The Pentuple Contest: Anything-But-Pandemics

[Fauxia]

Maaaaan. I got all excited about the contest only to find out it has a population minimum. Wish it'd said that in the telegrams. Wouldn't have got my hopes up for it.

Good luck to everyone who can and will enter, though!

I forget exactly how long it takes to get to the minimum but I think you’ll be over by the time the contest ends.

Is it 50 or 250 million now? If it’s 50 they will. If it’s 250, it’ll be a close one.

Regardless, there’s no harm in drafting issues even if they’re not going to be eligible for the contest.

[Pythaga]

You need 250 million to submit an issue. You gain 5-7 million a day. Take 250 million and subtract your current population from it, then divide that by 5 million to get the max number of days until you reach the threshold. If it’s around 40 or less you should make it.

[Australian rePublic]

This issue is actually contest. Not only does it incentivise everyone to stay home and write issues for some unknown prize, but it will also help a significant number of additional issues to the game when everyone has time to sit at home and write them and the editors have time to edit them. Whoever came up with this, well done

[Sanctaria]

Not only does it incentivise everyone to stay home and write issues for some unknown prize

What Could I Win?
Winners will gain the opportunity to join the team of Issue Editors. The top ten finalists will also be revealed in a follow-up News announcement after the deadline.

At this point I'd like to add that reading and comprehension are also important abilities for a wannabe Editor to have.

[The New California Republic]

Not only does it incentivise everyone to stay home and write issues for some unknown prize

What Could I Win?
Winners will gain the opportunity to join the team of Issue Editors. The top ten finalists will also be revealed in a follow-up News announcement after the deadline.

At this point I'd like to add that reading and comprehension are also important abilities for a wannabe Editor to have.

This all reminds me of what Rumsfeld said:

there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know.

 

[Pax Nerdvana]

I have a draft worked up. I'm gonna create a thread for it.

[Trotterdam]

This all reminds me of what Rumsfeld said:

there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know.

But what about the things we don't know we know?

[Ancient Greek Empire]

How many authors get selected

[Pythaga]

How many authors get selected

If you mean editors, the OP explains:

The contest brings with it the chance of joining the team of Issue Editors. There may even be multiple winners. Everything depends on the submissions we receive.

[Socio Polor]

How many authors get selected

If you mean editors, the OP explains:

The contest brings with it the chance of joining the team of Issue Editors. There may even be multiple winners. Everything depends on the submissions we receive.

Though whether those winners are choosen from the ten finalists or not have yet to be clarified

[USS Monitor]

If you mean editors, the OP explains:

Though whether those winners are choosen from the ten finalists or not have yet to be clarified

Since the 10 finalists represent our favorite entries, it would make sense to choose winners among those 10.

[Socio Polor]

Though whether those winners are choosen from the ten finalists or not have yet to be clarified

Since the 10 finalists represent our favorite entries, it would make sense to choose winners among those 10.

Your right Monitor, wasn't sure if the finalists were gonna be that or like an honorable mention type thing. I'm so silly

[Frieden-und Freudenland]

This all reminds me of what Rumsfeld said:

But what about the things we don't know we know?

I think philosophers would be divided on the issue of whether there can be things we don't know we know, as things basically depend on what we mean by knowledge.

We certainly have abilities like Intuitive Physics - i.e., we have correct intuitions about how gravity works, etc. (Though some of our naive beliefs about the physical world are wrong as well.) But let us focus on the correct intuitions we hold. And they are called 'intuitions' precisely because most of us cannot put into words that we have these intuitions in the first place. In a certain sense, these intuitions can be things we don't know we know. But that is perhaps why they are called intuitions in the first place. Can we call them 'knowledge' if we have no conscious awareness of possessing them?

In epistemology people define knowledge as justified true belief - so you have to believe the true information you have in order for it to be knowledge. Can you believe in something that you are not aware of? I don't think so.

[Espeon LD]

For the age minimum, how old do you have to be? I am pretty sure at almost 3 billion I am fine, but I have author friends who have just joined. I would like to know on their behalf what the minimum is.

[Luna Amore]

For the age minimum, how old do you have to be? I am pretty sure at almost 3 billion I am fine, but I have author friends who have just joined. I would like to know on their behalf what the minimum is.

Minimum of 250 million population to submit an issue.

[Australian rePublic]

FWIW, 14th of June in which timezone?
My 2nd of May is getting near finished, but over in the US it's just beginning...

I assume Western Hemisphere time. Could be wrong though. I'm just crazy yelling random things on the street. Don't take my advice, and avoid me, if at all possible

[The Litterbox]

Fun contest, really had my creativity flowing. Too chicken to draft here...this is my first forum post and I have serious difficulties with criticism... but had a lot of fun writing. Y'all might see more of me...I've found issue writing to be an absolute blast. (I'm especially fond of writing creative fallout messages) Can't wait to see the winners next month! \o/ Thanks, Joy, for inviting us unknowns to join the fun! And good luck, everyone!

[Honeydewistania]

Fun contest, really had my creativity flowing. Too chicken to draft here...this is my first forum post and I have serious difficulties with criticism... but had a lot of fun writing. Y'all might see more of me...I've found issue writing to be an absolute blast. (I'm especially fond of writing creative fallout messages) Can't wait to see the winners next month! \o/ Thanks, Joy, for inviting us unknowns to join the fun! And good luck, everyone!

Mate, drafting here is the number one way to ensure the draft actually has a shot at winning. Criticism here is usually constructive so you shouldn't be chicken.

[USS Monitor]

Too chicken to draft here...this is my first forum post and I have serious difficulties with criticism...

I understand the thought process, but I still recommend giving drafting a try.

When I first got into issues, I submitted some drafts from a puppet without drafting them on the forum because I was shy about putting it all out in public -- and some of them naturally got deleted because they weren't up to snuff. Everyone's got their own process, but statistically issues that are drafted on the forum get accepted at a higher rate.

[Phydios]

Too chicken to draft here...this is my first forum post and I have serious difficulties with criticism...

I understand the thought process, but I still recommend giving drafting a try.

When I first got into issues, I submitted some drafts from a puppet without drafting them on the forum because I was shy about putting it all out in public -- and some of them naturally got deleted because they weren't up to snuff. Everyone's got their own process, but statistically issues that are drafted on the forum get accepted at a higher rate.

I seem to remember an IE saying some time back that 99% of non-drafted submissions went straight into the trash. And that conversely, waiting to submit until an IE says the draft is ready gives you a 99% chance of acceptance. Is that still generally true?

[Sanctaria]

I understand the thought process, but I still recommend giving drafting a try.

When I first got into issues, I submitted some drafts from a puppet without drafting them on the forum because I was shy about putting it all out in public -- and some of them naturally got deleted because they weren't up to snuff. Everyone's got their own process, but statistically issues that are drafted on the forum get accepted at a higher rate.

I seem to remember an IE saying some time back that 99% of non-drafted submissions went straight into the trash. And that conversely, waiting to submit until an IE says the draft is ready gives you a 99% chance of acceptance. Is that still generally true?

They're very generalised statements, so I'm hesitant to say it's still generally true (although it may have been me who said it originally...) but I would say that drafting on the forum, and getting feedback from experienced authors including editors is a better method of drafting. There are some authors who rarely frequent the forums but have submitted good quality drafts on multiple occasions. But I would say that's an exception rather than the rule.

[Pax Nerdvana]

I should make some adjustments and submit my entry before I forget.

[The Litterbox]

They're very generalised statements, so I'm hesitant to say it's still generally true (although it may have been me who said it originally...) but I would say that drafting on the forum, and getting feedback from experienced authors including editors is a better method of drafting. There are some authors who rarely frequent the forums but have submitted good quality drafts on multiple occasions. But I would say that's an exception rather than the rule.

I strive to be the exception, but hey, if nothing I've submitted is good enough, no problem! I'll eventually warm up to y'all. To me this contest was about getting my creativity flowing. Plenty of opportunity on the horizon! Just have to let myself be open to constructive help. <3

[Sanctaria]

Hello.

We specifically asked for no issues related to pandemics. We even called the contest, Anything But Pandemics.

We've received issues related to pandemics.

No more please.

[The Blaatschapen]

Hello.

We specifically asked for no issues related to pandemics. We even called the contest, Anything But Pandemics.

We've received issues related to pandemics.

No more please.

Do you think the amount of pandemic related issues is increasing? Is it widespread? Do we need to take more measures against it? Will your post be the cure?