Sob Stories

SlowCooker · 24 July 2015 at 10:29PM

I think that the problem is with the question "why do you deserve to win".. it's basically an invitation for people to beg.

However, some people share their sob stories even when the winner is chosen at random. Someone commented on Twitter that they would like to win an iphone 6 because it helps them cope with their disability. Although I feel sorry for that person, I wonder how a phone would help.

ikkle87 · 24 July 2015 at 10:55PM

I sometimes struggle to word things properly so I hope this comes across properly.

A main part of Drayton Manor is Thomas Land and Thomas the Tank engine is hugely popular with autistic children. The exaggerated facial expressions, easy to follow characters etc make them a big hit. Last year the Fat Controller led an autism walk and he's doing the same this year too http://www.autism.org.uk/allaboard so its doubtful that people are just saying their child is autistic for the fun of it but mention it because Thomas has had such a massive impact on their child and the thought of being able to take their child to see their favourite characters is something important to them. I can guarantee that if I was to take my son to Thomas Land he would physically vibrate with excitement at the sight of his favourites.

http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/our-publications/reports/our-policy-and-research-reports/children-with-autism-and-thomas-the-tank-engine.aspx

robbies_gal · 25 July 2015 at 12:02AM

the problem is the fake pleas make the genuine ones look bad

i just think it would be good if u could just put an answer and nothing else

RAP_2 · 25 July 2015 at 12:06AM

My entry below (RAP) won me and my daughter a vip trip to Latitude. Some would say it was a sob story, I say it is the truth and to be honest it was a lot better than some (not all) of the generic, half hearted entries that were submitted. No I am not sorry I threw my cancers in there as they were hideous experiences for both of us. Everyone has good times and bad and if tough times can lead to a light at the end of the tunnel or a little bit of happiness, such as my daughters tireless fundraising for CRUK or a comp win, then fair play to anyone who can turn a negative into a positive.

http://www.independent.co.uk/happylist/forum/

mansey · 25 July 2015 at 12:15AM

As ikkle and RAP have proved there are genuine/honest/true stories, but as I said above how many are stretching the truth or simply lying to win?

This is why I don't enter comps with the "Why should you win question".

I just hope by not entering it does give a better chance to someone who is being genuine/honest/true

RAP_2 · 25 July 2015 at 12:19AM

To be honest, I don't usually do the "why do you deserve" comps. I just decided to go in from a different angle from everyone else on the Latitude one as it was my bucket list prize this year. It worked and we got back on Monday after having the best weekend ever

PS As you mentioned Mansey, you never know who is stretching the truth or if you will be thought to be making it up so I backed up my Latitude entry by tweeting them some pictures we had done for an official CRUK photoshoot. Like I said, it was no1 on my wish list so I put a lot of effort in.

mansey · 25 July 2015 at 12:56AM

RAP wrote: »

To be honest, I don't usually do the "why do you deserve" comps. I just decided to go in from a different angle from everyone else on the Latitude one as it was my bucket list prize this year. It worked and we got back on Monday after having the best weekend ever

PS As you mentioned Mansey, you never know who is stretching the truth or if you will be thought to be making it up so I backed up my Latitude entry by tweeting them some pictures we had done for an official CRUK photoshoot. Like I said, it was no1 on my wish list so I put a lot of effort in.

I don't begrudge any honest person a win pet and well done on yours :T

ikkle87 · 25 July 2015 at 8:05AM

The Drayton Manor comp didn't ask you why you should win it just said like and comment. The op seemed shocked by how many people mentioned a child with autism so I just wanted to say what the probable reason for that was.

We've all had our battles and our bad times but doesn't mean we deserve something more than another so I don't tend to enter the why do you deserve this comps but like rap if I thought something was relevant I'd mention it like recently there was a twitter comp for a book about encouraging language in children and my son has a speech delay so I would have found it a helpful and interesting read.

oliveoyl · 25 July 2015 at 10:44AM

I think there's a world of difference between telling your story (fact or fiction, that's a different point) when the company asks for it, to adding it when it's nothing to do with anything. The former is a perfectly fine and legitimate thing to do, the latter just comes across as begging. That's my view anyway.