So taking a more serious crack:
Best Poster: The same people I vote for every year, really (Gandhi, Octavian, Pan, Possum, Denter, kpt, Docht--lots that I am deliberately not mentioning so the list won't seem comprehensive and the accidental omissions won't be as glaring), are on top. If I had to pick one for this year specifically, I'll go with
@Fawlty, who I have twice voted for best new poster, but never before voted for for best overall barely edging out
@Lead.
Worst: Too numerous to mention. Special shoutout to
@sodapopinski for making many threads completely unreadable until I started ignoring him.
Most Improved: As mentioned, Zank. Everyone likes him, but I didn't as much before this year. Had lots of really good exchanges, though.
@Rod1 has been around too long for new poster, but he stepped it up this year. About one-quarter craziness and three-quarters solid stuff but always interesting. IDL is still terrible, but he's not as bad this year (or maybe just the influx of terrible posters the election brought it makes him look better by comparison).
Best New Poster:
@TheGreatA. Kind of a dick, I disagree with him a lot, and some of his views are pretty abhorrent to me, but really interesting poster, and likes to get in there and mix it up. Like
@Denter in a way, and that's a big compliment.
@Happiness is one of my old favorites from the HWs, and it was good to see him get more active in the WR. Ditto for
@Peteyandjia, though he's a shitty WR poster.
Favorite Sparring Partner:
@Greoric. Not really much to say. I disagree with him about almost everything, but our interests seem to line up pretty well, and he can go awhile before getting uncivil. Ehtheist is up there, too. He's a thinker and really pugnacious, but in a good way. Kind of oily, though.
Best Shit Poster: Going by Limbo's definition, it has to be
@ripskater. Good guy, and funny whether intentionally or not.
@Devout Pessimist deserves mention here, too. Despite the name of the award, this is a compliment to both.
Best Thread: I have a really weak recollection of thread titles and stuff. I liked a couple going on at
the same time when Zank and I were discussing Soros.
Best Election Coverage:
@Lead, hands down. No other candidates. Hans wins worst, as he started about half the threads in the group based on whatever fake news or stupid tweet was popular that hour in the fever swamps.
The racist category has too many interchangeable candidates to mention.
Oh, and it really doesn't seem to make sense to divide a best poster by "side" anymore, as there seems to be more conversion. There are shit posters and good posters, and that's the only "side" that really matters, IMO.
of the year - @Jack V Savage .
<cheer>
