Comment cards?

[WannaBeBBQueen]

Originally Posted by Sledneck

Would a petition from members work in this situation or just be a waste of time?

Good Question...I'd love to know the answer, I think the comment cards were a plus as well.

[The Pickled Pig]

The comment cards as tested are not very useful and probably detract from the judging. If you get 9's from 5 judges in taste with a card from each that says "best chicken ever" and one judge gives you a 4 with a comment card that says "too salty" (sub hot, sweet, etc.) did you really learn anything that 5-9's and 1-4 didn't already tell you? How about if you get 2-7's, 2-8's 1-9, and 1-5 with all different comments? If you get all 6's and 7's with comments like "tough" and "dry", didn't you already know that before it went into the box? Being able to critique your own entry is part of the competition. Those that do it well are rewarded. Those that choose to stick their head in the sand, not heed their scores, and turn in the same crap are going to struggle.

Are there rogue judges - yes. Are there rogue tables - yes. Do tastes and opinions vary by region - yes. But you cannot escape the mathematical fact that the scoring from contest to contest is amazingly consistent. The top teams win consistently, and the top teams consistently win. If your scores are inconsistent you need to change what you're doing to appeal to a wider audience.

The bad part of the comment cards is that it very well may have a negative effect on the judging process. Judges that know they have to explain their rationale for exceptional scores will tend to select mediocre scores because they know they will not be challenged. People tend to avoid conflict and most are not comfortable with the concept of constructive criticism. And how many are going to score a 4 or 5 on something knowing that a table captain is going to make them write a comment about it, possibly alienating them from their judging peers? Other than some reality TV shows, I can't think of any sport where judges comment on their scores. Just watch the Olympics this summer and see if any judge comments on their scores.