Competition discussion

[wavemachine]

Originally Posted by HinFrance

Let's not find problems where there aren't any. We haven't breached 30 entries so far.

It could work like this:

"Poll A" thread has ALL of the entries displayed in it, but only the first 30 are in the linked poll. Pictures 31 and up could have a 'vote here' link that opens the "Poll B" thread to enable easy voting there.

The polls were are using should only show you how many votes a picture has got AFTER you have voted (although there is a glitch that if you don't log on the results are always visible).

Nice idea alternatively we could set up two poll threads with no pictures and use the entries thread as the point the voter chooses the image, links can be posted to the two polls at the end of the entry thread this will save whoever has to do the poll from having to setup all the pictures as well as the poll(s).

[mabbutt]

I don't think 3 votes would be a better system although it would allow more people to get votes which would help motivate people a bit I guess.

I would rather see a poll where members were not aware of who they were voting for until after the poll had closed and I expect that you might see more people receiving votes.

Just an idea and one I know is unlikely to ever become reality.

Great entries this week though and although some don't conform to the theme it is nice to see so many people taking part. I wasn't here where the numbers were less but I can imagine that having a greater number is far better.

[kerbside]

Someone mentioned in the main chat the following.
The polls were are using should only show you how many votes a picture has got AFTER you have voted
I think that this should be looked into a little further as poss: and only poss: some votes are cast by people following what others have voted for on the lines of ( he is a senior member and has voted for that so it must be good) rather than voting for what they like and see.
Blind voting until you have voted has been used on other forums that i have been on and works, the other way is how mabbutt has described voting in his second paragraph.
Just my view?

[HinFrance]

There's a tick box option when you are setting up a poll that makes it 'blind' until after you have voted. Sometimes it gets missed during the set up procedure and can't be edited by mere forum fodder. I don't know if it can be changed later by the moderators or not.

[mabbutt]

Originally Posted by kerbside

I think that this should be looked into a little further as poss: and only poss: some votes are cast by people following what others have voted for on the lines of ( he is a senior member and has voted for that so it must be good) rather than voting for what they like and see.

That is how I wanted to put it

[Cutter]

Originally Posted by kerbside

Someone mentioned in the main chat the following.
The polls were are using should only show you how many votes a picture has got AFTER you have voted
I think that this should be looked into a little further as poss: and only poss: some votes are cast by people following what others have voted for on the lines of ( he is a senior member and has voted for that so it must be good) rather than voting for what they like and see.
Blind voting until you have voted has been used on other forums that i have been on and works, the other way is how mabbutt has described voting in his second paragraph.
Just my view?

I think this is a great idea and i for one would be up for it for the reasons mentioned .
I am sure that there are times when its a close race members may well only vote for the few in contention rather than the one they realy like.

[wavemachine]

Originally Posted by Cutter

I think this is a great idea and i for one would be up for it for the reasons mentioned .
I am sure that there are times when its a close race members may well only vote for the few in contention rather than the one they realy like.

Just to bang on about our work comp again as I think it is relevant as we had similar issues, the votes aren't revealed until the competition has finished and the entries are anonymous although we do have a pretty good idea who has submitted what (recognise styles people or props).

It is also worth mentioning again for the purposes of this thread the system allows people to give each picture zero to five stars and the highest average is the winner, a gold, silver and bronze cup are automatically shown next to the pictures in the top 3. Originally we would e-mail an allocation of points (1-3) for our top 3 favorites and someone would count them up, saddly this did cause controversey and mistakes were made.

[kerbside]

Just had a thought, can't you still see who the picture is from by right clicking on the image and going to properties?

[mabbutt]

Originally Posted by kerbside

Just had a thought, can't you still see who the picture is from by right clicking on the image and going to properties?

Yes that would be a slight flaw. Having said that if people wanted to then they could and I think I would but after I had voted.

I always vote for the picture I like the best anyway.

[jinky]

I always vote blind and see what has been cast once voted. Even when this odd site fails to remember me and makes me re-sign in I do so first before going to vote. I agree with Mark that if I did not do it this way then i migh be tempted to decide it between front runners so do what I do as a self discipline. When I vote for something that no-one else has done at that time makes me wonder what I saw sometimes but you have to go with what pleases you or it`s not your real view and vote.
I would not be swayed by what a "senior member" says or does. Senior member status is granted based on how many posts you have made and not on your abilities / experience / knowledge - so a newbies vote and view is as valid as anyone elses and does not have to follow the crowd/perceived more knowledgeable snior member as that may be a myth.

We are bound by the parameters of this site in terms of poll numbers / options for voting.

What I can do next week to address some of these issues is:

1. Set the poll so that you have to vote before you see the ongoing result - you can get round this easily as previously highlighted but if everyone follows the spirit and logs in prior to going to poll you have only yourselves to blame if you see the voting before casting your own.

2. Do what was done a while back and enter in the poll only the title and image - not who it was by. Again easily got around but again down to us to follow the spirit of the comp. I know when I voted those weeks when this was done I`d not been keeping up with the chat thread so did not know who 3/4 of them were by - though being around a while could guess some by style/ approach.

That`s a s much as can be done on the automated polling system here. To follow other suggestions would mean the poll setter getting PMs or the like and having to do a lot of point scoring / working out. I for one would not be looking to get that extra workload through the honour of winning a weekly comp and am happy to contnue as we are within the existing framework using the above methods a I have always doen when voting to keep it manageable.

Just re-reading this most of us submitting are saying we vote for what we think is best anyway - so what would make us assume others are doing any different? I am sure no-one will come and say they are following the masses / others opinions - it will be like trying to find out who voted Thatcher a few years back when it started hitting the fan or who voted for the current coalition when the effectsof the cuts hit the working man / middle classes fully in the next year or so. That said no-one voted for the coalition as it was not on my ballot paper !!!!!