Troll-Buster - DPChallenge Forums

09/22/2005 09:35:31 AM · #1

I've reviewed some of the entries and have noticed that even the exceptional photos and ribbon winners receive their share of below-average votes. IMHO there is no excuse for a beautiful shot to receive anything below a 4. Now we obviously can't change the voting scale from 4 - 10 because the 4 would just become the new 1.

There have been many discussions on how to address the "troll" votes. My opinion is that there may be some who have entered a particular challenge and are intentionally voting down "good" photos in an attempt to help improve the placement of their own photo.

My opinion is that no one should be able to vote on a challenge they enter. This would help us to see more "unbiased" scores since the scoring would be done by those who have no personal interest in the outcome.

I realize this probably wouldn't help much in the open challenges because the truly devious could just go out and create another free account and username to use for voting purposes, but it may help in the member challenges.

Discussion?

09/22/2005 09:40:12 AM · #2

This has been discussed many times, the odd 1 vote doesn't make that big a difference to the overall result. I think for a vote of 3 or under a comment should have to be given to explain the vote, or it doesn't count. Look back at ribbon winners,many have votes of 1,2, as you say it can only be misguided entrants.

edit: maybe an average vote given per challenge stat would weed em out :-)

Message edited by author 2005-09-22 09:41:45.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/22/2005 09:46:41 AM · #3

I believe something needs to be done but I vote on every challenge I enter and don't do it with my image in mind. I always find at least three I think are winners. Also what about people that are friends? On the "anything under a 3" requires a comment. I am sure you have heard it. I can give you a 1 and leave a comment of "I don't like it" and I am done and my vote of 1 counts.

I give 2's for extremely undersized images. Anything else gets a 4 off the bat. Then up from there.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

09/22/2005 09:48:12 AM · #4

Oh, good grief!

Look, if the contest were for MUSIC and Beethoven entered the 9th Symphony, I guarantee you that a LOT of younger people would give that masterpiece some very low scores and give 10's to something like Eminem, I don't know what... Beethoven might WIN in the end (or maybe he wouldn't) but a LOT of voters wouldn't be especially enamored of his piece,

There's NO conspiracy here, NOTHING out of the ordinary is happening. People are voting their tastes, what do we EXPECT? If we want the images to be judged "fairly", we should appoint respected judging panels, eh? And even then people would whine that the panel is loaded with old farts that prefer classical music to rap, right?

As far as I'm concerned, the best explanation for very low votes on very fine images is that some people just plain like grunge, basically. Show them something pure and traditional and they will yawn and say "Been there, seen that, I'm looking for something edgier..." or whatever.

Don't WORRY about it, hey?

Robt.

Edit to add: I, just using "old" and "young", classical and rap, "grunge", as exemplars; insert whatever bias/prejudice you like into the equation, there's plenty to go around :-)

Message edited by author 2005-09-22 09:50:50.

09/22/2005 09:51:59 AM · #5

Well said Robert, I would give Eminem -10... LOL

09/22/2005 09:53:04 AM · #6

I would give Eminem a minus 40 if it were on the scale.

09/22/2005 09:53:30 AM · #7

For every undeserved 1 vote there is an undeserved 10/9 vote to counter it.

There will always be extremes in any vote.... it all falls into the spread of a normal distribution curve.

09/22/2005 09:54:51 AM · #8

I think I am going to start a rant for all the crappy pictures taht get a 10 vote! For some reason we never see that posted here!

09/22/2005 09:55:40 AM · #9

Originally posted by JayWalk:

For every undeserved 1 vote there is an undeserved 10/9 vote to counter it.

There will always be extremes in any vote.... it all falls into the spread of a normal distribution curve.

Nah. all mine are deserved.

09/22/2005 09:57:09 AM · #10

Originally posted by bear_music:

Oh, good grief!...
There's NO conspiracy here, NOTHING out of the ordinary is happening. People are voting their tastes, what do we EXPECT? ...

OK, what about a couple of "test" runs kind of like the multiple open challenge test going on right now.

I find it hard to believe that everyone has the ability to cast fair votes on direct competition.

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

09/22/2005 10:00:44 AM · #11

I think we all need to accept the fact that some people view things very differently than "we" do, and that, in fact, some photos we regard as 10s are somebody else's 1s. It's not right or wrong, it just is.

Voting behavior is like any other "crowd" behavior. All other things being equal, the votes will tend to average out into a normal distribution. Great photos will have the curve skewed toward the top (many more 7-10 votes than 1-3) and bad pics will be skewed toward the bottom. This means that virtually all good pictures, even ribbon-winning, eye-popping, wow shots will get some 1s, 2s, and 3s. This is NORMAL. It is not "'trolls'."

Maybe we should have a tutorial on voting behavior. I'd be happy to write something up if the SC thinks it would be helpful.

edit: wrote this 1/2 hour ago but got distracted and couldn't click "post" until just a minute ago. Then I read Bear's reply. Go Bear! What you said.

Message edited by author 2005-09-22 10:02:26.

saracat

Pentax K10D

09/22/2005 10:05:20 AM · #12

Originally posted by JayWalk:

I think I am going to start a rant for all the crappy pictures taht get a 10 vote! For some reason we never see that posted here!

I've got a few you could use!
:)

09/22/2005 10:06:01 AM · #13

How about an open critique thread, someone pick an image then everyone give their vote and eplain why? If as people have said, that tastes vary then if they are genuine it would show up here ?
just a thought.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

09/22/2005 10:07:10 AM · #14

Originally posted by peecee:

Isn't that what the normal voting a 'comments' already show?

saracat

Pentax K10D

09/22/2005 10:07:27 AM · #15

I'll volunteer a shot.
Post it here or start another thread?

09/22/2005 10:08:55 AM · #16

Originally posted by JayWalk:

Originally posted by peecee:
How about an open critique thread, someone pick an image then everyone give their vote and eplain why? If as people have said, that tastes vary then if they are genuine it would show up here ?
just a thought.

Isn't that what the normal voting a 'comments' already show?

No, unless you volunteer the score in your comment.

09/22/2005 10:10:01 AM · #17

Originally posted by saracat:

I'll volunteer a shot.
Post it here or start another thread?

Another thread would be needed, no hijacking here:)

09/22/2005 10:10:03 AM · #18

Originally posted by peecee:

Actually that's a great idea.

09/22/2005 10:10:50 AM · #19

Originally posted by JayWalk:

I think I am going to start a rant for all the crappy pictures taht get a 10 vote! For some reason we never see that posted here!

Why so harsh......He posted a suggestion and wanted a civilized discussion. Yet you start complinaing right off the bat or at least it seems that way.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

09/22/2005 10:11:01 AM · #20

Originally posted by peecee:

Originally posted by saracat:
I'll volunteer a shot.
Post it here or start another thread?

Another thread would be needed, no hijacking here:)

Go ahead and use this thread if you like... I'm offering it up for hijacking! :-)

saracat

Pentax K10D

09/22/2005 10:11:13 AM · #21

Off to start th open-critique thread!!

BMacD

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II

Olympus 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Zuiko Digital Zoom

09/22/2005 10:11:23 AM · #22

The web site drops votes from inappropriate voting. For blatent 'Trolls', why not make their names public the way we do for DQ'd pictures?

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/22/2005 10:11:34 AM · #23

Originally posted by saracat:

I'll volunteer a shot.
Post it here or start another thread?

Post it here.

neophyte

Nikon D810

09/22/2005 10:11:47 AM · #24

Originally posted by ldowse:

I find it hard to believe that everyone has the ability to cast fair votes on direct competition.

You're kidding? right? Who determines what's fair? YOU?