welcome to another DARK contest! my 29th on this site!
this contest is for cutters!
even though this contest is for you, the cutter, please pay close attention to the requirements.
i have never had a contest for cutters. i don't want you to think i am promoting cutting for i am not. normally a cutter is born out of stress, emotions, peer pressure and/or some type of difficulty in life. itz a way to release; cutting to create one pain for another that is trying to be suppressed.
i am wanting a positive spin in this contest. i know a couple of cutters personally. one i have been close to for many years and never knew she was a cutter. she is making much better progress now. there is another cutter i met last year. i have been a major influence in her life where she has not cut for months now. i never knew i could make a difference to someone where cutting is concerned.
i rarely read cutting poems. but this is going to be different. you, the cutter, will be accepting a very different challenge by entering this contest.
a) you need to list the reason(s) why you cut (this should be in some type of poetic form).
b )you need to think about the reason(s) that could possibly to get you to stop cutting and list them (this does not need to be in a poetic form).
c) you need to put in your authors comments the last time you cut.
d) you need to come back once every 3-7 days and comment to your work on your progression/regression of your cutting until the contest closes. please understand that your score won't be effected by progression or regression, only if itz not posted.
e) comment on the other entries by being your own support group.
what i am trying to accomplish here is a win/win situation. itz not to say you're going to stop cutting, but there's always that possibility. remember, anything's possible. if you can identify the problem(s) why you cut and possibly can think of some solutions that can help you to prevent you from cutting, then you're taking the first step to help yourself.
this contest will be judged by a point system as follows:
a) +3 completed task/-5 uncompleted task
b )+7 completed task/-5 uncompleted task
c) +4 completed task/-5 uncompleted task
d) +3 each comment posted per alloted time (you may post an update every 3 days if you wish). -5 for each comment not posted by the 7th day (this is based on the date of your entry). note: my comment is not required for you to complete this process. i will comment every time possible once a week, i might have to skip a week, but when i do comment i will be giving you a current score that you have earned. i will also comment once the contest closes with a final score. you will have at least two comments by me if not more depending on my time restraints.
e) +5 for each encouraging comment to another entry/-5 for each entry without a comment by you by the close of the contest
huge note: don't be discouraged if all your points weren't tallied at once. the points will be added every time i venture into the contest. i will track down ever possible point that has been earned by commenting on the other entries. on the same token, if you have not commented on every entry by the close of the contest, points will be reduced.
itz very well possible that there could be many entries that could end in a tie. i will have to think of a way to break the tie when the time comes, but it will be fair and verifiable in case that happens.
if you have any questions concerning this contest, please make them as a comment to this contest and i will answer in a reply. this should be done in case others have the same question.
guess itz time for some rules.
1. no pre-writes (if i did this, it wouldn't be a personal invitation to a contest from theDARK1).
2. one entry per poet.
3. any style/any form (length is not a problem...do what you want to do and how you want to do it...as long as you comply with the other rules too).
4. you must meet the requirement as listed in the body of the contest.
5. closing date will be february 12-28(somewhere in this time frame), 2005.
6. i will comment on every entry (it will be every sunday til i close the contest(unless i can get on earlier)).
as itz always my custom to wish everyone luck here as i will not do it in the comments to your writes!
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on January 31, 2005
- Rewards: Gold: 329
- Final notes: first i need to commend all three of you for entering a contest that required courage. now i must do something that pains me. i have to ask for your forgiveness for letting you down. i thought i could make a difference with this contest. i thought i had planned it out so thoroughly. i was wrong. i realized that i couldn't take away points if there were a step i had to do so. i just thought it would not prove a positive thing when i have to take away. i just think it only reinforces a negative. please forgive me. i was wanting to get cutters together and trying to do something positive; in this light i have failed and failed you most importantly. i have let this bother me for many hours and days now. thinking that i might have made a problem worse than what it was. all i can say is i apologize if i have done this. please know i wanted to try to do something good. i wasn't doing this to get accolades. i just wanted to help! i would like to thank all those who have offered support in some way.
Entries [2]
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I have to keep living,
so his memory lives on.by Nightmare 1691 87 lines, 8 comments, on Jan 17 12:01 AM 2005. In Sad, Personal, Dark
Silver trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. -
things that they say
bring me painby too dead to die 41 lines, 7 comments, on Jan 17 11:31 AM 2005. In Personal, Dark
Bronze trophy winner
• Commented on by judge.
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Comments
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Wow. I think that this is a wonderful idea for a contest. I to have known many cutters. I myself used to cut. Many of my friends still cut. I hope you get a lot of enteries into this contest. Best of luck to you.
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Excellent contest idea. It's nice to see someone is giving cutters a chance to identify the reasons they cut and some things that may prevent them from cutting. You never know when something as little as this can have a positive impact on someone. I hope many cutters decide to enter this and hopefully this will have a positive impact on everyone. Good luck with the contest.
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Literally the most confusing contest I have ever read! I like the idea quite a bit, actually. But I'm gonna sit this one out... if it counts I haven't cut since December 23, 2004. and the time before that was September 30th. I used to cut everynight, whether something was wrong, or I was feeling fine... I just needed to know I was still breathing some nights
I'll be reading the entries when I get the chance, I .look forward to see the winner.
Kati. xox -
I am amazed by the time that you spent to post all of this up. I think that this is an excellent and brilliant idea for a contest. Most people want nothing to do with cutting at all but you have done a remarkable thing by asking them (cutters) to share why they cut to begin with and by asking them what could make them stop. Lovely idea. I am a former cutter so I am sure that I could come up with some sort of entry. Just need to think about it a little more before I post. I do hope that you get what you are looking for. Good luck to all who enter and good luck to you on judging (love the system too by the way). Love always,
Kristen -
silentscreamer, thank you for finding the will/way to not cut any more. hopefully you can support your cutter friends and make a difference to them. don't give up on trying to help them. thank you for your comment to this contest, DARK.
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deathsphantasy, i just wanted to thank you again for the nice supportive comment. this contest was inspired by the cutter i am close to and i'm just so glad that she is still cut free. thanks again, DARK.
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kati, sorry this contest is very confusing to you. let me say how proud i am of you for not cutting in awhile. it would be nice for you to eventually stop cutting and i will pray for you for that to happen. i do hope you come back and support the people who enter, i know they will need it. thank you for the comment, luvya, DARK.
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kristen, as i said in the body of my contest i normally stay away from cutting poetry. just recently this past week, a person i am close to told me that she was about to cut again. then there was something that triggered a thought about me and she didn't cut. i was so thankful to find out that she decided not to. then this inspired me to do this contest. i'm not saying i will be the one that will stop them from cutting, but maybe the people who enter and former cutters can get together and bond. maybe then there can be one or more that might find this contest helpful to stop cutting. if this can be done then this contest served itz purpose. i'm proud of you that you can say that you're a former cutter. please stay cut free. thank you so much for the encouraging comment, DARK.
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I love this contest. I think it's a wonderful idea. I'm a cutter myself, but I haven't cut for a month, 3 weeks, and 3 days. I want to enter, but I'm afraid that writing the reasons I cut down would trigger another episode, so I'll steer clear of that for now. Good luck with this contest though, thanks for holding it!
Take care, and God bless!
Sarah Beth -
sarah beth, thank you for the wonderful comment and applause. i'm proud of you to be cut free for a month, 3wks and 3dys. i would love for you to enter, but by no means do i want to be responsible for another cutting episode. if you do feel like you can be strong enough to do so, please do, DARK.
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This is a great idea for a contest and seems like it will help a lot of people. It is nice to see someone who understands without condemning. I know it is hard to read stuff such as those but it a real issue for people.
I scanned through the comments and didn't notice this question asked, but is this contest exclusive to only cutters or any Self Injurer. Cutting is the more known form of Self Infliction but there are a lot of people who do not cut but they injure them selves in other ways such as burning, hair pulling, carving, erasing, digging their nails into their arms and many more. Of course, I ask for a reason. It really is not a secret since it is in some of my poetry but I burn. -
Hey, this was a great Idea for a contest, I know you just want to help us cutters out there, its evidant. Great contest, I dont care if i win or not, that matters not to me.
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Well, I came back and commented on all 3 entries so far I'm gonna keep up though! I want to see how progress goes. HMm ... if only those 3 are entering, atleast every entry will get a trophy
Once again, amazing idea for a contest. I'm still confused about it though. 
Kati. xox -
You have a loving, nurturing spirit. I award you the good Samaritan award of 150 points to aid you in your efforts. Spend em any way you see fit. I am using the rest of my points to promote this contest. Great job! What a great citizen you are--thank you!!
Edited on Jan 27, 7:20 because 'change comments'. -
I clicked on thinking this was a different thing, I am sorry I cannot write for this comp, as I still can't relate to cutting, although they have all my pity, it must be a terrible world they live in, I wish them all the happiness,hugs
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There will be a lot of people on this site who, if they should stumble across this, will think it promotes cutting, because they seem to think it's a subject that should never be spoken about incase impressionable people copycat. But I think it's a really good idea. It will make people in that position feel as if they are not so alone. I won't be entering becuase I have laid that area of my life to rest thank god, but all the best and well done for being brave enough to do this.
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i cannot believe how many cutters there are on this site alone. why does it have to be such a taboo subject and seen as such a cliche. all part of the teenage angst. i think this contest was a beautiful idea because everyone who finds it and/or enters now knows they are not alone xxx
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Cool Contest
I'm thinking about entering this, Not to sure though... It would be simple if I just had to write a poem about cutting, But the whole thing with progress and all that good stuff, That what makes me not wanna eanter [ Don't get me wrong, It's a good idea, Just I don't think I'd want to see how cutting is really a part of my life (Right now I can pretend it's not to bad.. Anyways) ] I'll think about it..
Frances Lynn
The Br0ken One
P.s I clicked so I had to comment
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