Contest Section

  • ladyschrei

    ladyschrei (550)

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    @ darkfallenangel
    I must have missed that part XD

    But yeah, I agree :)
    September 3rd, 2012 at 04:24am
  • Angel of Vengeance

    Angel of Vengeance (100)

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    For the point penalty suggestion, to be honest, I think that would be unfair to those who start a contest, but have to cancel it because people who enter the contests, either drop out or no longer enter anything into the contest. I have a contest running at this time and I keep changing the deadline because I am hoping that people will post their entries, but so far it doesn't seem like that is happening. I think that penalizing hosts who don't finish a contest isn't fair if that is the reason behind it.
    September 3rd, 2012 at 08:56am
  • Sonshine.

    Sonshine. (100)

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    So Kurtni posted an article about the contest section and possible changes to it, and this was my response to her article. She told me I should post this to get feedback from other users (:

    "I do like some of these suggestions, and others I think would be a bit time consuming. For example, let's say that we did have a points system. That would take an awful lot of time to organize. If a contest wasn't completed on a set date, maybe two days later, would there be a penalty in points, or would all points be given back? Rhetorical question, just making a point! In the same breath, I think the points system would be great because it does bug me when I join a contest, and the host doesn't show up for weeks on end. Then when they finally do, their usual excuse is, "Sorry, I've had like six contests going on and I can't keep up." Why have that many contests going if you knew you couldn't keep up?

    I don't understand the Section Design and Functionality part, though. Usually the host tells you those things within the rules, or the writing prompt/general idea of the contest. The drop down prompt list idea does seem a bit interesting as well.

    The host rating system would be like the point system as well. A lot of playing around with. Then there's the matter of only the higher rated hosts being chosen. If I never hosted a contest, would that mean that the chance of my contest being popular would be low, just like my stats, or would that not matter until I failed to complete a contest? Rhetorical question again. A lot of my questions are a bit, "What if...," at the moment."

    But I really like this forum. I just read through the posts, and you all have some really great ideas for the contest section! (: Happy writing~
    September 3rd, 2012 at 09:04am
  • Queen of the Clouds

    Queen of the Clouds (4955)

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    @ Angel of Vengeance
    Perhaps then you'd have to submit it to a Contest Moderator (for example) and they'd be able to label it as "Cancelled" rather than "Abandoned" (which would be used for inactive ones without explanation/reason).

    @ Sonshine.
    I personally think the work that would go into setting up the point system would be worth it. The section needs more rules and organisation to make it run better, and penalising people for hosting 6 contests at once and then not judging them would be prevented with the thought of losing points. However, the simpler version of not being allowed to host more than one contest would also prevent that (previously been suggested).

    I think the Section Design part would be a remodel kinda thing, so it's no longer just one large post of information, but a standard sectioned post. It would probably look more organised and potentially be better/easier for a host to set up, as well as for participants to look at.

    Maybe the first-time hosts need a label like "first-time host" on their first contest so people know that's why they don't have a rating, and then once that contest has been finished they would obtain a rating and can go from there. I think a rating would be good, because then you can easily spot the people who don't finish/judge contests, and if we were to do it for participants too, then you can find out who isn't very likely to submit an entry and perhaps not let them enter and take someone else's spot.
    September 3rd, 2012 at 09:16am
  • folie a dru.

    folie a dru. (1270)

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    @ Angel of Vengeance
    I don't think anyone would get penalized if no entries were turned in. That's clearly not the host neglecting their responsibilities.
    September 3rd, 2012 at 05:17pm
  • Sonshine.

    Sonshine. (100)

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    @ darkfallenangel
    I do agree that just doing One Contest at a time would probably be simpler than any points system, for sure.

    Oh! Okay, now I get it! Then yes, it sounds like a really good idea! There should be a place for just a little blurb of information or something from the author and then the dropdown menu or something, and section the information. (:

    But wouldn't that also conflict with the entrants automatically being added on a contest page? Or would there be a subliminal system that worked with the points if we had them? Sorry, so many questions! Embarassed
    September 3rd, 2012 at 06:33pm
  • Angel of Vengeance

    Angel of Vengeance (100)

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    I still don't think points should be taken away from people. That just doesn't seem fair in my opinion.
    September 3rd, 2012 at 07:13pm
  • wx12

    wx12 (10125)

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    Angel of Vengeance:
    I still don't think points should be taken away from people. That just doesn't seem fair in my opinion.
    I don't think it's fair because we don't use point penalties on any other part of the site, nor do we require you to use points to post anywhere else on the site. There is nothing so serious about contests that should cause people to lose points they worked to earn.
    September 3rd, 2012 at 07:44pm
  • Queen of the Clouds

    Queen of the Clouds (4955)

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    @ Sonshine.
    Well being automatically added might not happen, but if it did then maybe the host could over-ride it and eliminate people.
    September 3rd, 2012 at 09:35pm
  • Angel of Vengeance

    Angel of Vengeance (100)

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    @ Kurtni

    I totally agree, so it should be taken down from the suggestions section to be honest. But I really do like the suggestions of having automated responses to all entrants of a contest where it gives them an alert or pm about when the deadline is and how much longer the entrant has until the contest is over.
    September 4th, 2012 at 12:34am
  • wx12

    wx12 (10125)

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    @ Angel of Vengeance
    It's just a user suggestion at this point, like everything in this thread. Mibba hasn't officially confirmed any ideas, aside from the fact that we're moving contests to their own section.
    September 4th, 2012 at 12:44am
  • Angel of Vengeance

    Angel of Vengeance (100)

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    @ Kurtni

    Okay then.
    September 4th, 2012 at 04:16am
  • folie a dru.

    folie a dru. (1270)

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    If there's a limit to the amount of contests one can host maybe there should be a limit to the amount one can enter until entries are turned in.

    Example.

    A person can enter 5 contests. If they turn in entries for 3 of them then they can enter 3 more. They can only have x number of contests at a time without entries turned in basically. That could also hopefully keeping people from not turning things in.

    I don't think the limit should be one though. Maybe as a test. You open one contest and when you complete it, then you can open five. Maybe every time you complete x amount of contests judging/entering, you gain the ability to enter/host more.
    September 4th, 2012 at 06:47am
  • wx12

    wx12 (10125)

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    What about the option to make layouts for contests? Or a place to include a banner? Would anyone use those features?
    September 4th, 2012 at 06:36pm
  • ladyschrei

    ladyschrei (550)

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    @ Kurtni
    I like that idea, totally =D So long as the layout system is similar to the ones we use for blogs or stories O.o
    September 4th, 2012 at 11:36pm
  • Queen of the Clouds

    Queen of the Clouds (4955)

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    @ Kurtni
    I personally wouldn't use it, but I've seen some contests with banners that look good (and some ones with font colours that look horrible). I also think there has to be a default layout button, since not having one (like how we do for blogs at the moment) is really annoying.
    September 5th, 2012 at 02:02am
  • folie a dru.

    folie a dru. (1270)

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    @ Kurtni
    I think that would be awesome.
    September 5th, 2012 at 06:14am