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08/03/2006 07:08:03 AM · #1 |
We've often seen on this board, a variety of posts asking members to go to external websites to vote on their pics in external competitions. I myself have some photos currently entered in a comp and I'm thinking of doing the same.
How do we feel about this tactic?
I know Rikki's recent disqualification has brought up a lot of discussion about the ethics of encouraging others to vote for your pics. Here at DPC we all specifically agreed to the T&C which says we mustn't unduly influence the voting in such a way.
I haven't agreed to any such terms on the site where my photos are competing (for cash no less) so I am quite happy to get my friends and family to vote for my pics. I don't for a second think that I'd be the only one doing it.
I'm not going to post links here yet because A) one of my current DPC contest pics is on the site B) I'd like to see how you all feel about such tactics. |
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08/03/2006 07:12:08 AM · #2 |
I see this particular request more as a team supporting one of their members than anything else.
So I have no problem with it!
Message edited by author 2006-08-03 07:12:27. |
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08/03/2006 07:15:37 AM · #3 |
Different games have different rules.
The rules of this site don't apply elsewhere, so as long as what your requesting is within the rules of the game your playing...
But, you are wise to wait until the voting is over on the challenge photo to preserve anonyminity.
David
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08/03/2006 07:32:44 AM · #4 |
I personally think it's very uncool to ask family members or friends or anyone else to vote in a certain way if they know which picture is yours. That's unfairly tainting ANY competition. I do not find it "wrong" or inappropriate to say "I've entered a photo competition at such and such site, and the site is open to the public for voting. If you would like to register and vote, please do so."
I really do not like to see threads encouraging DPCers to go to a certain site and vote. I think it's an abuse of the community, and in the event that the photo is a "known" one at DPC, you can rest assured you are tainting the vote, even if you don't mean to.
These are just my thoughts. I'm not throwing stones, and I'm not upset at anyone for doing this. As David C says "as long as what your requesting is within the rules OF THE GAME YOUR PLAYING." That's what's usually not very clear.
I suspect that MANY sites and contests have similar "vote tampering" language to DPC, and that's pretty much exactly what got Rikki into trouble. Don't assume that just because they DON'T have the same protective measures that we do that the rules are relaxed. They just might have bad programmers :) We've got the best... |
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08/03/2006 07:53:47 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by nards656:
Don't assume that just because they DON'T have the same protective measures that we do that the rules are relaxed. They just might have bad programmers :) We've got the best... |
Its a fair point, I've checked the T&C of the particular site and there appears to be no mention. I personally do find it frustrating that such things always turn into a popularity contest, with the eventual winner being the one with most mates willing to register and vote. But then again, when I see a picture on the site which is frankly terrible (both creatively and technically) but it is one of the highest rating pics with 99% of its scores neing 5 out of 5 then it is clear that someone else is doing it, so why shouldn't I? |
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08/03/2006 08:08:16 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by cbonsall:
is clear that someone else is doing it, so why shouldn't I? |
That's the spirit!! |
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08/03/2006 08:15:14 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by David.C:
Different games have different rules.
David |
Rules or not, it's not right... it's the principle of the matter, if you want to sink to the level of asking everyone you know to go out and vote for me 'cause you know me... and then go to a public forum and solicit the same vote from people you don't know.
*rant* This is completely ridiculous that someone would even bring this up after this past week. IT"S THE SAME THING!!!
If your work is good enough, it will speak for itself... If it doesn't speak for itself there are 1 of 2 things... you suck, or the site you are posting at is full of people that have to play the popularity game; in which case maybe you should find another site that isn't corrupted. *end rant*
Message edited by author 2006-08-03 08:22:37. |
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08/03/2006 08:18:11 AM · #8 |
After reading these threads, I was happy to now realize that by not asking people to vote for my image is a true representation of my work. To win by having friends vote for you is an empty victory in my opinion. You have the prize, but it means nothing. Just as Barry Bonds has his prize, however cheating to obtain it certainly taints the character of the soul.
I now feel confident even if I never win/place/show my votes represent a cross section of voters and I am quite comfortable with that.
Happy shooting everyone !! |
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08/03/2006 08:51:47 AM · #9 |
Just one more viewpoint:
Many of these internet contests are put on mainly as a form of advertisement. It is INTENDED to "drive viewers to the site". That's why they run the contest in the first place.
As such, the sponsors actually *expect* you to tell all your family and friends to go to the site. If you didn't, then the real reason and purpose (having nothing to do with the results of the competition) of the contest is not served.
If this is one of those site / contests - I say GO FOR IT!
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08/03/2006 09:32:10 AM · #10 |
You can always invite/encourage people to vote on a contest without asking them to vote your picture the highest rank possible. That way you are only bringing attention to the fact that your image is in another contest, and you give folks the opportunity to vote on it as they see fit.
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08/03/2006 10:17:41 AM · #11 |
all fair points indeed.
-As for inviting friends to go and visit the site, and not tell them which are mine, thats a non issue, my name is obvious on my pictures.
-In fairness, its not "exactly the same thing" as has been happening here. Rikki wasn't disqualified because we just because "we" don't like him doing what he was doing, he was disqualified because he broke specific rules forbidding what he did. There are no such rules on the site I have entered.
-Theres a GB£1000 prize for the top picture (chosen by judges from the top 10 user scored pictures)
-As far as I know the competition will be getting quite a bit of local publicity so presumably there will be plenty of normal voters to provide a bit of balanced voting.
I think I've pretty much decided to not publicise my pics on this site, I'd prefer to have (or earn) a little respect with my pics here and get my non internet friends to rig the vote for me :-p |
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08/03/2006 05:00:36 PM · #12 |
Some people would say, when there is a cash prize, getting friends and family to vote is worth it.
I agree a little bit. While I certainly would want that sweet sweet cash, and the ability to say I won another photo contest, part of me would always wonder if I could have won it on my photo itself.
Now, chances are, the other people are doing the exact same thing. I remember a few years ago reading a thing on the net where a professional photographer was slamming photography contests where the public vote. He submitted a photo in his name, and had all his friends vote for it. It was not that great of a photo, had some technical problems and composition problems. It won 1st place. Than as a test, he submitted a far more superior image in the same contest, under a fake name, and told no one about it. It placed in the thousands.
Now there is another school of thought, that it doesn't matter how you win as long as you win. It is shady if you are a terrible photographer, but generally, if you also have the skill to win, but need to use less-honest techniques to win against others doing the same, it's "all part of the competition". I don't agree with it, but some people live by the all is fair in love and war thing.
An online photo contest, chances are people are all getting friends to vote on their picture. Especially if you see a sudden surge in their ranking, they probably posted on a website much like this one, to their friends and collegues. It's pretty easy to tell when you are neck and neck for so long, than all of a sudden, bam, they jump up by a significant amount. It's highly improbable that it would naturally occur.
All that being said, I personally would have no problem hopping on some site to support my friend. Not a site like this where it's a regular thing, but a one time thing for $$$, sure, why not.
-Hideo |
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08/03/2006 05:08:29 PM · #13 |
I don't like the practice of encouraging people to go to a site and vote unless there is no way they know which image is yours. With so many people doing that, it becomes more of a contest of how many forums do you participate in and how many people you can get to vote for you rather than which image is the best.
When that is the case, what's the point?\
Bill |
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