Competitions Time. A New Beginning

Former_MSE_Andrea

UPDATE 10 MARCH 2011.


Firstly, I'm sorry it's taken this long to get to, I know you've been waiting a couple of months and I've had stacks of PMs/emails about it. That means it's taken time to look through them all and work out what most of you want. I'm afraid that's not easy when I've had some PMs asking one thing and others asking for the exact opposite, so I think you can see the position we're in.

Anyway, I'm going to try to be succinct and answer your points as clearly as possible, which will hopefully bring this issue to a happy end

Where to put regular comps (link to regular comps board):

On the main comps board then link to that thread in the relevant ongoing regulars sticky thread.


Some people have suggested it's better to say what a regular isn't rather than is

To be honest I'm not at all sure how to answer this. The poll gave various options and we went with the most popular.

What I can say is please post them as individual threads for each day/week/month noting in the title which day etc it is - that way when you discuss them you all know you're discussing the same one, plus when you click thanks you only need to look at the first post to know you've entered it, rather than wade through the thread to find the new post for the new day's comp? (I think I'm understanding that correctly?)

Expired button on regulars

I'm not entirely sure this is needed but if there's enough call for it I'll ask the techies.

Guessed end dates

It's been pointed out if you make them too far ahead then people who do comps by end date may miss out. Obviously there are people that comp in this way and people that comp the other way so we can't please both groups of people. Someone's suggested putting a question mark in the title instead, which I think is a good idea as long as everyone's aware of that. So, if you'd like to do that feel free but can you let people know about it please by linking them to this post.

"Some people aren't aware of this post so are still doing things differently"

Unfortunately this is as much as we can do. The rest relies on you guys letting other people know by giving them the link to this thread.

Comps being moved to Game Over before they've finished.

The board guides don't have to move expired comps at all, it's not something we've asked them to do as a board guide, but something they've chosen to do so please don't berate them if you feel they've not moved them at the right time. If anything, the onus should be on you guys as board users to let BGs know if you see one that needs moving. Plus, remember, the expired button is there for you to use. That also means while you may think a thread's being moved by a BG, that may not be the case so please don't comment if you don't know.

That's it. I believe that's answered everything I've been sent. If not, PM me but please make it as clear as you can what you're saying - some PMs have been very long and, not being a comps board user, I've found it very difficult to work out what's being asked.

Have fun and happy comping!

Andrea


Back to my original post....

---

What's it about?

I must admit when this issue of where Regular comps should be posted was first raised I wondered why there was such a fuss, as it's your board, for you guys and it's up to you all how you'd like to use it. I couldn't see why you felt you needed us to make strict guidelines for you on how to use it.

But then, of course, it occurred to me. Whatever you might disagree about, you all have one thing in common - and that's the need to have rules to follow - it's what comping's all about after all - making sure you follow the rules or t&cs because if you don't your entry's not valid!

So, I'd just like to say well done you guys for raising the issue and, on the whole, for debating and discussing it in a very reasonable and civilised manner. I know there have been some misunderstandings and miscommunications along the way but hopefully, now, things are getting back on track and focusing on what's important for you - entering competitions. Believe me, I've seen and read a lot worse!

So, let's gone on with the points at hand


Poll Results

You've had the opportunity to vote and the majority verdict is:

• All regular comps with end date stay on main board but posters then post link on the regulars board Poll result
  
  
• A regular competition is one that Can be entered on a daily/weekly/ monthly basis with fixed answers for the duration or different answers which can be updated as & when Poll result

I know the regular competition poll had a few extra options added in after a couple of people had voted (6 if I remember rightly), but the difference in poll results is substantially more than that so the result wouldn't be different.


OTHER QUESTIONS RAISED


Where on the Regulars board do we post the link - a reply in the sticky or a new thread?

Both.

That way, while I realise it's something extra to do, you'll be keeping everyone happy, rather than just a certain group so it's a win-win situation for everyone!


What should happen with threads for similar competitions that aren't quite the same? Merge or not?

I think less is more in terms of merging.

If threads are merged, then they turn out not to be the same thing after all, it can confuse things for everyone, so it's probably better to err on the side of caution and not merge if it's uncertain.

In this kind of situation it would help if OPs post a new thread saying "I'm posting this separately because I think the competition's different in some way to this one here.." and then link to the other similar one.

That way you're leaving it up to everyone else to decide for themselves whether they think it's the same or not but at least they've been made aware that there is potentially another competition.


Guessed End Dates

If there's no indication of when the competition ends then rather than put a possibly too-early end date, put one that's slightly over-optimistic rather than under. That way, if it does end early you can click the expired button and when enough have clicked expire it'll go over to Game Over.


£1.50 limit for Phone/Text comps

If you really, really, really have to spend money to enter a competition then we ask that it's no more than a certain amount. People have asked if we can increase that amount to take the VAT increase into account as many have upped their cost to £1.53 and we're going to do that (I'll change the post now).


Ongoing threads in Regular Comps Board that may be missed by Main Board Compers

As suggested by Amilucky and other posters to help with this

It's ok to post a thread on the main board with a weekly/monthly end date linking to the actual comp thread on the regulars board. The thread shouldn't include a link to the actual competition site though to avoid duplicate entries and the risk of disqualifying yourself.


Hopefully I think that's addressed all the questions I've been PM'd. If there's something I haven't covered or I haven't understood please do PM me the link to where it's been asked/discussed on the board and I'll take a look as soon as I can.

Have a great day, happy comping and may you win lots of fabulous prizes!!

Andrea

Former_MSE_Andrea

A quick note to let you know I've finally managed to have a look through all the stuff I've been sent and finally updated this post.

I really hope that's addressed the issues people had and that this can be finally laid to rest so everyone can have the fun they're supposed to be having, rather than a coronary

My apologies if I've misunderstood what's being asked. From an "outsider's" point of view it's been rather difficult to make head or tail of.

Have a good afternoon

Take care

Andrea