languist wrote:I think I'll just join for one, as "generic"
IronMike wrote:Join me in the "generic" group!
I'm beginning to think that 'generic' is problematic. It creates flexibility that others don't have. I know this comes as an afterthought, given two people are already signed on for 'generic', but perhaps if you request such 'flexibility' it should come with some kind of 'loss' since those who sign on for say French, or German, must continue to do those languages throughout the year without fail. AI'm thinking along the lines of these such options (just brainstorming out loud here):
1. Nominate your languages in the 'generic' field up front - and you can't add to it later?
2. you can't win?
3. at the end of the challenge you must deduct a given % of your points?
4. Each lost day counts as however many languages you have in your routine?
Example you've got 6 languages in your 'generic' group - skip a day, you lose 42 days.
Example 2. You've got 2 languages in your generic group - skip a day you lose 14 days.
5 Each lost day counts as a flat even number that is more than if you choose one language. For example, skip a day you don't lose 7 days as would someone who'd chosen a single language, but a flat, even number yet to be decided, say 10 or 14 days no matter how many languages you study in your 'generic' block. I'm thinking 10 days loss - not too extreme, but a bit of a loss given your extra freedom.
Point 5 above, seems to be perhaps the fairest. You choose more flexibility, you lose something in return, but not too much.
IronMike and languist, i know this comes as an after-thought, but please understand, this extra flexibility should come at at least a small price, otherwise I can foresee every man and his dog jumping on board with 'generic' so as to study whatever they like when they like (I know you have a genuine reason for your choices of generic)