Well, This Is Interesting

And I just realized I posted this with my second account. D'oh!

"How many of these little contests are won with multi-votes by one actual person?"

Probably more times than we care to know of. You can almost see a pattern of [some] folks who consistently win "contests".

Just another glitch in the system. Nothing's perfect, not even voting in FAA contests! I should know, I've hosted close to 250. So, I see it all, the good the bad & the ugly.

Right now, there are several members hogging the spotlight in many of the contests, as well. Hosts are allowing them to get away with taking over the top slots, as they do not know it's even happening! I remove them from mine.

Voting is always an issue, in every contest, even juried. Jurors will vote for friends or other group administrators, as a rule. I've actually even seen the host be the only juror & placing 1st! Lol. Members need to be adults & hosts need to tend their contests. You'd be surprised as to what the latter entails, at time.

There is another discussion thread re contests in-progress, btw, should you also want to add your two cents there.

Just a note...if you want contests to be 'fair', as in setting your own rules & tending, I say 'host your own'...and good luck with that.

I hosted two contests maybe two years ago. Deleting all of the images that didn't meet the criteria was a task. People do not read the rules. Brooks, you have more patience than I'll ever have. :)

I had always thought that, based on info I read here, FAA recognizes your IP address, so you are prevented from voting more than once from the same computer. Does anyone remember seeing this and can verify?

isn't that such a fun game to play...
& then you can go to work and vote off that computer too.

Reminds me of when Gene Gregory had his own contest with him as the only contender. All in good fun that was .

There is no way you can stop someone from voting multiple times if they really want to. From a coding standpoint there is only so much you can do.

Track by cookies? User can just delete the cookie and go again.
Track by IP address? User can mask IP or vote on another connection, such as their cell phone.
Track by account? Just create a new account.
Etc.

I wouldn't take these contests too seriously.

What I wonder is, if you can add another image of yours from another account on FAA? I would suspect yes.

"I wouldn't take these contests too seriously."


I no longer do. You would think though, that there might be a bit of personal integrity amongst the participants, but apparently "integrity" went out the window with "decency" and "good manners", with some people.

it doesn't shock me though. there are some people who really think that winning a contest here will place them on the front page, will get them noticed or even give them a sale. when it does none of those things.

if people want to waste their time on it... then whatever..

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

I would only do contest if there is something at stake, like money, bragging rights I'm just not interested!

Yes, Greg, patience. You understand having hosted your own. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment, hosting as many as I have. Time for a break. The only problem is when I don't host them, there are not many that I'd want to enter! Lol. Slim pickin's.

Toby is right, don't take the contests so seriously. They are for fun & promotion, mostly, and a little competitive fun when members play well with each other. If someone feels the need to stack votes in their favor, even when the rules state otherwise, unless the host is on top of her or his game, people will get away with it. Kinda weird, but it happens all the time.

Hosts can't police everyone...and members need to be adults & play fairly. Maybe, someday?

Take it up with the management if you feel you should!

Even with the silly nonsense - I still very much enjoy the contests here.

You get to see your favorite subjects that you probably would never have the time to peruse.
People submit their best , & you get a chance to be turned on to a new Artist.

Rarely do I stick around to see who won .

Sometimes I receive emails asking them to vote for a particular image. What are we playing? I have not participated in any competition, because only get depressed when I see the top rated. Obviously it's a waste of time as Mike Savad says.

I agree with Janine. Contests are simply a way of showcasing your work & having a little fun while doing it. Maybe only other members will see your art or photography or, perhaps, a prospective buyer will. Just happened for me.

If you think contests are 'worthless', don't enter them. Lots of amazingly talented members do enjoy taking part, though, even with all the voting issues & those hosts not tending their own well.

Just remember, it's simply your fellow members who are taking the time to create & host the contest so that you can participate. A host can only do SO much. Management will be better able to help answer your questions & complaints re voting or the number of entries allowed.

I look to see if anyone voted for my work, sometimes I look at the work other people posted and find interesting things, I go look at their profiles to see what else they're doing.

I figure I "win" if someone other than me votes for my work. It's similar to getting a "like" or a "favorite." Nice to know someone saw my work, and liked it well enough to vote for it.

"I had always thought that, based on info I read here, FAA recognizes your IP address, so you are prevented from voting more than once from the same computer. Does anyone remember seeing this and can verify?"

Each of my accounts has a separate IP, even though it's from the same computer.

"Take it up with the management if you feel you should!"
Nah, if they're not serious, I sure won't be. Heck, it's finished today and the images that had absolutely nothing to do with the subject were still there. Nothing's at stake and like was said previously, it's just a way of getting seen. But for the more "serious" ones, if having multiple accounts can sway a contest, then it becomes an issue that the admin of that contest should be aware of.

I think of contests as only another way for your work to possibly be seen and to see other work if you desire. Beyond that it seems it is just for fun. I knew vote solicitation went on but didn't think people would have more than one account just to vote. Seems like a waste of time to me. I have won a few contests and placed in a few and that was cool...especially because I don't ask for votes and often don't vote at all or look at the results... but beyond that I don't think any sales were generated and it sure won't get out work into MOMA.

can we make this thread private? lol

not signed

Hmmmm interesting discussion......had no idea people were so desperate (re getting votes in contests).....says a lot about the so called 'human' ego!

I think Val hit the nail on the head. Contests should be considered as not much more than a way to get your art seen and any placement is just gravy. The vote solicitation is rampant and obvious, and anyone willing to go through the bother to stack photos to win a contest strikes me as, uhhhh... (can't think of an acceptable word for "not quite right").

Do you participate in your own contests Brooks? I've considered starting some with unique themes but I want those contests to exist because I want to play too. Problem is, it disturbs me to enter art in my own contests. I'd love to have you convince me it's okay, LOL!

Oh Leanne, if you only knew how far some members will go to get votes! It's not pretty. I've hosted scads of contests and have seen it all. Probably some things go on that even I don't know about! Lol.

Susan, you are right, winning or placing, for most of us, is a welcomed surprise. But, there are some, a certain few lately, especially, who have taken winning to another level! Like I said, I just remove them from my contests.

Most members tell me that contests are a way for them to pass the time, check out other's work & maybe win something. Simple as that. I have respect for members & their work, so I tend mine in order to make the playing field equal as possible.

Most of the time I enter my own, yes. Mostly because I don't see a lot of other contests available for me to enter my work, nor a lot of hosts who tend them well, so I figure, why not. If they're just for 'fun' like everyone keeps saying, or a little 'friendly competition' like I always say, then no problem-o. I mean, why should everyone else have all the fun, while I do all the work! Lol. Most hosts enter their own, btw, if that helps!!!

As you already know, entries get seen by more folks if they make it onto the leaderboard. That means members need to pay attention when it's time to vote and do it right away to have that chance.

Looking forward to seeing your contests!? I'm taking a break from hosting duties for a spell.

P.S. I have removed my entries from several contests in this last week because of a certain few monopolizing the boards. Most hosts don't even know it's happening, which is a bummer.

Hmmm... some good points Brooks. I suppose since there really aren't any prizes, it doesn't make much difference. I used to refuse to vote on my art, but that went out the window because most of the time it would be my only vote. Then my husby caught on and got pissed when he saw the obvious manipulation. I fought with him multiple times trying to get him not to vote but that's a lost cause and I got tired of fighting about it... tho sometimes I manage to sneak by him. I think he's just determined to see this art thing pay off since I'm giving up LongLocks, so I guess he has the right (but don't tell him I said that). I don't ever ask anyone to vote for me, not even in "public" contests. I can't imagine anything my friends and family would find more annoying, especially as many contests as I enter. In that way, it pays to be eclectic.

Mebbe I'll give a couple a shot, but I'm going to do it in a "hand's off" fashion if I do. I can't stand the amount of whining I had to deal with the one time I ran one I wanted peeps to keep to the fairly specific rules but still gave a lot of leeway. Never doin' that again. I'll think about it and see if I can come up with some good ones. "Purple Polka Dot Spiders Depicted on a Wednesday in July in New Mexico, No Paintings, Photos or Digital Art" mebbe.

'splain your PS to me, I'm confuzzled.

I enter a lot of contests. My views go way up when I do. Although I suppose it's mostly other artists looking. I don't care, I just like to play. Sometimes I think by the lack of quality in the winners that something stinks, but, oh well...

I really don't even know what's involved in hosting a contest.

I try to vote a lot. I vote for my own and at least that many of others.

The only thing really that I don't like is the number of entries. How can you look at over a thousand entries??? 100 is about max for me. Maybe there should be a limit on entries. Artists would have to enter early.

Yep, no 'real' prizes, so no big deal, really. Would be sorta cool if FAA would host a monthly contest, though, with real prizes or promotion! Yes?

Re the P.S.: I was just sayin' that I removed some images I'd entered in several contests recently, because, after voting began, the same few people kept going right to the top of the board, like clockwork, and with images that didn't even fit the subject-description. I don't dis other's work or name names, but I refuse to take part in contests where the host isn't paying any attention or doesn't confront members manipulating votes. They DO have to know what's going on first, though...and most don't, not yet, anyway.

Fyi, not sure IF I'd have any that would fit your descriptions, but I'll keep an eye open! Lol. Be prepared for entries that have nothing at all to do with your theme, though. Par for the contest course, as you know. Wish you luck...and lots of it.

I have tried to run a non-intervention contest before, but members are so used to mine being tended closely, which is why they enter, so it would be rude & strange of me to all of a sudden allow just any ol' thing. I've never asked for a vote in a public contest either! Don't have time.

Lol, I remember the dotted spider contest!

Interesting indeedy. Well, everything you guys have said above just re affirms what I've always felt. That when I DO win or come in with a nice finish in an FAA contest, it's doubly rewarding ... given that no, I don't solicit votes, and no, I don't vote for myself more than once (but yes, I usually DO vote for myself, that one time).

And as to bragging rights, that's fine by me. Gives me an excuse to toot the old horn on social media and get the image back out there into the universe.

OK - so lets look on the bright side : When we do win or place - think of how the odds were against us with vote stacking.
That means you were really really good.... Lol.

When I vote I usually look at the leader board first - then I go through and try to find the "undiscovered " talent.

The ip thing is sort of weird since both my mom and my daughter have accounts and if we are all in the same location, at one person's house, the likes do not show up since we all share the same ip address because that is based on the way the wifi is set up. I never thought about the voting working. And really, the contests help with exposure but people buy what they like so solicited wins don't mean additional sales.

I do the same thing Janine, but I always start on the last page after I check the leaders.

OK, I made a contest and I made it on a topic I'm relatively sure you can enter Brooksie: http://fineartamerica.com/contests/anything-autumn-colors.html

Thanks for the inspiration! If I don't come out the other end hating humanity this time, I'll do more =)

I enter contests just for fun mostly but also to get extra exposure. One thing I like about contests is that I get to see new artists and new artworks that often inspire me. Must admit that I've learned not to take contests too seriously, but I too get a bit peeved at times by some of the quality of artworks at the top of the leaderboard. As the saying goes.....there's no accounting for bad taste.....lol!

Have checked out your contest Susan......wow.....now that's different!!! Have entered just for fun!

"Different." If I had a penny for every time... ;)

Lol, Susan! One of the best contest description & rules ever posted. You win!

Glad to be of help in the inspiration department. Going to enter, now.

Different, yes! I entered too.

Another penny for me, woo hoo!