Voting down others to improve your rank

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

05/07/2008 01:48:06 AM · #1

I've read several threads where people claim others are doing this and that this might be a reason for the abnormally low votes on ribbon winners. I thought it wouldn't make that much of a difference and I continue to give high votes to photos I think deserve them, no matter what my score is or how well my photo is doing.

Well it turns out that there is some merit to this thinking. On the Health Food Challenge I missed a ribbon by 0.0133. If I had not given the 3rd place finisher an 8 but given them a 4 instead I would have gotten a ribbon.

I'm still not going to let that change my voting because it is after all just a virtual ribbon, but I do see now why some might.

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

05/07/2008 01:56:11 AM · #2

For what its worth you did the right thing. Vote the photographs as you see them not how others vote yours. Thank you for playing by the rules!!!

Venom

Canon EOS R

Canon RF 24-105mm F/4L IS USM

05/07/2008 01:56:11 AM · #3

Ouch! I see what you're saying. I'd have to agree, I wonder if we have some "low ballers" out there?

05/07/2008 02:10:56 AM · #4

Interestingly I had a bunch of low votes right before rollover. All week my score was 7.3xxx until 15 minutes before rollover when it dropped to 7.2657 due to several really low scores. Normally my photos go up in the last 20-30 minutes of a challenge.

As I said no big deal but I find it interesting.

05/07/2008 02:14:16 AM · #5

"Karma will get you"
-Earl

Tom

Canon EOS-5D

05/07/2008 02:14:57 AM · #6

On this Triangle Challenge I submitted what I believe to be my best picture to date, yet the first update I had 8 votes with a score of 2.8. You've got to be kidding me. Who are the douche bags voting so low?!

05/07/2008 02:29:53 AM · #7

While I am not voting in this one, perhaps your low score is due to lack of reading.

If I were to vote, I would do it along these basic criteria, because at first glance, around 80% of the photos didnt meet or only partially met the promt.
For the triangle challenge, did your photo:
1A) Have obvious triangles in the photo (DNMC)
1B) Infer the triangles as the prompt says (GREAT, you can read)
and
2A) Have inferred triangle(s) that give attention to your subject (Subject being other than the triangles)
2B) Have triangles that were the subject (If not DNMC, then large deduction)
2c) Have triangles that took away from the subject (medium deduction)
2D) Have triangles that did not give attention to the subject (minor deduction)

goc

Apple iPhone 4

05/07/2008 07:50:48 AM · #8

yea yea, i'm doing this all the time ... obviously with no success \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/

jonnienye

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

05/07/2008 11:24:38 AM · #9

Originally posted by Moose408:

i agree,my score was battered also in the final minutes of this challenge but i managed to pull a PB so im happy,but it is wierd...

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

05/07/2008 11:28:44 AM · #10

A have a voting script set up that automatically votes "1" on all entries, even when I'm away on vacation. It's been a real time-saver for me.

Photologist

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/07/2008 12:13:26 PM · #11

It's a simple solution. Langdon should implement logic where you can not vote in challenges in which you are entered.

Long ago, I gave up voting for challenges that I'm in because, subliminally (and unfortunately), I'm sure I vote lower.

Craig, if you didn't vote at all in that challenge, how do you think you would have fared?

alfresco

Nikon D700

05/07/2008 12:19:41 PM · #12

Originally posted by AperturePriority:

It's a simple solution. Langdon should implement logic where you can not vote in challenges in which you are entered.

A simple solution is to not let people see their own score while voting is in place.

jonnienye

05/07/2008 12:20:49 PM · #13

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

A have a voting script set up that automatically votes "1" on all entries, even when I'm away on vacation. It's been a real time-saver for me.

i thought you had enslaved squirrels doing all your voting! i never get the memo....

citymars

Nikon D700

05/07/2008 12:20:51 PM · #14

I agree, Moose -- congrats on doing the right thing. And sincere congrats on your 4th place!

AP, this is an old argument, as I'm sure you know. My average vote given hovers around 5.75. I try to make sure that if I'm voting on a challenge I'm entered in (which aren't that many so far), it stays around the same for that challenge -- even if it means bumping up some that don't really deserve it. :-p

I suspect a bigger issue is the "friends and family" vote -- but in such a large pool of voters, my hope is their impact is minimal.

citymars

Nikon D700

05/07/2008 12:21:53 PM · #15

Originally posted by alfresco:

A simple solution is to not let people see their own score while voting is in place.

Whoa! I like it, but would that mean the end of the Update Button?

Ken

Canon EOS-7D

05/07/2008 12:25:43 PM · #16

Originally posted by citymars:

Originally posted by alfresco:
A simple solution is to not let people see their own score while voting is in place.

Whoa! I like it, but would that mean the end of the Update Button?

I guess it would, but I actually like this idea.

But would it actually work? If somebody has a really good picture and they know it, but don't know their score, would they be tempted to vote even lower, just to be sure?

05/07/2008 12:28:30 PM · #17

Originally posted by AperturePriority:

If I hadn't voted it I still would have come in 4th but by a narrower margin.

I'm not sure I like the idea of not voting in challenges that I'm in because I enter every challenge so that means I would get to vote on just one of the 2 open challenges each week. Voting/commenting is one of the things that I think has improved my photography over the past couple of months because it makes me slow down and look at others photos and really study them.

glad2badad

DJI Mavic Air 2

Sears 55mm f/1.4 M42

05/07/2008 12:29:37 PM · #18

Originally posted by mad_brewer:

Originally posted by citymars:

Originally posted by alfresco:
A simple solution is to not let people see their own score while voting is in place.

Whoa! I like it, but would that mean the end of the Update Button?

I guess it would, but I actually like this idea.

But would it actually work? If somebody has a really good picture and they know it, but don't know their score, would they be tempted to vote even lower, just to be sure?

I don't use the update button anymore...just let it update hourly. However, I can usually tell if my entry is doing well or not by seeing my overall average vote rec'd go up or down (on profile page).

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

05/07/2008 12:30:30 PM · #19

Originally posted by mad_brewer:

My solution is that any scores you give below 5 go to both your photo and the photo you're scoring. ;)

jonnienye

05/07/2008 12:31:07 PM · #20

give them an option,if they want the UPDATE option, let them check a box saying they cant vote in that challenge,if they vote, no updates....just throwing this out,im happy with things now i think..lol

Message edited by author 2008-05-07 12:31:37.

05/07/2008 12:31:57 PM · #21

Originally posted by mad_brewer:

I always think I have a really good photo until the score proves me wrong. :) So not sure it would help.

Of course even when you know your score you can't be sure. As I said I was at 7.3xx all week and was sure I had a ribbon and probably the blue. That was proved wrong as well. :)

PapaBob

05/07/2008 12:44:38 PM · #22

Congrats on your photo and your honesty when voting and keeping your integrety intact. Do I personally think some people vote unfairly yes, do I want to win a ribbon that way no! Anyone who wins a ribbon by cheating will always know they are not good enough to win any other way and to me that has to be a hollow victory.

Message edited by author 2008-05-07 12:44:59.

05/07/2008 12:50:54 PM · #23

I didnt believe it at first but after watching 15-20 consecutive votes that lowered my score, I know it is true. I just feel bad for people that feel the need to win a free contest that badly. Hell let them win if that is what they need to be a better photographer.

mgarsteck

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

05/07/2008 12:55:36 PM · #24

I personally think that this is messed up. I do this so that i might become a better photographer. I get hurt when i get a false vote. If the intent is to win a contest then it hurts everyone. If this is the case then you win due to playing the system and this should not be.