The Results

Recently I posted, as an experiment, a request for readers of my blog to try to categorise eight of my posts. I wanted to gather if by reading one hundred words, the reader could tell if the post was based on a real event, a dream, a revelation or it was complete fiction.

Thanks to those who took the time to cast their votes. The instructions could have been clearer, in hindsight, but when I first read through the post, before publishing it, it made perfect sense to me… but then, I understood what I wanted from it.

Some of the posts seemed to carry on where the previous one ended, which was done deliberately, as I secretly didn’t want anybody to get any category correct. I didn’t say so, but that also came across in the post. It was Me against the Rest of the World… and a tally of points was needed. The Rest of the World got a point whenever they categorised a post correctly, but I got a point if they categorised it incorrectly.

My aim was to get the full allocation of available points to win. I wanted to beat the Rest of the World completely. And, as I didn’t do this, I lost this part of the challenge.

So, that’s a win for the Rest of the World.

For the first part.

I can now reveal the results of the vote. One point was available for each vote, either going to the Rest of the World if the voter was correct in their vote (guess / choice / inkling) or to me if they weren’t correct.

Six readers very kindly took part in this experiment. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: thank you! So six points were available for each post…

The House was actually a revelation. An image that I received whilst trying to do a guided meditation. In the moment of the revelation, I could feel the coolness that surrounded me, and I could clearly see the flickering of the candle inside the window. Nobody selected the category ‘revelation’ for this post, so I was the clear winner with this post.

Another Staircase was a dream. It’s actually a recurring dream that I have where I find a staircase, usually tucked away behind a curtain, or door, that usually leads to a hidden floor or room… or rooftop garden. One person thought this was a dream, so that’s one point to the Rest of the World. Five to me, but as I didn’t get the full six points it isn’t a complete outright win.

The Corridor was another revelation, from the same guided meditation as before, although it wasn’t part of the house. Again, nobody selected the revelation category, so another win for me!

Anticipation was based on a real event. I’d somehow managed to get myself roped into singing at a talent evening, and word had got out about it. It had seemed to get out far and wide as the room was packed, far busier than usual. I started singing, quietly, but then left the stage when a voice heckled from the back “What does the dummy do?” Never again have I attempted to perform in public. Two people said this was a real event, so two more points go the Rest of the World.

The Book was completely made up. Total fiction. I wanted to link it to a couple of the earlier posts in this experiment for continuity purposes, but it had nothing to do with them at all. Two readers said this was made up, so another two points go to the Rest of the World.

The Comet was also made up.There was a comet recently that should have been visible, but I never got to see it. And what gives this post its fictional edge is the mention of it being warm. We’ve just gone through the coldest March in fifty years – I was trying to warm things up a little! No reader thought this was a made up event, so I get all six points. Hehehe!

Existence was based on a real event. I have a ghostly visitor every now and again, who I’ve named Dot. I’ve mentioned her a few times in my posts, most recently in this post. Two readers said this was real, so another two points to the Rest of the World.

The Plummet was also based on a real event. Once again, I’d been roped into doing a bungee swing whilst enjoying a break at the seaside. Myself and two friends were hoisted what seemed like thousands of feet into the air, by a crane, and then we had to take out a pin to release us, when we were in free fall for several seconds before the rope caught once again. The swinging was nice, but the falling not so. Two readers correctly said that this was a real event.

So, going off points alone, I was the clear winner, 39 – 9. But, with the Rest of the World winning the first part of the challenge, the overall outcome was a draw. A point each!

World domination isn’t in my blood anyway, so I’m perfectly happy with a draw. At least I’m keeping up with the world, which is always a good thing!