I agree with you. I don't know what the answer is, to be honest. I just think that being as transparent as possible, and having a mechanism where everyone can submit work against the criteria, goes some way to removing the wank factor.

I think what we've got in our favour is that the group of mods isn't exactly a group of friends. Other than Brammers and me, the rest of us happen to be connected via Hex, and not because we've gravitated towards each other as like-minded friends. Between us we have a very broad reading interest, and I'm banking on that breadth to stand us in good stead.

But those who get turned down will still wank about it - it's human nature to feel pained about any rejection.