a game. But, just to make it clear... IT'S JUST A GAME. If anybody finds participation in this emotionally scarring, I find that extremely sad. Just play the game, have some fun and nobody gets hurt.

Wow. Who would have ever thought I'd read a post from Sinnamon and go "Yup."

it's friday. yuppy day for those not in the know, which justifies my decaf venti sugar-free vanilla breve half-calf misto this morning and the grilled salmon w/ broccoli i'm now enjoying for lunch. it's a gorgeous day in north carolina. speaking of worms, i stepped on a desicated slug on my way into work. it crunched. life is good.

oh, and i teach. does that make me a goddess? i mean, i don't teach web stuff, but i do teach a group of people who mostly work at chicken plants and steel mills to speak english. this requires breathing in all the nastiness you could imagine along with staring into the pink void of swollen gums, rotted teeth, and black fingernails. perhaps i'd be better qualified for superhero status. kinetix, you can create me.

hey - that's weetabix's entry!

There is a really poopie-smelling bathroom. Air freshener is sprayed. And the room suddenly smells like flowers... and poopie.

I am only having fun. Sour apples are fun. Especially when they have worms in them. Worms are protein. Protein is good.

G-bug, if us bootees couldn't post here, No one would be able to make fun of your last two 'fester, fester sour grapes' contestant's blog posts on our ultra secret, judge/contestant/ 'Gingerbug is scary-crazy ' board.

Don't take that away from us.

Folks post on Open City because it's lively and funny. You were banned from there because you are neither plus destructive, pop up script, trying to break into the administrator section.

It has nothing to do w/this contest. Go tell us about your second sexxx date. That was some good reading.

July: I don't wish to insult you or anyone. If I have done so I apologise. I actually think you're cool, just like I said in the exit interview. I am a bit surprised that you think I've 'declared war' on you. One of the judges (ladeeleroy? Can't remember now) quoted in their blog today the bit about 'not taking being voted off seriously'. You haven't been voted off and it seems as if you already have, based on some of your comments made here, in your diary and on the forum. I really mean this: I meant you no harm when placing votes against you. I also don't have any problem about having been voted off myself.

Somewhere in a darkened room, a violin plays softly...

And you continue to contradict yourself.

An insult said with a smile is still an insult. You smile, I smile, and still the world spins and wobbles on it's axis...

I agree - I should have specified in my earlier post: no, I don't think I should be able to post here either. And I apologise for this interruption for stuff that was primarily a reply to the request Meg made. However, my reasons for posting in this blog (just in case you care): many of my recent (private) emails have appeared on web sites anyway. I'm not suggesting that Meg would have gone down that road, but I guess I wanted to re-claim the right to decide whether or not my words would be on the web or not. Most importantly though: I didn't want to direct the comments just at Meg and this seemed the easiest way to let everyone see.

Anyway - I'm sorry :)

(Matt, let WHAT go???)

Yeah, joining the guys on this one... those comments would have been more apropriate for an email message, especially after the second point raised. *sigh* Just let it go...

Ginger, I mean this to be in no way offensive, but didn't you just contradict yourself? For you to post that once contestants are voted off they shouldn't be allowed to post seems to invalidate the point. I was under the impression that Meg, in e-mailing us for feedback, wanted us to e-mail back, although that could have been just my impression.

Oh man. I am SO tempted right now... But I refrain from all comments except: Yes, do point 2. Quick!

As per Meg's invite to get feedback from us, I'd like to make a couple of suggestions:

• Place the Diaryland Survivor guidelines relevant to each section (IC's, TC's etc) on the actual page as well as on their own page as a whole. This way contestants and viewers alike would have an easy way of familiarising themselves with what is and is not considered appropriate under the game rules. (Good example: reasons for voting people off! Whilst I and other contestants may have stated that during some TC's our voting was based on the quality of Immunity Challenges or some other non-personal factors, that's just by choice. The official rules do in fact allow voting based on any reason at all).
  
• Once a contestant is voted off, take away their right to post in the contestants Blog. In real survivor, those booted off the island don't stay there. If the contest gets 'boring' when only a handful are left, then maybe it is up to the organisers to come up with some additional tasks or activities to make it less so.
  
• Try to at least present a public face of impartiality and fairness during the contest (judges and organisers). In my opinion (and many other's I believe), it is not at all 'cool' to see judges and organisers joining in on contestant-bashing (or appearing to be sanctioning it by posting on the same message board where such bashing takes place). And just a personal note on this: for goodness sake, use some common sense here. Just because a bunch of people say something is true, that doesn't mean it is. I would have hoped for people involved to have more common sense and a higher level of personal judgement. Next you'll be telling me you belive everything you see on TV!
  
• For future contests, it might be nice to create a Diaryland Survivor 'site', combining the blogs, polls AND contestants IC entries. A domain equipped with Movable Type for example. This would make the contest more fun to 'watch' and easier to participate in. It would also greatly reduce administrative tasks.
  

Finally - anyone can try this great remote proxy, anyone at all. Try it, it's fun. Leaving a trail on the Net is something many internet users are wary of. Just because some folks are evidently using similar (or the same?) services, doesn't mean they're all ME. Alternatively, do a Google on anonymous surfing. Lots of cool ones there.

Here endeth the lesson. ;)

Now I'm off to deliver a web template course. Speak to you soon.

Magpie, that's exactly what it is. And it's pretty nas-tay.

Hip Loose? I've been immortalized in a dance! *swoons*

Is divinity that white, kind of chewy stuff with the nuts?

I never had any when I lived in Texas, but I did try grits. Euuuuuuuugh. I'd rather eat paste.

~Electric Slides into the room and slams her J-Lo protuberance into the wall~ Whoops. My bad.

actually, maybe we should be plying the judges!

we could start a baking roundabout ... err ... or some kinda system where we ply each other with candies and sweets. hey kine, i've only had sugar about three times since july, so i understand the torture. please understand i'm living vicariously through sweet conversations. i'll chug the diet coke, you take the diet mt dew, and we'll both watch joanna do the hip-loose across the room. i wouldn't be surprised if lady ms tried to out do her with the electric slide.

as for strawberry divinity, can you find that recipe in chocolate?!

I found a recipe today for strawberry divinity that sounds eminently tolerable. Perhaps I can be persuaded to make it and my famously good chocolate chip cookies. I'm a pretty lazy baker and candymaker though. My intentions are excellent, but otherwise I SUCK.

Caramel Treasures are a sin. If they made Toffee ones I would be in heaven. and if my shipment of Coffee Crisps from Ms M would arrive I would totally have a...um...*whisper* YOU KNOW.

--ange

*Runs in and dumps a couple garbage bags full of sweet, sweet chocolate and various sex toys. Then turns and runs to my scout hut and watches the results of introducing these items in the enviroment.*


heh heh

Uhhh... methinks I missed the entire point of this week's IC. :-(

Drink your Diet Mountain Dew and look away!

How dare you all talk about candy??? Don't you know I'm starving myself??? I've had a chocolate pumpkin on my desk for two days. When I feel hungry, I open the wrapper and smell the chocolate. No calories in sniffing...

you people are treasure-crazies. i was all about the coconut and now i HAVE to taste them all!

Raw, I'm trying to losen my hips by not eating the freaking candy but I swear you all are like pushers. The best are the Caramel Treasures, second are the Peanut Butter. Oh god I feel myself weakening... eat the candy... go get a whole bag of treasures... raid the Halloween treats

anyone who'd like to try divinity let me know. aunt margie's is fabulous. of course, we could ask angeline all chocolaty-sweet like and she might make us some ...

i've never heard of hobnobs. and i've only tried the coconut treasures. i didn't even know there were caramel. caramel is my weakness... must get on that soon!

jb: i declare this day LOOSEN YOUR HIPS day. there now. don't we all breathe a little easier?

I should have known to ask you Angeline! Angeline = chocolate addict.

Raw, I am so serious, though. It's not pretty.

Divinity = vomit inducing.

I would like all of you who are discussing candy to know I am actually licking the screen trying to live vicariously.

i will not eat candy ... i will not eat candy ... i will not eat candy...

Coconut Treasures: milk chocolate candy by Nestle. Shaped like a little treasure chest. It has coconut in it. I don't like coconut so much. :( I prefer the caramel treasures.

Divinity: Seems to be an American South thing. It's a merengue candy. It's too sweet for me.

I prefer cookies to candy--HobNobs are da bomb, yo. But I do like a Skor Bar, every once in a while, and Coffee Crisps.

What's a Divinity and a Coconut Treasure?

you don't like coconut treasures OR divinity? something serious is wrong with you! my aunt margie makes the best divinity. we all know who makes the best coconut treasures...

oh joanna banana: if only you knew how hard i laughed at the idea of your hips busting loose. but, i mean, really, shouldn't they? i say we let loose all the hips of the world!

*gives Raw the remainder of her Coconut Treasures*

Sorry lady, I just don't like the things.

In other news, I feel yesterday's Republican victory was all my fault because I didn't wake up in time to vote. But then I always feel guilty when I cannot vote on Election Day.

That is all. Gah. I'm going to kill my best friend, she knows I work at night and she called me this morning to tell me she found divinity in a catalogue. Divinity. Candy. She woke me up for this? I don't even LIKE divinity. She dies in the morning.

Well I'd shake my ass like Shakira but frankly, my hips are so big, if one of them was to bust loose, someone could wind up dead. "You'll shoot your eye out!"

here are my blogs.

i'm photocopying money and creating currency charts. surely someone out there can find the time to entertain me. perhaps a little dance? hey, lady ms! whatever happened to the electric slide? and i've a feeling joanna banana could line dance like the best of them. someone ... please! i'm dying here!

Raw, those damn string cheese people are part of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy! Damn that Liddy!

fucking liddy dole won our senate seat. we go from jesse to liddy. what is wrong with these people?!!!

i expect no one to answer that question. this is the same state that voted for dubya (overwhelmingly) and kept jesse in office for 20 years.

in other news: my string cheese wrapper is defective. i will continue trying to pry it open now.

Alright I got my new comp up and working. I now finally have AIM for all of you who don't seem to like MSN or ICQ.


Picky, picky, picky.


My AIM user name is ChromeMag420. I hate throwing numbers in my name, but for the life of me I couldn't get any other nick variation to work.

oh my jesus i almost wish i was still in so i could write a homicide:life on the street entry. hell i wouldn't even have to exaterage that much since i did live in baltimore during some of the filming.

You're right, M, I'm so not floral. :)

Looking at the judges blog, and still being in a Melrose Place mood, a classic line of dialogue between Kimberly and Sidney...

"Frankly, Sidney, I find your behavior rather childish."

"Maybe it just seems that way because you're so old."

Watch Little House On the Prairie - Laura's teacher is what comes to my mind. Though, Kinetix - the floral pattern is so not your style.

Please forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is a schoolmarm?

Dammit! I picked the wrong hospital show. ~smacks forehead~

Sinnamon, I'm not trying to be anything, and I certainly won't be wearing any little outfits, schoolmarm or otherwise. As for getting under my skin, I'm not the one writing posts about how my typing skills are degenerating and how other people shouldn't point it out.

Kotex! IC #5.........Knight Rider! Knight Rider! I smell an immunity.

Needling judges? Me? I only brought up my degree to point out that I *am* a nit-picking schoolmarm. As for needling judges, I only needle judges who needle me. If that's bad strategy and gets me voted off, so be it, but at least I've been honest and haven't wasted my time sucking up to people who, for the most part, haven't done anything to deserve it.

i'd prefer to watch you ride a real bull a la mi gente. matadors are hottt!

Why do I feel like I've stumbled into an E! True Hollywood Story?!

Raw,

Only if you take me mechanical bull riding and bring me some A-1 sauce.

whew doggie ... my coworker just poured some water into the plant by my desk and now my bladder is banging for release.

ANYWAY, matt10, i'm so proud of you for joining the legion of anna nicole fans. now, can you get me a pickle?

"Each judge has only one vote out of 19 (or so) that can only protect one player out of nine" - Uber Hamster

And we can only vote one off at a time. And the "protect on player" part suggests judging on some reason other than merit.

Also- you only need 10 judges in an alliance to completely steer your half of the game, and seriously influence the game.

Still- I'm not suggesting anything about a judges alliance. Just pointing out contradictions. All in good fun. "You know... for kids!"

Today's Headline: He Pimp Declares Porn Acceptable.

Sorry to lose you #4, you were a most respectable agent and a highly important part of the Non-Existent Alliance.

Ginger, porn? Porn? I'm shocked! I think porn is... uh... completely acceptable, actually. ;)

July, I think you've stumbled onto something with that judges alliance idea.

So long and thanks for all the fish! :)

Chrome, Ms.M and Raw: thank you for the goodbyes....

And for those wondering about IP addresses (quelle horror! I thought you people weren't into such a thing! LOL .....), I post through a proxy, which, I'd guess, is used by a few (hundred? thousand?) people. Sometimes I use Anonymiser.com - another proxy (mostly when surfing for porn from work.....er, not that I do.....er, okay. Foot in mouth syndrome imminent!).

*blows kisses*

Dearest Uber:

I must disagree with you saying that the contestants have more influence than the judges. It would seem to me that an alliance between the judges could influence the game as much as or maybe even more than an alliance amongst the contestants. After all, you have the ability to make someone immune. When it appears that the contestants might vote someone you like off, you have the ability to keep this from happening. The reason why this is more advantageous to your "powers" is that your turn comes before ours. Furthermore, just because the judges haven't given the immunity to the same person twice doesn't mean there isn't a judges alliance. That doesn't mean I'm suggesting there's a judges alliance. It just means that there could be one, and that it actually has more power to influence the outcome of the game than a contestants alliance.

Personally I hope there's a judges alliance, because I could really use your help. I am so getting the boot next week!

i'm craving filberts and almonds and cashews. just thought i'd tell you.

#4: sorry to see you go...

Kinetix looks at his degree in Secondary English Education, and wonders if he's too critical. Then he smirks at Uber, and wonders if he's always so defensive. I hold the people who antagonize me to pretty high standards, Hamster.

'Besides, it would make me sound like a nit-picking schoolmarm.'

kotex = grammar queen

Kotex = quick study

Dumbass.

Kotex....How witty. You must have thought long and hard on that comeback.

Ok. What's the proper answer to my slur?

Maybe Uberhamster should stop worrying about alliances and start worrying about grammar. "Their isn't an alliance"? "Their isn't"? Oh, Uber, isn't there?

#1 reporting with an urgent message for the AMs. Uber Hamster has discovered our plan! Repeat: Uber Hamster has discovered our plan! Coded message found in judges blog: "...the fact that the contestants seem to be bending over backwards to make us think their ISN'T a serious alliance makes me sure that there is one." May God have mercy on us all.

A full scale bug out á la MASH (and á la peanut butter sandwiches) has been ordered. All AMs report to the latrine to make sure all our votes fall in line for the next TC. We must not let the Forces of Evil prevail!

I read Scourge's diary because it tickles me. Too many words and no way, no how I'm reading about limey nascar but I read the DS4 stuff and skim the other rants.

He's obsessed and obsessions, my own, other peoples, are always interesting and funny. It's passionate writing and when it's something ludicrious, ie, an outsider's intense feelings about a little online writing contest, it's sublime AND absurd.

If g-bug is telling the truth and has no involvment w/this guy, that's even funnier. Some knight in shining armor. He repeats our insults verbatim than links to where you can read more. Cuckoo!

Our board moderator checked IPs, despite his denials, he is WTF, Thorn, and a host of other aliases. He was destructive, writing pop up script into his posts, reregistering under new names after he was sent to the fishtank, so he was banned. Which is a shame, because he's entertaining but he can't control his impulses so he had to be banned. All's fair in love and war and words, but messing w/script, code, tangible destructive stuff--not cool.

He still keeps lurking using anonymizer and proxysurfer, hence the latest Scrouge diary entry. If it's fun and entertaining to you, even in a bad way, read it. If it upsets and riles you up, don't. Life's too short to read so many words if they don't tickle, entertain or teach.

By the way, congrats raw! Good job.

*gasp* Scourge knows that I've been posting on Kim's board! How did (s)he find out? I thought I had done so well at covering my tracks, what with telling all the other contestants I was posting there, admitting on that board that it was, in fact, me, posting under a name listed in my diaryland profile, and mentioning it in my own diary. How dare (s)he write such a shocking expose, exposing something that... uh... everybody already knew. I'm not sure I can contend with so massive an intellect.

*sigh*. Getting reeeeeally tired of all this. Thank you Angeline for your comments though. Much appreciated.

And...."Thank you, oh THANK YOU, Scourge person for stirring the cauldron of poo even more and ensuring that people don't get the chance to just move on." I'm all touched for the concern and everything - of course - but please, please Scourge - just shut up about DS4 now. Or maybe you're someone from the board you speak of? Trying to make a stab at extra publicity? Whatever. I would love to keep this crap out of the contest, but evidently I don't have a choice? And who signed the guestbook at the DS4 site saying 'vote ginger off already'? Well, there you go.