I have a feeling that we are talking at cross purposes. I did not mention or suggest regifting, posting offsite, or posting all on one day. I think that we have the same goal, but are just approaching it from different directions. I have one main concern, which is,
As you said, pinch hitters sign up for the sole purpose of making sure that no one who originally signed up is left without a story. We guarantee that everyone who signs up gets a story
... everyone except for a pinch hitter who did not sign up originally; and that is what bothers me. It is true that you can say, "Well, if they really wanted a gift, they ought to have signed up in the first place!" and "They are volunteering!". . . But, just like some people who sign up have really good reasons for dropping out, others only realise they can participate after sign ups close. And those who accept a pinch hit do understand that they are volunteering. They do understand that your comm policy is that they will get nothing in return if they are not a signed-up participant. And yet they volunteer (writing is fun! giving presents is fun!).
People who have signed up who accept a pinch hit are guaranteed a gift already; whether they write one fic or three, they will have a gift. I agree that they do not need a new gift per every fic they write. As you say, that would escalate, and can be covered by Madness.
What I am proposing is, at bare minimum, to arrange gifts for the pinch hitters who have not signed up (there were three last year, two or three in 2008, one in 2007, three in 2006 [according to my failsome skills with master list statistics]). I am not suggesting that the mods do anything beyond pass on the names of those people, whom I would contact and get prompts from. I would then make sure that their gifts were taken care of (posted to the comm by a date given me by the mods). My goal is in no way to make more work for the mods.
You wrote that I'd rather concentrate on making sure that everyone has one gift. This is our common goal, and what I would like to volunteer to do; to make sure that everyone (even those who did not sign up originally) gets one gift. If averages are anything to go by, there will likely be two writers who will finish the fest gift-less. Even people who, for RL reasons, have to drop out of the fest get a gift. Please reconsider allowing me to find gifts for these pinch hitters.
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As you said, pinch hitters sign up for the sole purpose of making sure that no one who originally signed up is left without a story. We guarantee that everyone who signs up gets a story
... everyone except for a pinch hitter who did not sign up originally; and that is what bothers me. It is true that you can say, "Well, if they really wanted a gift, they ought to have signed up in the first place!" and "They are volunteering!". . . But, just like some people who sign up have really good reasons for dropping out, others only realise they can participate after sign ups close. And those who accept a pinch hit do understand that they are volunteering. They do understand that your comm policy is that they will get nothing in return if they are not a signed-up participant. And yet they volunteer (writing is fun! giving presents is fun!).
People who have signed up who accept a pinch hit are guaranteed a gift already; whether they write one fic or three, they will have a gift. I agree that they do not need a new gift per every fic they write. As you say, that would escalate, and can be covered by Madness.
What I am proposing is, at bare minimum, to arrange gifts for the pinch hitters who have not signed up (there were three last year, two or three in 2008, one in 2007, three in 2006 [according to my failsome skills with master list statistics]). I am not suggesting that the mods do anything beyond pass on the names of those people, whom I would contact and get prompts from. I would then make sure that their gifts were taken care of (posted to the comm by a date given me by the mods). My goal is in no way to make more work for the mods.
You wrote that I'd rather concentrate on making sure that everyone has one gift. This is our common goal, and what I would like to volunteer to do; to make sure that everyone (even those who did not sign up originally) gets one gift. If averages are anything to go by, there will likely be two writers who will finish the fest gift-less. Even people who, for RL reasons, have to drop out of the fest get a gift. Please reconsider allowing me to find gifts for these pinch hitters.