I think Augustlan has a very serious point here. It’s not the competition that’s the problem. It’s the people that weren’t selected, and wonder why they were overlooked. It’s the completely arbitrary nature of the process. It’s all about saying who is in and who is out. In folk can have a say, and out folk don’t say a thing.
They’re not going to say anything, but their feelings are still hurt. These kinds of questions, are, to my mind, what lead to a very nasty atmosphere over on Askville. People had hidden resentments, and they came out in strange ways. The cliques form, and the outsiders seethe and see the site as not for them. They go elsewhere. You may think these kinds of competitions are all in good fun, but for outsiders, it is a sign that they are not a part of things. It creates unfriendliness, but everyone thinks it’s fun. Very subtle. I think it is very dangerous, too.