A modest proposal...

[Mz Pip]

This came up in another thread and it's worth discussing.

I just posted the June Prelims with total of 15 submissions. The submission thread ran 10 days and there seemed little point in extending it. Seemed pretty weak for what appeared to be an interesting theme.

But I digress. Perhaps we could allow more than one entry if the contest doesn't fill up. I'm thinking maybe the last 24 hours of a 7-10 day submission schedule can be allotted to a second submission by interested members.

This might work well if we had a schedule for hosting. Some of us might be less inclined to fill up the empty spots if it increased their chances of winning and therefore having to host the next contest.

Discuss.



Mzpip

[Mira]

1. To me, this is a proposal

that could be a big help in re-vitalizing and re-engineering our contests to make them more interesting to entrants, and less frustrating to hosts.
I will be looking for input from others reacting to the idea. This is our forum, and I would so like us to be proud and shape it to make it work better.

[Mz Pip]

3. I want to keep this going

We used to be able to fill up 3 threads. Now it's kind of hit and miss. I would think with the ease of iphoneography we'd have plenty of entries. Nearly everyone is carrying around a camera at all times these days. There's so much potential for creativity.

We shall see.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

20. Did you just invent a new word?

Iphoneography? I like it. Now if only I had an Iphone.
I'm not convinced it's the thought of hosting the next contest that stops people from posting. I think it's more about the theme. Some folks aren't comfortable with some of the more unusual themes we have.....

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I like your proposal, my dear Mz Pip!

I would love to see this implemented.

[ZombieHorde]

4. I was hoping this was going to be about eating children.

http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.html

[Solly Mack]

5. K&R

[mnhtnbb]

6. It's always more fun to have more photos in a contest.

I'd be in favor of opening submissions to a second entry--with appropriate notification--for the last 24 hours
if all the slots haven't filled.

I wonder, though, if we'd want a threshold? Fewer than 18 or 20? No more than 24 or 27? Would it make
a difference? Or just open for second entries no matter the number after a week?

[Mz Pip]

7. Maybe it could be at host's decision

I we had 28 slots filled I probably wouldn't ask for more. This last contest with just 15 I would have liked to have had more.

[mnhtnbb]

8. I think host's decision is a great idea.

Part of the rules posted with first submissions could include the prerogative for the host
to allow a second submission during the last 24 hours.

If we also uncouple hosting from winning, then what does it matter that someone has more than one
submission?

[Mz Pip]

9. So how do we change the rules?

Maybe do a poll?

I think we need to work on a schedule first, though.

[mnhtnbb]

10. Well, we've been looking at the whole disconnect hosting from winning

thing with the poll I put up. Wish there'd been more feedback.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/103653383


Maybe we create some language for new rules and run it by CC since that's who has made the post about
rules for the monthly and seasonal contests and then see whether an additional poll with the specific
language of new rules is needed?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/103614595

[CC]

15. Its not up to me. lol

The rules were made by the group, sometimes after long periods of discussion and many polls. I'm OK with uncoupling the host and with the second entry if not enough to fill 30 spots. But it is up to you that started the discussion to get some ideas of the hows and consensus. Getting consensus and a democratic vote on changes is the one thing I will insist on keeping the same as always. Both of you (mnhtnbb & Mz Pip) have good ideas that are doable. I am willing and able (I think) to change the post of the contest rules to whatever the group decides. Maybe a shake up will get some more entries in there.


I never got to get the shot I really wanted for motion. If I do get a chance to get it I will share.

[Mira]

21. It took me til just now to see your input, four whole days.

I've been really busy, and am still winding up loose ends from that.
There have been some good questions, and polls, and as I'm observing the responses are mostly positive to moving towards making changes. I think during the July contest maybe, which is beginning soon and in good hands, we can come to some decisions.

[CC]

22. I'm willing to rewrite them.

You had a birthday and all of course you've been busy. (Which I remembered elsewhere.) I do not have any strong feeling on either question though I would say the host should still get to choose the theme. Also if we have set host then would think host would be allowed to enter or it would not be fair to them. See, I will end up making it more difficult if I start thinking so will hush now and lot all of the rest of you carry on.

[Solly Mack]

11. I wish there was more input. I'm OK with it (hence the K&R)

[ManiacJoe]

12. I am OK with extra submissions per person.

Just put all the first submissions in first.
Maybe put the seconds and thirds in a separate submission thread.

[Mz Pip]

13. Interesting idea

No sure I understand why second submissions should be in a separate thread. When I post threads for contests I try to be as random as possible in how the threads are ordered.

Just curious as to why second submissions need to be separate.

[ManiacJoe]

14. My thinking was to make it simple

for the host to make sure that all the first submissions make it into the contest.
Working out the details comes later.

[groundloop]

16. I'm not in favor of more than one entry per person

IMHO you pick your best photo that fits the theme and post it. If there are fewer than 30 entries, who cares?

Yes, hosting the contest is a bit of work. If someone wins and doesn't have the time to host maybe have a rotating schedule of substitute hosts. I'm sure that would alleviate any hosting anxiety. (I have to admit, when I hosted a while ago I enjoyed being king for a month).

[postatomic]

17. My lack of participation may reduce the weight of my words

I think most people see the Theme and then look for a photo they already have that will work. There are going to be times when the Theme is easy and you'll have a full plate of entries. Then there will be times when it's not so easy and you have less entries. I'd say that you'd still have fewer entries with some Themes even if you allow multiple entries.

My vote would be to just keep it at one photo per person.

[groundloop]

18. Another thought on lower contest participation.....

I've gotten the impression that participation on DU is down lately, if so then that would definitely correlate to lower participation in the photo contests. Maybe people got burnt out a bit with the primary season, maybe something else is going on, but it seems to me that there are fewer posts in all the various groups.

[Mira]

19. Good observation,

but the photo contests have been dwindling since the beginning of DU3, when we could not hold them for close to a year because the polling was not yet programmed, and then when that was fixed the secret casting of votes was eliminated, and I along with some others was quite unhappy about that. We lost some who said they would never again submit a photo.

We are in need of making some changes, some of them are addressed in the tentative polls and questions on our forum as of late, but I feel like we don't yet have enough input and suggestions to move on them.

Yes, the primary season has been fierce, and we have obviously lost a lot of folks, hopefully not forever, but I think our problems in the photo group go back to the switch from DU 2 to DU3, and we have not recovered.

[mnhtnbb]

23. There are a sizable number of people who have left DU--some of them photographers--

who will probably not return and it is due to politics, not the format of the site.

That said, there might be some changes on running the contests that could produce more participation. The most difficult challenge that I see is
the problem of someone winning a contest who doesn't have a star--and thus not able to post polls--which means somebody else has to step
up to help with posting the contest threads/polls. Many people don't want to WIN a contest--because then they have to host the next one--
and if the people who enjoy hosting would volunteer in advance to host a particular contest, then the whole problem of "winning means I have
to host" disappears and perhaps more people would enter a photo.

[mnhtnbb]

24. I meant to put my post #23 to yours, not Mira's.

See it above.

I guess I should finish my first cup of coffee before I start posting!