http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCEML/message/99511

2006 Golden Os FAQ version 6.11
Message #99511 of 100743
Mon Jan 8, 2007 4:58 pm
Stephen aka Old Man ASC 




2006 Golden Os FAQ

Version 6.11

This document is a detailed guide to the Golden Orgasms, the annual fanfic
awards of ASCEM. It draws heavily upon the main ASCEM FAQ's appendices for
basic information like character codes and story descriptors. ASC* FAQs
can be found at:

http://www.trekiverse.us/FAQs/

Table of Contents
1: Introduction
2: Eligibility
3: Categorization
4: Schedule
5: Voting Rules
6: Key Personnel
7: History
8: Rulings
9: Current Categories
10: Credits

Version History
---------------
6.00 Opened FAQ for 2006
6.10 Revised order of FAQ per suggestion
6.11 Section 9 Updated with TNG, ENT categories


Section 1: Introduction
-----------------------

The intention of the Golden Os is to recognize those stories which have had
the most impact on the readers in the calender year designated.

Section 2: Eligibility
----------------------

All stories posted to ASCEM in a calender year are eligible to win, and
categorized unless the author orders their removal during check
balloting. (Unlike the ASC Awards, the Golden Os do not provide a list but
not compete option)

Section 3: Categorization
-------------------------

Stories are categorized based on the codes provided by the
author. Occasionally the codes will be incorrect. That is what the Check
ballot phase is for. If you find your story is incorrectly categorized
during that period (up to 48 hours before the voting period begins) you may
request a correction. The buck stops at the Coordinator, however.

The Categories are done based on the at least 5 stories by at least 2
authors rule (referred to as the 5x2 rule) Authors are encouraged to use a
2x4 to make sure their favorite category meets this rule. If a category
has 20-25 stories in it, story size may be used to split the
category. Sometimes categories may be judged to be too similar, (having
almost the same stories in it) which will result in two categories being
combined.

A story may fit in many categories, of which there are several levels.

Top Level
There are Stories, there are poems/filks ... these are the top level
categories. One or the other fits. There is also an author and new author
category.

Series (Level 2)
Every story/poem/filk/author fits in a series. It's either TOS, TNG,
DS9, VOY, ENT, or MIS.

Relationship (Level 3)
Stories on ASCEM generally fit into several different types of mutually
exclusive categories for each set of codes given.

a) There is the Het category, which is for the m/f pairing.
b) Slash covers the m/m and f/f codes. (It should be noted that often m/m
and f/f are additionally broken out as well in a level 3.5 category)
c) Then there is Group, which is codes involving more than a pair. (See
Ruling b)
d) Single is codes involving just one character.
e) Friendship, stories coded with an & are indicated as this.

Pairings (Level 4)
This is perhaps the most complex level, the meat of the Awards.
a) If there is a code that fits the 5x2 rule, there is a category for it.
b) In addition, if there is a character who has enough stories coded with
his name and a character of a particular sex, excluding any previously
coded stories for that code in part a.
c) any time a Level 3 category is split into Level 4 categories below it,
there will be an Other category for any stories that met the Level 3
category but didn't have a Level 4.

Size Splits
In the event that categories have 20-25 stories, size splits may occur
based on the size of the saved posts. The following are the size ranges:

Vignette under 12K
Short 12-28K
Short Story 28-50K
Novelette 50-100K
Novella 100-210K
Novel 200K-1MB
Epic Over 1MB

Where there are not enough stories to fill a category, groups
shall be combined in a catch-all category as follows:

Vignette + Short = Short
Vignette + Short + Short Story = Short Story
Short Story + Novelette = Short Story
Novelette + Novella = Novella
Novelette + Novella + Novel = Novel
Novella + Novel = Novel
If there aren't 5x2 stories of Epic length, the stories will
be placed in the next largest-sized story group without
effecting the category name.

It should be noted that while splits of categories do occur
based on size, it's possible due to subcategories dropping out
at each level for some stories to win awards with different
names. For instance, a 7K K/S Challenge Story may end up in:

Challenge Short Story
K/S Short
TOS Vignette

See Section X Rulings for specific rulings on categorization

Section 4: Schedule
-------------------

The schedule of the 2006 Golden Os is still somewhat up in the air. Please
check this regularly for updates.

We intend to do checkballoting between the 10th and 25th of January, with
the Awards starting by February 1.

The following is the tentative voting schedule:

Voting Period 1:
February 1st - 14th
Comprising TBA
Voting Period 2:
February 8th - 21st
Comprising TBA
Voting Period 3:
February 15th - 28th
Comprising Original Series Categories
Voting Period 4:
February 22nd - March 7th
Comprising Overall Categories including ones for each series

A full list of categories for this year as of the time of this posting
(with size splits in progress) will be listed later in this FAQ.

Section 5: Voting Rules

This year registration will be required, in order to prevent vote stuffing.

Voting will occur in 2 week long periods. All voting will be done via a
web page off of the Golden Os website at:

http://www.trekiverse.us/GoldenOs/

Votes consist of your first, second, and third choice. Unlike prior years,
once an id submits a vote, a corrective vote will not be possible. Make
your selections carefully. An optional comment field is also
provided. Comments will be anonymous but posted to the group unless you
put your name in the comment field.

Votes are tallied based on 3 points for first, 2 points for second, and a
single point for a third place vote.

Special Note:
The Ruth Gifford Award functions on the ASC Awards point scale. It is a
comment based award. See the ASC Awards FAQ for more information on the scale.

The Golden Os Coordinator has the authority to disallow votes if he
believes there is ballot stuffing. The Coordinator will implement one
registration one vote this year.

Points are tallied at the end of the awards period. First, Second and
Third place will be announced. If there is a tie for first or second,
second or third may not be given.

Should a work or author be found to have competed in a category that it
does not fit in, the Golden Os Coordinator reserves the right to disqualify
it. The newsgroup will be informed in this case.

The Coordinator also reserves the right to disqualify a work/author for
ballot stuffing or otherwise interfering with the operation of the website.

A contact Tech Support link will be provided for voting problems.

Section 6: Key Personnel
------------------------

The Golden Os takes many people to run. These are this year's job holders:

Awards Coordinator: Stephen Ratliff
Stephen handles most issues during the awards. If it's not
his job, he knows who's it is.
SoS FAQ Maintainer: AcidQueen
Picking up this job from j.juls, AQ is only the second to
hold this vital job of collecting the list of stories posted.
Categorizer: Cait N.
Cait provided the inital categorization of stories based on
the codes given by the authors and collected by AQ. She also
assisted in the correction of those categories.
Tech Support: Stephen Ratliff
This is where Stephen always is. He takes care of the nuts
and bolts.
Vote Counters: Stephen & Cait


Section 7: History
------------------
In 1997, the group alt.startrek.creative.erotica was created, moving the
former alt.sex.fetish.startrek into the alt.startrek.creative
hierarchy. (ASCE was later replaced with ASCEM, a moderated version.) As
ASC had it's ASC Awards for stories staring in 1995, the new group felt it
would be wise for ASCE to have it's own awards. So Ruth Gifford started
the Golden Orgasms, now often referred to simply as the Golden Os.

The intention of the Golden Os is to recognize those stories which have had
the most impact on the readers in the calender year designated.

The Golden Os have been run under several Coordinators, starting with Ruth
for the 1997 Awards. For the 1998 Awards, Ned Fox ran them. He started
out the 1999 Awards, but unfortunately could not finish it, resulting in
the ad-hoc Gang of Four finishing that Awards period. From 2000 to 2002,
Mary Ellen ran the awards. In 2003, in absence of anyone stepping up,
Stephen Ratliff, the ASC Awards founder and long time Golden Os Tech
Support stepped up. In 2004 JM ran the awards. Last Year, Stephen stepped
back up, with a delayed awards. This year Stephen once again finds himself
back at the table.



Section 8: Rulings
------------------

Several rulings have been made regarding categorization over the years,
that should be taken into account during categorization.

a) Any story that was erroneously left out in the year prior for a category
may be made part of that category the next year, if the staff is notified
of the error and that category exists that year.
b) A group story that is all of the same sex may be classified as a slash
story, but may only be classified as a het story if the sexes are evenly
divisible.
c) If a story fits in a pairing category such as: K/S or K/f,
then it is NOT added to Other Het or Other Slash unless it contains a
separate pairing that doesn't fit into a pairing category
d) Ships are considered female.
e) Fruit is considered female.
f) Generally a weapon is considered female ... unless given a male name.

Section 9: Current Category List
--------------------------------

The following are the expected categories for the 2006 awards. Appearing
on this list indicates that we know that the category will definitely
happen. Expect this list to expand as time progresses.

A: Author Awards
Best Author
Greywolf Award for Best New Author
TOS Author
TNG Author
DS9 Author
VOY Author
ENT Author
All Series Authors

B: The Original Series
TOS Story

C: Next Generation
TNG Story
TNG Het
TNG Slash
Picard / Q
TNG Other Slash

D: Deep Space Nine
DS9 Story

E: Voyager
VOY Story

F: Enterprise
ENT Story
ENT Drabble
ENT Slash
ENT Single
ENT Humor

G: Other
Ruth Gifford Award for Non-story contribution

Special Note:
The Ruth Gifford Award functions on the ASC Awards point scale. It is
a comment based award. See the ASC Awards FAQ for more information on the
scale.

Section 10: Credits
-------------------

This FAQ is based on Datalaur's FAQs from 1999-2004, and was rewritten at
the last minute by Stephen for 2005. A major overhaul was completed to
reorder and revise the FAQ based suggestions by Rocky.

--
Stephen Ratliff
stephenratliffasc earthlink net
Remove ASC to avoid spam filters

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