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Hard to imagine someone reading all the posts. I'd think there would be tons and tons.
I always enter but would never win. I might have at most 30 posts during the duration of the contest. Too many others on the boards all the time. I see a lot of the same posters that seem to live on City Data.
Out of curiosity, where does the 500.00 come from? I don't see any ads on this site so that had me wondering.
Non-members (or members who don't sign in for some reason) see the advertising.
I notice one winner constantly arguing and putting down other members with a know-it-all attitude, and it's been noted by members within the threads. And belittles those who have different opinions, even removing posts at will. But still, that person wins. Those who have the ability to remove posts made by others should not qualify, imo.
I notice one winner constantly arguing and putting down other members with a know-it-all attitude, and it's been noted by members within the threads. And belittles those who have different opinions, even removing posts at will. But still, that person wins. Those who have the ability to remove posts made by others should not qualify, imo.
I have to agree with the idea of making moderators ineligible. This would be analogous to the standard practice of excluding the employees of companies running promotional contests from participating in those contests. The participation of posters who have the right to edit and remove the posts of others, and who are in a position to close a thread at whim, clearly constitutes a conflict of interest.
I think it is a proven fact that ANYTHING can be overthought.
Quibbling about Engagement of volunteer support staff in a voluntary event is proof positive of that contention.
Indeed, anything can be over thought, in the same sense that any potential conflicts of interest can be ignored.
The fact that moderators volunteer their engagement with the website is admirable, and I respect and thank the vast majority of moderators who do a great job.
Any contest in which one chooses to enter, is a "voluntary event" by definition. The question is whether or not individuals in a hierarchically-defined position to control the content posted by others, should be allowed to participate in a contest which is determined by the content of posts. If the administrators are good with it, it is what it is. However, it does represent a conflict of interest.
To prove that I can overthink with the best of them: I want my entrance fee back! DOH!
There is NO conflict of interest in Mods Engaging in the forum and entering the contest. None. They are first and foremost CD Members and many contribute daily to the forums I visit. There is really nothing at stake (entrance fees or taxes or penny jar contributions from CD Member contestants) creating a financial risk to the contestants regardless of who wins. The contest is not important enough in the greater scheme of things to present such a consideration in any serious light.
If TPTB decide to award 100% of any prizes to moderators, I would consider myself undiminished, undamaged, and unconflicted.
It is always unfortunate, however, when something as innocuous as a forum contest brings out baseless negativity and quibbling.
Negativity and quibbling, OTOH, do conflict with any real interest a member may have in being considered "Engaging" by the CD community, which is actually significantly more interesting than how Mods consider a member.
Last edited by MikeJaquish; 04-16-2014 at 09:18 PM..
I have to agree with the idea of making moderators ineligible. This would be analogous to the standard practice of excluding the employees of companies running promotional contests from participating in those contests. The participation of posters who have the right to edit and remove the posts of others, and who are in a position to close a thread at whim, clearly constitutes a conflict of interest.
Employees are excluded. Moderators are not employees and their ability to delete posts has no influence on the contest. It might have, if they could see who is going to win and then try and improve their chances by deleting the competitors. The way the contests are organized, moderators have no access to even see who signed up, not to mention anyone's position during the contest.
There are several thousand people participating in each edition and they post all over the forums. It's impossible for any moderator to even guess their competition. Add to that the fact that no moderator can edit or delete anything so that other mods or staff won't see it. We don't allow random, unfounded deletions. Of course, mistakes happen and so do overzealous moderators but it has nothing to do with the contests.
You guys can be fair also!!!!!!! -- No reason to have to cheat,I dunno why you wouldnt want employee's to try..... (If they are fair and square about it that is)
I don't see a problem with moderators winning. If anything I'd be happy to see the prize money divided up between the moderators as a sort of reward for what they do. 99% of them do a great job and it's a thankless task.
I'm still curious though why infracted members are eligible as per my question earlier in the thread?:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cruithne
Thanks, that is useful.
Can I ask a genuine question though, based on the bolded criteria?
I have seen asked many times on these competition threads, whether posters who have been infracted at some point are still eligible to enter and win, and the response from moderators has always been yes, they are.
Just curious. I have never understood why infracted posters are still eligible for these contests given that they have probably posted something way beyond provoking an emotional response or disrupting a discussion etc? I hope that seems like a fair question?
Thanks.
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DOH!
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