Bonus Voting Points for the PotC Contest

[Mister Phes]

Bonus Points – a little confusing?

A month back we blogged how you could receive extra voting points for the Pirates of the Caribbean Contest.

So for participating in our various initiatives we’re awarding bonus points. You get 1 point for Liking the Facebook Page, 1 point for subscribing to the Mailing List and 1 point for voting for the Picture Challenge Winner (voting has since closed).

And if you participated in all 3 initiatives you could allocate 2 bonus points to your own entry.

Ummmmmmmm?

Some people have suggested this may be a little confusing, not to mention unfair as Voting for the Picture Challenge has long since closed.

But as voting for the Pirates of the Caribbean Contest hasn’t begun we can still amend the rules. No guarantees anything will be changed, but if enough people express concern we may just see reason…

So if you think the Bonus Points rules need improving...

Speak NOW!!!

[Toltomeja]

I've got some questions (please answer them soon!)

1.

How do I tell you my Facebook account name? Do I have to write it in the MOC thread? The same about the mailing list bonus point.

2.

To claim your Facebook point you may be required to post a verification image on the Classic-Pirates.com Facebook Page wall.
This may be required one or more times throughout the contest.

Does it mean I won't have to do anything, until I'm ordered to verify my account?

3.

I'm a mailing list subscriber and I liked your FB page. It gives me 2 bonus points. But will they be added to my score, or do I have to allocate them in voting? If so, why shall I get them, if only full score of 3 points lets me save them? Can anyone explain it to me?

Edited July 6, 2011 by Toltomeja

[Mister Phes]

Complete instructions for claiming bonus points is coming soon...

But to tie you in:

1. How do I tell you my Facebook account name? Do I have to write it in the MOC thread? The same about the mailing list bonus point.

We'll give you an image and you post it on the Classic-Pirates.com Facebook Page wall.

Does it mean I won't have to do anything, until I'm ordered to verify my account?

Correct, at this stage nothing is required.

I'm a mailing list subscriber and I liked your FB page. It gives me 2 bonus points. But will they be added to my score, or do I have to allocate them in voting?

You have to allocate them in voting, but you cannot allocate any of them to your own entry.

If so, why shall I get them, if only full score of 3 points lets me save them? Can anyone explain it to me?

If you have 3 bonus points you may allocate upto 2 bonus points on your own entry. But if you have less than 3 bonus points, all bonus points must go to other entries.

[Matn]

Ah, now I understand it with those bonus points and everything. I must say you've made the voting thing rather complicated, not only for the participants but I think also for yourselves. I thought the bonus points were to be added to our total points, but they are to be used for voting. And you can only award two bonus points to yourself if you have all three of them. Alright. I don't think many people will vote for themselves, I think it's an odd thing to do. There are some great entries, thanks for organizing the contest and good luck to everyone.

[Mister Phes]

Ah, now I understand it with those bonus points and everything. I must say you've made the voting thing rather complicated, not only for the participants but I think also for yourselves.

We sure have! Probably something we won't repeat too often either.

[Toltomeja]

Well, Mister Phes, that are bad news for me. I've found out about the contest when the picture comment voting was over, so will I have no chance for all 3 points?

Frankly, I don't agree with Matn. I think we should not be afraid to allocate 1 or 3 points to ourselves, because we have to give out the rest (4-5 points) to others anyway.

[Mister Phes]

Matn will need to start a protest then!

If enough people agree with you then we'll no doubt cave in and change the rules.

But hurry! Voting starts in just over a week.

[SilvaShado]

Matn will need to start a protest then!

If enough people agree with you then we'll no doubt cave in and change the rules.

But hurry! Voting starts in just over a week.

I think it's a little unfair that one of the bonus points can only be had by participating in voting for a contest that is over. Additionally, when it was going on, you couldn't vote for it if you had signed up for Eurobricks after that contest had started (if I understood the rules correctly). Since I joined Eurobricks for the Pirates contest, I never could have voted for the picture contest.

That's my two cents, but it is your contest to decide how to run it.

[Matn]

Mister Phes, I'm not here to start a mutiny. I was just sharing my thoughts. I'm more against the whole bonus points idea, which makes the contest confusing. If people really feel the need to award points to themselves, then they should do so. If everyone starts to do it, then who says I won't be doing it.

[Mister Phes]

I think it's a little unfair that one of the bonus points can only be had by participating in voting for a contest that is over.

And maybe it is... So if others feel the same way they better speak now before its too late to make amendmenst to the voting rules.

I'm more against the whole bonus points idea, which makes the contest confusing.

It should only make the voting confusing, not the whole contest.

[blackpyre]

Fair or not about the extra points, I think it should have more to do with the reason for granting points from an earlier contest. If they want to reward continued participation that is definitely one way to do it.

As for voting for yourself, I'm more of the opinion that people who enter the contest should not vote since it presents a conflict of interest. However, I understand it may be hard to find judges otherwise.

Actually, what I'm more concerned with is if all the stories will be collected or at least linked to to make them easier to find when it comes time for judging? I know the stories are being spread over multiple pages now and I hope I haven't missed any.

[MstrOfPppts]

I've already stated my opinion in the previous topic announcing this competition, I'll be shorter this time ...

I agree that voting for yourself is a bit odd, but as far as I remember it's always been present in this part of forums to give it more Pirate feel. So I'd at least suggest to cut the bonus points you can give yourself to one - if you get all the bonus points. However I think that the majority of the entrants are mature enough and I encourage them not to vote for themselves. I won't since I feel more like a bluecoat ...

I think it's a little unfair that one of the bonus points can only be had by participating in voting for a contest that is over. Additionally, when it was going on, you couldn't vote for it if you had signed up for Eurobricks after that contest had started (if I understood the rules correctly). Since I joined Eurobricks for the Pirates contest, I never could have voted for the picture contest.

I must say that you are lucky you could even enter the contest. Usually the contest rules on Eurobricks state, that you have to be a member of Eurobricks before the contest even starts. About the bonus point for voting, I kind of agree it's odd, but that was one of ways for getting people to vote for the previous competition, which sadly not many did and the results were kind of funny. Well try to explain how do you imagine voting for an entry in a competition that is already over? :D

As for voting for yourself, I'm more of the opinion that people who enter the contest should not vote since it presents a conflict of interest. However, I understand it may be hard to find judges otherwise.

Actually, what I'm more concerned with is if all the stories will be collected or at least linked to to make them easier to find when it comes time for judging? I know the stories are being spread over multiple pages now and I hope I haven't missed any.

Firstly, yes all the stories will be collected and linked in one new voting post. At least that's what they do with other competitions. As for the entrants votes, I'd say it would be stupid not to vote, as they always do. Again here I encourage everyone to vote as soon as possible to avoid giving impression of voting for your own interest. Anyway that can still be done by voting for yourself and the entries that you think are the least probable to win. But from my experience here from the past I think always the top entries win. Of course some have different tastes but in general it all comes to an average opinion.

Let's just hope that as many members vote as possible, which will make the competition as fair as possible for everyone regardless of some e-friend and bonus points.

May the best entries win!

[SilvaShado]

I must say that you are lucky you could even enter the contest. Usually the contest rules on Eurobricks state, that you have to be a member of Eurobricks before the contest even starts. About the bonus point for voting, I kind of agree it's odd, but that was one of ways for getting people to vote for the previous competition, which sadly not many did and the results were kind of funny. Well try to explain how do you imagine voting for an entry in a competition that is already over? :D

Yes, I'm glad too. I remember the mirco-building contest, but I wasn't able to enter because of the rule of being a member before the contest started. Then that contest was over and I forgot to sign up on Eurobricks for the next contest. Then Pirates came up and I was very grateful that it didn't have the requirement.

I wanted to vote for that contest, but it said I couldn't vote because I hadn't been a member before the contest started. Otherwise I would have voted and then I'd be able to have all the bonus points here.

So I'd suggest getting rid of the rule that you have to be a member before a contest starts, but then I realize the purpose of the rule is to prevent people from stuffing the ballot and having their friends sign up to vote for them.

So there's no win-win situation there. :-(

[MstrOfPppts]

Well now that you're a member things get easier around here. No more missed opportunities and always up to date on what's happening. This is your first competition and there's many more to come, especially if you're not just into pirates theme, then there's another one almost right after one finishes. I'm hardly waiting for the collectible minifigs series 5 competition!

Ok, sorry for this useless and off topic post for this thread. :D

[Mister Phes]

I know the stories are being spread over multiple pages now and I hope I haven't missed any.

There will be indices with links to entries for both divisions.

So I'd suggest getting rid of the rule that you have to be a member before a contest starts, but then I realize the purpose of the rule is to prevent people from stuffing the ballot and having their friends sign up to vote for them.

Yes, that is correct, but the rule has already been amended and will be revealed next week.

[Toltomeja]

I think we can't change the rules entirely now, but can discuss some ideas for future contests.

Well try to explain how do you imagine voting for an entry in a competition that is already over? :D

I don't say I want to be able to gain this point now, just want to help making the future rules simpler.

[Sebeus I]

I wouldn't mind if the whole 'bonus points' thing is dropped, like Matn sais, it's complicated.

I did manage to comprehend it though, and if I see it correctly I'm allowed to allocate 3 points to my own entry, which is on the other hand nice :P

( "I like" the facebook page, I voted on the picture comment challenge and I'm suscribed to the mailing list (I get mails occasionally from classic-pirates so that's the suscription I guess ? )).

[RocketSeason]

Yeah, I must agree with others here. I am not a fan of the "Bonus Points" idea. Id rather win or not win based on the merits of my entry. Not wether I participated in past contests or "liked" a Facebook page. Just my opinion.

[Mister Phes]

The Bonus Points won't be dropped entirely but they will definitely be simplified.