FYI - checking in with you about the December contest - which I cannot yet run

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3. Why are contests so important?

Seriously.

What benefit do they serve? The voting is waaaay skewed and influenced by people 'playing the system' and a touch of nepotism. Many wonderful photos get screwed just by the 'group' of ten they happen to be in.

As I understand it the group is intended to be a venue to share photos and discuss photography. The only benefit I see from the contests is the lesson in human behavior. Every final is totally predictable. It always comes down to two photos being 'played' until the end.

There are 100's of ways this group can be useful as it relates to photography. If some people feel the need to have their ego stroked they can find all kinds of contests all over the web.

Just my opinion and it may or may not be influenced by the pain med high I'm on (don't ask).

It just seems that the contests are the only focus of this group. Can you cite three reasons the contests are important and benefit those that participate? There is little to no constructive critique of the photos. Nothing learned there.

If you're set on doing contests then setup a polldaddy account and have at it or take the suggestion from Skinner and just have people voice their pick in their reply.