[Medal] Radzeer for Phalera

[m_1512]

Proposer: m_1512
CdeC Support: robinzx, ybbon66
Support: Maximinus Thrax, wudang_clown, Omnipotent-Q, Juvenal, Boustrophedon, Ishan, Legio, Navajo Joe, MorganH, SeniorBatavianHorse, Shankbot12

Phalera

To qualify for a Phalera award, the nominee must have made exceptional input or otherwise made significant contributions to non-TW sections of the boards. A member of any Rank is eligible to receive an Phalera award, but must also meet the criteria to become a Citizen. His nomination must also be seconded by an elected member of the Consilium de Civitate.

Qualifying nominees shall have their nomination posted in the Prothalamos and will be moved to vote as per the procedure in Section II, Article III. Once moved to they shall be voted upon for a period of one week and require a two-third majority of non-abstaining votes to achieve the award. If the nominee was not already a Citizen, this Rank shall also be conferred upon them if they pass. A nominee who fails to pass his vote is not eligible to re-nominated until three months have passed.

In previous discussion, a citizen had stated that Radzeer should be nominated for this award. Naturally, I expected this proposed, so I did my poking around. And yes, I found that Radzeer has made extraordinary contributions to the writing section. And this time around, we can take a look at the works.

His Exemplary AARs

- The Wolf among Dogs
- Primes Inter Pares
- The Chronicle of a Hungarian Freeman

His Initiatives

- Collected wisdom of AAR writing
- Radzeer's Quill

He has also been running with enthusiasm and efficiently the writing competitions (TotW, MAARC, BAARC) and encourage new writers and constantly working to keep the WS a busy hub.

[Maximinus Thrax]

Have you asked Radzeer about this?

Full support.

[wudang_clown]

Now, this is a proper proposal.

Outstanding contribution, indeed. Support!

[Omnipotent-Q]

Radzeer is an AAR and writing maestro. Check out the links M has thrown in, because his work speaks for itself .

Easy support for me ja!

[Robin de Bodemloze]

CdeC support for mea domine.

If anything I'm just annoyed I wasn't the one proposing this

[m_1512]

If anything I'm just annoyed I wasn't the one proposing this

You have then take the initiative then, my friend.

[Juvenal]

It's high time Radzeer was properly recognised for his AAR work. Perhaps in return he could give some hints on how to improve my own paltry scribblings...

[Ybbon]

CdeC support. A very worthy recipient.

[Boustrophedon]

Support for the maestro

[Ishan]

Support!

[Legio]

Support for hetman Radzeer.

[M D]

CdeC Support

[Pontifex Maximus]

I hope I won't have too many rotten tomatoes thrown at me for playing devil's advocate here...

Being awarded Phalera requires "exceptional input or otherwise made significant contributions to non-TW sections of the boards." Looking at the list given, I'm simply not seeing it I'm afraid.

The AARs are good, certainly praiseworthy, but they don't strike me as head and shoulders above the norm. I don't know if they can be described as exceptional. The "initiatives" are just index posts of his and other writings on the AAR community. Again, I don't think that can be described as exceptional.

It is excellent work, but I don't think it is enough to warrant Phalera.

[Boustrophedon]

The AARs are good, certainly praiseworthy, but they don't strike me as head and shoulders above the norm. I don't know if they can be described as exceptional.

I have read hundreds, maybe even close to a thousand AARs and I definitely rank Radzeer's as sticking out above head and shoulders. I'd say they certainly qualify as "exceptional" and although I agree that perhaps more material would have been good, his quality of work is high enough to warrant the Phalera in my opinion.

[Navajo Joe]

I have just read parts of the attached AAR's, well written, plenty of pictures and an interesting story, plus he uses Stainless Steel.

Why do you feel that this work is exceptional compared to other AAR's?

[Ngugi]

I would follow Severus Snape's line of consideration here, as an elaboration to how "exceptional input or otherwise made significant contributions to non-TW sections of the boards" should be percived, would be helpful in this case.
Not diminishing his apperently high quality AARs the 'Collected wisdom of AAR writing' seems perfectly in line with the criteria while more examples on the inputs and contributions (like TotW, MAARC, BAARC and examples on constructive contact with other writers etc.) perhaps could be made avilable securing the matters of 'exeptional' and 'significant'?

[m_1512]

Now about that, AARs are not about quantity. They are about quality.
Aren't his AARs more quality than hundreds or perhaps thousands?

Also, he has also started an AARtistry course in TWC Uni. That is also an contribution, as no one had even heard of thought of taking such a course.

[Robin de Bodemloze]

First of all, the OP neglects to mention Radzeer's contribution to the Critic's Quill.

Awarded for time served as Content Staff for a period of one year and six months to one year and eleven months.


Writing his first article for the Quill in edition 22 I count 16 articles that he contributed to over the past 13 issues. That is a level of continued effort and quality output that is unmatched by anyone not called Juvenal.

For "Artistic Representation", the 2012 Scriptorium Winter Writing Competition Librarian's Choice Award Winner.

Nominated by the Scriptorium staff for his piece in the last competition. Given the fickle nature of public voting I'd argue being selected by trained eyes gives just as much if not more credence to the quality of his writing.

On the requests for clarification why his input has been "exceptional":

• Radzeer is the longest serving member of the WS staff besides Hesus and was recently promoted to Director. He's given senior guidance to staff certainly since I became involved in January and put in the hours long before that
• The sheer volume of work on display is staggering. From my own experience (of writing 50+ AAR chapters) each one takes about 6-8 hours start to finish, so here we have someone who's literally put several hundreds of hours into providing entertainment for others
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but his silver MAARC medal does little justice to the quality of his writing: ask any of the recent MAARC winners and they'd gladly give a glowing recommendation of his skill
• The Collected Wisdom work is an encyclopaedia of knowledge to anyone who seeks to be a writer. The argument that "anyone could have done it" doesn't stand - they didn't, and Radzeer did, so he should be recognised for putting in the effort over a long period of time. Radzeer himself also contributed significantly to the writing that is quoted, including "behind the scenes" commentary at the end of Primus Inter Pares that is purely aimed at making others better writers
• Radzeer and I are currently hosting an AAR course - at his behest - for which he has contributed a massive body of work
• Personal anecdote: Radzeer been a staunch supporter of my own writing and his continued advice has been instrumental in my writing being what it is (qualifying me for citizenship, for example). I may be the only one who can claim this but I doubt it
• Silver moderator's mace - nothing to do with this application but goes to show his commitment towards the community

It wouldn't be a stretch to say that - with the possible exception of Juvenal (who has a phalera) and Hesus (who hopefully will have one by next week) - Radzeer is the most prominent active member on the writing side of the site, and one of its elder statesmen that works tirelessly for the benefit of others.

[m_1512]

Awarded for time served as Content Staff for a period of one year and six months to one year and eleven months.

Damn! I thought I missed something.

As for the WS study inputs, we cannot know the fullest details as we do not have access to the WS forum.

[Navajo Joe]

Robinzx,

Thank you so much for the feedback, 100% convincing & 100% support