Guys, guys, guys...

I think you’re wildly overreacting. How did we, in the space of just a few posts, go from a civilised debate to people feeling vilified and now refusing to enter the competition?

To me, these reactions just prove that something needs to be done. In fact, it was the very thing I was saying that I worried about!

The whole point of this debate was to find some common ground, not to split the community!

Now, how about this for a future contest?

All contestants can enter as “standard” or “advanced” (with the really juicy ‘loot’ reserved for the advanced contestants, of course). Contestants can enter whatever class and category they want but the judges can move any and all entries to a new category or class as they see fit.

In addition, each year a special price is awarded, decided by the community, to the member who has shown the greatest improvement since the last contest.

That should ensure that 1) people can compete at the level they feel most comfortable at and 2) there is still an incentive to push yourself and rise to the challenge of doing even better than last time.

Just an idea...

In any case, if we’ve reached the point where some people are feeling hurt by this debate then, reluctantly, I would suggest that the powers that be steps in ASAP and settles the issue.

Don’t get me wrong here... Normally I would agree completely with fumblethumps that a discussion should be allowed to run its course as long as it’s civil (as I certainly feel that this debate has been) but if people are now feeling hurt then I think it’s about time that the debate is closed before it turns really ugly...

In any case, if I somehow stepped on someone’s toes then I certainly do apologise. That was never my intention â€" I simply wanted to voice my concern that we risked chasing noobs away by not allowing them to compete at their own level.

Oh yes, one last thing...

I don’t know what the economy behind this site is â€" nor is it really any of my business. But if the contest is vital to rising money then I will say that 1) I will certainly enter, if only to support the site and 2) I wouldn’t mind paying a small monthly fee, rather than the entry fee, if need be...