Nem5 Web Maggic Awards Program Helpware - Article 5 - Page 2 Opinions, Everybody's Got Them! © Maggi Norris - May 1, 2000 The Importance of Staff Due to the fact that my program gives several points for qualities that rely on opinion, it was crucial to the fairness of judging that there be a well-rounded staff to review sites. Diversity of opinion will range over a scope as vast as our imaginations can carry us. Each judge on staff brings knowledge based on what he/she has personally seen on the Internet. Each judge represents singular experiences and unique perspectives. While the fixed points for a site will be scored almost exactly the same for every judge, the points based on opinion will nearly always differ. On those rare occasions when all the judges agree that a site has earned a high score, it means many people with many points of view will like the site. This makes every judge and his or her opinion crucial to the program. The Intimidation Factor One of my judges once wrote to me saying, "I am not qualified to judge this site" after a very well established Webmaster applied for our awards. The interesting thing about that statement to me was that the judge had a site of his own and his site was, in my opinion, better than the one that was being reviewed. So why did he feel he was not qualified? This conversation showed me that what a site is about or who builds it is not what makes good pages. It is the skill and understanding of beauty that gives each Webmaster who builds an incredible site something special. That something special doesn't come from how famous the Webmaster is or how popular his/her site is. It comes from within. It will shine on every page of the site. I have seen this intimidation factor at work in other judges. When a site applies for an award and the Webmaster or the site itself is well respected it can leave one feeling a bit in awe that it is "your" award and "your" opinion that is wanted. I felt my own heart thump when what I consider one of the best artists alive applied for my award. This was in itself an award to the award giver. Most award givers set their goals on having widely recognized sites apply for their awards. Wanting something and then getting it can be intimidating. No matter who built the site or what the site is called it should still be judged the same as any other. It is my opinion that the sites would not apply if they did not trust the judgment and opinions of the award givers. Criteria Construction If your criteria are constructed properly, the intimidation factor is reduced. The fixed points of your criteria will be on the site or not. Your judges will be able to base the opinion points on the criteria as stated. The sites will be judged fairly and consistently no matter who is involved in its creation. Once a judge's opinions of what makes a good site have been formed there should be no compromise in using those opinions to review sites and rate them based on personal beliefs of what is good. When this is done it serves the purpose of impressing on the applicant that the awards have a purpose other than just a pat on the back. It shows that there are people out there who really care about the sites that get to show their awards. It also shows that there are people who are trying hard to make the web a better place for everyone, a place (as my friend Enrique says) where every mind should always matter. What It's All About I have been asked many times why I go to all the trouble, headache and work of maintaining an award program for nothing. My answer has always been the same. The work done on my program is not for nothing. I gain infinite riches from it. I get to work with some of the most talented designers, programmers, artists and authors. I get to see the very best sites online. I have seen sites grow, learn, mature and finally become a work of incredible beauty and information because they wanted an award. In the end, making the web a better place to be is what every good award program is about. The opinions of award givers have become a major influence on the growth and improvement of quality on the Internet. We all look for that special site, the one that takes the spotlight on our living room walls. A friend just reminded me of something wonderful. Sometimes the site that takes that spotlight is one that has worked very hard for months. The site was lovingly upgraded many times. Every upgrade brought a new application to my mail folder. I really wanted to grant the higher award for all that effort and hard work done just to win my award, but I waited just one more time. And then it happened. I opened my mail and found a URL to one of the most beautiful sites I had ever seen. I was smiling so hard I found I was crying as I looked through those magical pages. And that is what it is all about. Acknowledgements I am grateful to Enrique for his assistance in editing this article. I would also like to express my gratitude to Don for liking my idea and facilitating it by offering valuable input. And thanks so much for the reminder, Lauranna. Special thanks also go to every judge on staff at Nem5 and Steliart. Their hard work and dedication helped make this article and the quality of the programs what they are today. Return to Page 1 of this Article           Top of page.