Calling Foul on theonering.net

[zhie]

Voting was supposed to end at noon ET for this:

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/03/22/54405-middle-earth-madness-2012-round-2/

At noon ET, there was much rejoicing, because Feanor, while having a slight lead, had the lead. And should have won.

By 12:30, the polls were still open, and his lead was slipping.

Now, at almost 1pm ET, a wild pack of Gandalf lovers has gone in and mass voted.

(The same sort of thing happened in the Smaug vs Galadriel polls, though the lead there was slighter, Smaug was winning at Noon.)

I really hate it when something like this gets run and the rules aren't stuck to. With something running this close, someone should have been minding the store as it were. Clearly, they have a bias there as to who they want winning. They aren't particularly fond of Elves, from the way they write their commentary:

Checking in on the Tolkien Family Division, Legolas (1) is taking on Pippin (4) and as you might expect, the Elf Prince has a comfortable lead. Pippin fans, where are you?

And finally, in the Peter Jackson division, Glorfindel (1) is up against Merry (5) and the Elf lord is handily beating out the Esquire of Rohan. Make sure this one ends the way you want it, so vote now to ensure your favorite wins.

I know, it's just a game, but it's been very competitive. And that Silmarillion characters were put up against characters from LOTR & The Hobbit was almost like placating the Silm fans without expectations of any of them going through to the following rounds. Very disappointing, but more so now.

You know, I used to be pretty neutral about Gandalf, but now I hate that (insert favorite curse word here). Good job, Moria Balrog. Also, Gandy? I hear Isengard bids five...

Comments

[spiced-wine.livejournal.com]

I really hate it when something like this gets run and the rules aren't stuck to. With something running this close, someone should have been minding the store as it were. Clearly, they have a bias there as to who they want winning. They aren't particularly fond of Elves, from the way they write their commentary:

I can see that.

I will never understand how people prefer LOTR and the Hobbit over the Silmarillion. It is not that damn hard to read!

[lalaith-raina.livejournal.com]

I know a guy who just like hobbits more than elves, and he has decent arguments for his cause, and I have nothing wrong with that. I'm an elf fangirl, some people are hobbit fans. S'all cool.

I think the real problem is letting that bias a vote like this. The way the votes came in at the end, there were four people voting for Feanor. And every second he was dropping. Meaning there were at LEAST twice as many people voting for Gandalf in the last fifteen minutes. Seems highly unlikely to me that eight people realized the voting was off a timezone and spammed Gandalf by chance, as the past few days he's had a few voters but nothing THAT intense.

That was a planned 'sweep in at the last minute' vote. The wrath of the Feanorians will be swift and fierce. c:

[spiced-wine.livejournal.com]

Oh, Lord, I don't go around bashing people with my Silmarillion. (Might damage it! O_o) But I have come across so many people in the past ten years who say, 'Oh, I couldn't read the Silmarillion; it was too hard.'
The names confused me at the beginning, but the prose hooked me.

Seems highly unlikely to me that eight people realized the voting was off a timezone and spammed Gandalf by chance, as the past few days he's had a few voters but nothing THAT intense.

I agree.


May Fëanor bite them on the arse!

[lalaith-raina.livejournal.com]

Hahaa, very true! Some people have hard heads, it might hurt the book. :c

And yes, I believe Feanor will need to come teach those Gandalfians a thing or two.

[lalaith-raina.livejournal.com]