Jeremy M. Praay wrote:

> Since we don't know the makeup of the judging panel, it's hard to be
> anything more than speculative on this matter.
> 
> Anyway, I was wondering how the artist could reasonably remain anonymous.  I
> suppose in some cases, where the artist doesn't hang around in this
> newsgroup, he/she could remain anonymous.  But for the rest of us, it seems
> like the judges may have a fairly good idea of who is submitting what,
> unless the artist creates almost all new objects or only reuses objects that
> are openly available to everyone (and doesn't display any WIP's to p.b.i.)
> 
> I guess what I'm trying to say is that if I were to put together a scene
> with, say, one of my radios (from Radio Graves), it could be reasonably
> clear to the judges that it was me (assuming they remember/care about
> anything I do).  Perhaps that's not the best example, though, since I
> provide the source code to radios.  I suppose this also assumes that if I
> did use a radio, I would have to mention it in my corresponding text to the
> effect, "Used Jeremy M. Praay's Philco 60B radio," in order to remain
> anonymous (as opposed to saying "Used one of my previously created radios").
> 
> Or...  Am I concerned too much with anonymity?  Is it really not that big of
> a deal?
> 
> Just something I've been wondering about...
> 
That occurred to me too. I tend to dismiss it but not totally.  I won't 
go so far as to call it paranoia but I do think there is a perceptual 
disconnect.  We feel far more vulnerable and revealed when we make 
images than we actually are.

If the judges saw the registration list before hand they might make some 
deductive ( inductive? I'm not a logician ) guesses.  And furthermore, 
would probably be unable from avoiding doing so.  Without such a list in 
hand it would be much more difficult.  They cannot assume the entrants 
are limited to the usual cast of characters.

Certain big names on the server do have distinctive styles and ticks. 
So it is not an impossibility.  But I would guess that the important job 
of judging the best image would soon overshadow such speculation.

Personally if I was making an entry I would not reveal it anywhere but 
when I register.  I would want to win or loose solely on the impact of 
the image.