Suggestion

[Taz]

I know the site is still young, and new things are coming, so I'd like to throw a leaderboard into the suggestion pool. It's killing me not knowing how my entry is doing. :)

[Silky]

[QUOTE=Gonzo]I know the site is still young, and new things are coming, so I'd like to throw a leaderboard into the suggestion pool. It's killing me not knowing how my entry is doing. :)[/QUOTE]

LOL! Tsk tsk...the anticipation is killer, eh? You're doing just fine...;)

[Happy]

The anticipation is getting to me too. I don't know which is worse the stress of not knowing or the stress of seeing the placement. That being said, I would still like to follow the ranking throughout the contest too. The urge to constantly check is overwhelming. It's part of the addiction. :)

[Dave]

I'm winning!

I can feel it in me water .... (old fogey saying) :)

[fray]

I would have won had I entered! ;)


:.

[Scott]

Well.. you all want a leaderboard? I mean.. doesn't it kind of promote misvoting?

"Look my image is second. I'll call my friend and have him give it a 10!!!"

That sort of thing.

[Silky]

Aren't you guys glad that the voting doesn't go on longer than it already does? :D

[Happy]

Oh, I admit it I'm naive. I tend to think everyone is honest, has ethics, and won't do such a thing as promote misvoting.

I'd be bald from pulling my hair out it the voting lasted any longer.

[Dave]

Sadly OHF we're only human .... wanting to win is inbuilt.

[Silky]

[QUOTE=OneHappyFemale]Oh, I admit it I'm naive. I tend to think everyone is honest, has ethics, and won't do such a thing as promote misvoting.

I'd be bald from pulling my hair out it the voting lasted any longer.[/QUOTE]

You know...we could run the contests closer together....IF we knew there would be entries in them if we did. The only reason we run them so long now, is to give enough people plenty of time to enter.

I wonder if it would be a good idea to post what the next round of contests will be so people can start working on those too? Ideas?

[Scott]

Wouldnt' that essentially increase the submission time?

[Silky]

[QUOTE=Jolt]Wouldnt' that essentially increase the submission time?[/QUOTE]

Yeah it would, but for people who only need a couple days to do an entry, it would give them something else to work on during that time, as opposed to twiddling thumbs until the next contest rolls around. What we need is for everyone to enter quickly, so we can cut the time down between submission, voting, and new contests. :)

[Raphael]

If you 're going to do that might I make the suggestion that the concurrently running second contest be ones like Illustration contests, ones that take more time to do?

I don't particularly think it's a good idea though all told, I think you guys have got it right the way it is.

[Dave]

I'm sure as the sites' traffic and membership grow that the frequency of contests will change, there will be contests that require longer submission periods (illustration) and other contests with much faster turn round.

I like the thinking time at present. Not that having a month would make my entries any better :)

Contest suggestions (with themeposts if possible) are always welcome.

[jameschino88]

You could always just restrict the ability to look at the leaderboard until the person has voted on all of the images.

[Dave]

[QUOTE=jameschino88]You could always just restrict the ability to look at the leaderboard until the person has voted on all of the images.[/QUOTE]But when you get that it could encourage those in the lead to go out and get all their mates to come and vote for them, I've seen it happen far too often. It can also be very discouraging to see yourself at the bottom of the list. Also at present with some people not voting correctly the cast votes have to be scrutinized and sometime "corrected" to remove single image votes in order to try and keep things fair for all contestants. Because for now the results are based on aggregate scores one entry being given a 10 and the rest no votes can severelty affect the outcome of the contest and nobody really wants that do they? Win by right not by wrong! :)

Meantime our superhero Jolt is working his butt off on updating stuff as quickly as he can learn how and is doing a terrific job. YAY Jolt!

[Scott]

Sorry folks.. I know it sucks but I don't think a leaderboard in beneficial. And I dont' say this due to coding, it can be coded easily. I just don't think it helps fair voting at all.

This is very low on the list of priorities.

[jameschino88]

I hate to say it, but sooner or later you might be forced to put in a system that gives fair voters more power, and unfair voters less to zero power.

[Dave]

[QUOTE=jameschino88]I hate to say it, but sooner or later you might be forced to put in a system that gives fair voters more power, and unfair voters less to zero power.[/QUOTE]Maybe but if it does happen it will be an open and honest system.

[Silky]

[QUOTE=jameschino88]I hate to say it, but sooner or later you might be forced to put in a system that gives fair voters more power, and unfair voters less to zero power.[/QUOTE]

That's quite possibly true. But I would rather we focus on getting our voters to vote fairly, without any threats of taking their voting powers away from them. I'd rather think it would be easier for people to just vote an image what it's really worth, than voting unfairly....wouldn't you? :)

[calamityjane]

You would think everyone could and would be fair and honest as they should be. But theres always some that won't. Along those lines here's a question....

When you vote in a contest shoud (or can) you skip your own entry and just vote on the rest? I don't like voting on my own it just doesn't seem right.

[TrinityOfOne]

You can't vote on your own entries now and before, even if you did, it didn't count.

[Raphael]

I knew votes on your own entry didn't count but I like to vote on mine and try to be objective, treating it as someone elses. Even offered critique on my entry into the Fantasy Illustration contest. Trouble is I know all the flaws in my own images :(

[Dave]

[QUOTE=Raphael]I knew votes on your own entry didn't count but I like to vote on mine and try to be objective, treating it as someone elses. Even offered critique on my entry into the Fantasy Illustration contest. Trouble is I know all the flaws in my own images :([/QUOTE]It's good when you can do that, I struggle with it I must admit.

[Raphael]

LOL, I didn't say it was easy Dave ;)

I don't know about a leaderboard but would it be possible to let us see the entries (not able to vote) once we've entered.

Doh I suppose that'd only work if we were limited to one entry each. Mind you I still think that would be a good thing.

LOL but then, I think it'd be OK to see all current entries all the time but only enable voting as normal.

Ah Well

:.

[Silky]

[QUOTE=Raphael]LOL, I didn't say it was easy Dave ;)

I don't know about a leaderboard but would it be possible to let us see the entries (not able to vote) once we've entered.

Doh I suppose that'd only work if we were limited to one entry each. Mind you I still think that would be a good thing.

LOL but then, I think it'd be OK to see all current entries all the time but only enable voting as normal.

Ah Well

:.[/QUOTE]

I assume you mean to let everyone see the entries even before the contest opens for voting? The problem with that is this....

If you do a fabulous image of something...say Sharon Stone sitting on a tractor....and someone else comes and sees that image and decides that that image is absolutely beyond fabulous and that there's no way they could compete with it. So...they don't enter the contest. A fantastic photoshop could deter others from entering, simply because they think they don't stand a chance of winning.

Or, say someone else was working on an image of Sharon Stone on a tractor...and they'd spent hours working on it. They look in the contest and see that you've already entered a Sharon Stone sitting on a tractor...so now they feel like they can't enter theirs simply because it's a duplicate...so all that work is for nothing.

It just works better if the entries are hidden until voting starts. :)

[Raphael]

Ah OK! true!

[PDG]

Sharon Stone sitting on a tractor?

Stop giving away my images, dammit! :gavel:

[Silky]

[QUOTE=PDG]Sharon Stone sitting on a tractor?

Stop giving away my images, dammit! :gavel:[/QUOTE]

Oh no! There goes all my hard work....*sigh*

[Dave]

This not seeing current entries can cause the classic response as seen in one of the recent contests of "you copied that idea from the other similar entry", one ring with ladybug stones and another with a watermelon stone both very nice and very different entries. That charge of "copycat" can only be true if they're by the same person but some voters can't work that out (I wont say more) they're too busy ripping .... ahem err I'll shut up on that one.

The point being is to get consistently good scores you need to have a killer idea that no one else has, mine in the same contest failed badly because people thought what was a flower was the same as the puffer fish used in the sample image for the contest (how blind and dyslexic are they?) and I used a sporting theme image ...... ah well :)

Entries get thrown out here because they're low quality chops not because they're similar to someone elses.

So come up with that killer idea and win or do like me and loose :)

Other than that seeing entries when you are allowed to is the right time to see them and not before! :)

[TrinityOfOne]

FreakingNews shows its images during submission and voting, what Silky says is true. I've had ideas for contests there, seen a similar entry and dropped mine, not necessarily because the other is better but purely because it could be seen as copy-catting and also people will tire of the same images. OK, the latter will still happen but will be forgiven in moderation.

Now, if we could just get it so we can at least edit our entries...... :)

[Dave]

[QUOTE=TrinityOfOne]FreakingNews shows its images during submission and voting, what Silky says is true. I've had ideas for contests there, seen a similar entry and dropped mine, not necessarily because the other is better but purely because it could be seen as copy-catting and also people will tire of the same images. OK, the latter will still happen but will be forgiven in moderation.

Now, if we could just get it so we can at least edit our entries...... :)[/QUOTE]Just tell me if I should redo mine or not bother :)

[Silky]

[QUOTE=TrinityOfOne]FreakingNews shows its images during submission and voting, what Silky says is true. I've had ideas for contests there, seen a similar entry and dropped mine, not necessarily because the other is better but purely because it could be seen as copy-catting and also people will tire of the same images. OK, the latter will still happen but will be forgiven in moderation.

Now, if we could just get it so we can at least edit our entries...... :)[/QUOTE]

I agree, Trin...that's something I really am pushing for too. As it stands now we have to physically delete an entry that needs to be changed, and that means going into the database...and it's just a big ol' pain in the you-know-what. I'm pushing for editing entries, and being able to reply to comments on entries.

[TrinityOfOne]

Two big things, yes. We have to consider poor Jolt though, he is doing wonders with the site but he must be sick of the sight of databases and PHP :(

[Scott]

*sigh*.... okay

[Silky]

[QUOTE=Jolt]*sigh*.... okay[/QUOTE]

Oh Baby...not right this second...:)

[Happy]

utoh - I'm about to voice unpopular opinion. I've never been in favor editing entries once they're uploaded. When entering non-web contests you can't go up to the judges and say give it back and replace it with this entry. The crop on this is better - or - I did a sloppy mask on that one - or - there is a flaw with my shoelaces. Again, my opinion is that feedback is always available before committing to an entry. If a comment points out a flaw, use that comment as a learning experience for the next entry.

I do like the idea of being able to answer comments during the voting period though. It would be nice to say 'oh that was a picture of Aunt Sadie's hatpin.' I procrastinate enough that sometimes I would like to respond right away since I know it may take me near forever to answer a simple question after the contest ends. But I am torn because I like how it is now that the comments are anonymous until voting has ended. The voting period is nerve wrecking enough without seeing so-and-so said that something was out of place. Come on now don't they know it took me two hours to place that there just so. :)

[Silky]

[QUOTE=OneHappyFemale]utoh - I'm about to voice unpopular opinion. I've never been in favor editing entries once they're uploaded. When entering non-web contests you can't go up to the judges and say give it back and replace it with this entry. The crop on this is better - or - I did a sloppy mask on that one - or - there is a flaw with my shoelaces. Again, my opinion is that feedback is always available before committing to an entry. If a comment points out a flaw, use that comment as a learning experience for the next entry.

I do like the idea of being able to answer comments during the voting period though. It would be nice to say 'oh that was a picture of Aunt Sadie's hatpin.' I procrastinate enough that sometimes I would like to respond right away since I know it may take me near forever to answer a simple question after the contest ends. But I am torn because I like how it is now that the comments are anonymous until voting has ended. The voting period is nerve wrecking enough without seeing so-and-so said that something was out of place. Come on now don't they know it took me two hours to place that there just so. :)[/QUOTE]

Happy, I'm with you about editing images after the contest starts. What we would allow is editing of images that are uploaded PRIOR to the contest starting, and then disabling it when voting starts. Once the contest starts...that's it...no more edits.

Would that work with you?

[Happy]

[QUOTE=Silkenfairy]Happy, I'm with you about editing images after the contest starts. What we would allow is editing of images that are uploaded PRIOR to the contest starting, and then disabling it when voting starts. Once the contest starts...that's it...no more edits.

Would that work with you?[/QUOTE]
Yes, I can understand edits prior to the voting starting. There are time I worry that I've chosen the wrong file to upload. I've also seen flaws in the browser that I miss totally in PS.

Thanks for listening. :D

[Silky]

[QUOTE=OneHappyFemale]Yes, I can understand edits prior to the voting starting. There are time I worry that I've chosen the wrong file to upload. I've also seen flaws in the browser that I miss totally in PS.

Thanks for listening. :D[/QUOTE]

My pleasure! :D

[Raphael]

[QUOTE=OneHappyFemale]There are time I worry that I've chosen the wrong file to upload. I've also seen flaws in the browser that I miss totally in PS.[/QUOTE]

One of the reasons I think it's a good idea to be able to see the entries AFTER you've uploaded yours. If it's the wrong file or broken you can change it. Also gives you chance to make improvements once you've seen the competition I suppose but as long as it's a case of improving what's there and not deleting or replacing then I think that would be OK. Dunno, thinking out loud here.

[Dave]

[QUOTE=Raphael]One of the reasons I think it's a good idea to be able to see the entries AFTER you've uploaded yours. If it's the wrong file or broken you can change it. Also gives you chance to make improvements once you've seen the competition I suppose but as long as it's a case of improving what's there and not deleting or replacing then I think that would be OK. Dunno, thinking out loud here.[/QUOTE]
You can see your own entries after you've uploaded them, go to your "My Stats" page and click on the appropriate image link, for now you cannot do anything about "fixing" an error .... as I've found out! This will come in the not too distant future ..... have patience but in between times a song ... oops ... err get the entries right first time! I doubt you will ever get the ability to delete one of your own entries, though requests may be entertained when the process becomes automated rather than a real nightmare that it is at present.

[Raphael]

Yay! Cheers Dave That's great. These little things you find out eh?

(Like how to get at your PM's when the folio bar is flashing and ringing at you and your paniking and it's ringing and you can't find it and it's flashing and I'm SURE Addict Control was in the menu at the top somewhere and there's a message and it's ringing and...Oh look there's a link at the bottom of the page! phew!)

Oh and I've JUST spotted the 'Messages' button up by Credits :o I'm going back to bed, this is NOT my most perceptive week.

I blame Social Services!