'Lean-n-Mean' VII ... is this really possible..??
Nov 09 '08 (Updated Dec 09 '08)
The Bottom Line One more time...
274 reviews/15 categories/103 'writers'
We are officially done. I will take anything published today.
Recap and thoughts to follow. Thanks everyone..!!
...
Hmmm. Has it really been this long..??
Final Report: Closed for business, December 09...
. . . .Thank you for your support.... We are done..!!
The Numbers:
Total participants: 42 members
Total Categories represented: 15
Unique category/user participants: 104
Total reviews contributed: 277
The first year
A long time ago, on a site one would barely recognize today, a user had the idea of challenging others to write 'lean-n-mean'. The newer member challenged fellow users to write ". . .your best product review, written short, crisp, helpful, in less than 666 words."
Nearly 40,000 words were published in the 78 reviews submitted that maiden outing. Looking now at the list of participants I see users that are still active six years later, and I see names that fell silent long ago. I see users with inactive accounts, users that have not written in years. I see a beloved user now in a better place, Lorace.
Most of those inaugural 'lean-n-mean' reviews are still here on the site, still being found and read (even with the trials and tribulations of catalog and search problems.) Some of the participants have become veterans of the site, those who others look to as examples of the 'best of Epinions.'
As a newer member on the site in 2002, I had no reason to expect anyone to support the idea of 'lean-n-mean'. That so many took a chance on a young, new, snot-nosed user has always made me feel humble and grateful.
The years that followed
In subsequent years, the idea of 'lean-n-mean' continued to grow. The second year, 2003, there were 319 reviews submitted, by my last count. The next year, 2004, brought 364.
In 2005 I first recognized writers by category. Seventeen categories were represented with at least 127 'participants' spread across those categories. The next year, 2006, saw 165 'participants' across 20 categories. Last year, 2007, brought 179 'participants' across 20 categories.
It seems the idea has remained a strong attraction for many; for whatever reasons I can only guess. But I do think peeps like to challenge themselves to write in more than one category and to write 'Very Helpfully' in less than 666 words.
'Lean-n-Mean' 2008
So here we are, ready for one more dance...
For the definitive rules, check the 2007 Essay and apply any changes noted below; essentially the submission dates.
• November 9, today, through December 7; four weeks is plenty, right..??
• 666 words or less. ( though I am not counting them. 700 is probably OK, beyond that ... you are on your own; and risk being called out as a fraud..! )
• Product reviews only, 'regular reviews' only.
• Overall-rated 'Helpful' and 'Very Helpful' reviews only.
• No 'lean-n-mean' titles.
• But do link back here at the bottom (or somewhere) in your review
• No 'delete and republish'.
. . .( you will be privately ...if not publicly ...scorned )
• Recruit your fellow members.
• Invite strangers on the street.
• Involve your favorite (and perhaps not-so-favorite!) fellow writers.
• Talk some smack at another category ('books' vs 'movies' has been a traditional rivalry...)
• Write as many as you want.
• Write in as many categories as you want.
• Have fun.
edited to add: I will try to track additional reviews in each category also. So if you write multiple category entries ... let me know, by comment or e-mail.
Your participation and support with just one review is as important to you and to me as would be ten or a hundred reviews.
As always, any questions: leave a comment or drop me an e-mail.
As always, thank you in advance for your support and your reviews.
...tom...
Please see additional notes at the bottom...
Participants, 'Lean-n-mean VII' | 2008
• Books • • 19 writers ... 66 reviews
jurgrace X 3 | artemis8 | talyseon X 4 | befus X 2 | popsrocks
dolphinboy X 2 | pestyside | carstairs38 X 6 | JediKermit X 4 | bilbopooh X 25
ladyconsumer X 2 | kamel622 X 2 | scmrak | sleeper54 X 2 | cr01
wendy7734 | susidee34 | texas-swede X 6 | ifif1938
• Movies • • 17 writers ... 52 reviews
ladyconsumer X 2 | chelledun | carstairs38 X 6 | Stephen_Murray X 5 | susidee34 X 16
jankp X2 | bilbopooh X 2 | talyseon X 3 | skbreese | captaind X 2
pmills1210 X 2 | popsrocks | dandj | deadmilkboy X 2 | JediKermit X 3
Ricardo_Ramos | jsommersby X 2
• Home and Garden • • 12 writers ... 30 reviews
pestyside X 2 | susidee34 X 6 | scmrak X 2 | dlstewart X 6 | northeastgal X 2
ifif1938 X 3 | popsrocks | jurgrace | bkalafut | bgoodday X 2
JediKermit | texas-swede X 3
• Kids & Family • • 11 writers ... 51 reviews
ladyconsumer | jurgrace X 6 | popsrocks | kamel622 X 2 | JediKermit X 7
bilbopooh X 25 | ifif1938 | susidee34 X 2 | befus | pmills1210 X 3
bgoodday X 2
• Sports & Outdoors • • 11 writers ... 19 reviews
jurgrace X 2 | scmrak | popsrocks | ifif1938 X 2 | gaelkm
bgoodday X 4 | JediKermit | pmills1210 X 2 | texas-swede X 2 | gothicdreams X 2
mcmaster
• Wellness & Beauty • • 10 writers ... 17 reviews
popsrocks | lllovemakeup X 3 | jenniferkateab X 2 | gaelkm X 2 | JediKermit
dlstewart X 2 | ifif1938 X 2 | texas-swede | pilarzmom X 2 | funniebunny
• Restaurants & Gourmet • • 5 writers ... 10 reviews
bkalafut X 4 | popsrocks | ifif1938 | JediKermit X 3 | Bruguru
• Hotels & Travel • • 4 writers ... 5 reviews
carstairs38 | chelledun | cr01 X 2 | pilarzmom
• Computers & Internet • • 3 writer ... 10 reviews
dlstewart X 4 | bkalafut | texas-swede X 5
• Pets • • 4 writers ... 5 reviews
pestyside | popsrocks | texas-swede X 2 | busby777
• Business & Technology • • 3 writers ... 4 reviews
popsrocks | dlstewart X 2 | susidee34
• Music • • 3 writer ... 5 reviews
carstairs38 X 3 | pmills1210 | jankp
• Gifts • • 1 writer ... 1 review
northeastgal
• Magazine Subscriptions • • 1 writer ... 1 review
dlstewart
• Electronics • • 1 writer ... 1 review
texas-swede
Additional Notes:
Reading-n-rating:
As stated in the 2007 'lean-n-mean' invitation essay, I have never attempted to 'read-n-rate' every entry to these 'l-n-m' write-offs.
While that might be considered good manners for a write-off host, I prefer to leave it to normal readers of a section, category, or even the regular readers of a given writer to rate the reviews.
Do know, regardless of read, rate, or comment ...I am indebted to all the participants for each and every review. My lack of recognition by 'reading-n-rating' will never subtract from what I owe you for your participation.
Double-dipping:
A thought at an early 'lean-n-mean' review by susidee34—"I'm officially double dipping! "—has reminded me that 'lean-n-mean' is a great way to 'double up' on your write-off participation.
See this post, Write-Off Cumulative Index, at the Epinions Announcements Board to see an up-to-date list of active and recent 'write-offs' on the site that you might meld with a 'lean-n-mean entry'.
If you know of other write-offs that are missing from that list, let me know about them.
Again, my many thanks to all of you for all you do here on Epinions.
.
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Epinions.com ID:
sleeper54
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 in Movies, Books |
 in Books |
 - Top 1000 |
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Member: ...tom...
Location: "Is this Heaven?"......"No. It's Iowa."
Reviews written: 491
Trusted by: 547 members
About Me:
Off to Dallas for real-world 'work' training.
Will be back ASAP..!!
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