Competitions Discussion Thread Part 3

Cheeky_Chicken

avstar wrote: »

Very true - I've posted a couple of comps on MSE after searching and not finding anything - I genuinely wanted to contribute to a great site/board...but was told in v abrupt terms I had duplicated....altho someone else then took pity on me and told me how I could do a better search.

It def put me off posting any comps I find, make me feel a right fool !....
there are some v ungrateful/mean people who seem to like shooting people down on MSE......and also some v lovely ones who restore my faith in humanity.

I've had a look at the post you're referring to, & I'm sure neither kipper or ginjim meant to upset you by saying it was a duplicate - in fact it was kipper who went on to explain how to search.

I must admit when I find a duplicate I don't have time to make a long post saying thanks for posting, please keep trying etc..... I'm usually rushing and trying to catch up with comps, so I just write already posted, post a link add a smilie and hope for the best.

I've had a few abusive pm's from people who've taken offence at me pointing out duplicates, and tbh it would be easier to just thank the post without re-entering and disqualifying myself, and let everyone else enter a second time and put themselves out of the competition. I post the duplicates so that people don't do that, & can go back and check to see if they've already entered, although I sometimes wish I hadn't bothered.

Sorry, rant over

chickaroonee

OK my two pennies worth!!

There have been a few duplicates recently, which can be annoying, but it's easy to forget how confusing it is when you start posting comps. I found it quite difficult to locate comps initially although I find it much easier now (maybe I am just stupid!!!).

I do search the middle url but every now and again I will post a duplicate. I don't want to be too hard on newbies for posting duplicates, because it would be a shame to put off people posting comps - after all, that's what keeps the forum running! Also, we all (including me) put 'check your thanks' but I know some newbies don't know what this means.

I have a suggestion, perhaps someone who is more eloquent than me, could write an explanation on searching, urls, check your thanks etc.. and we could post the link whenever duplicates were posted by newbies. I know there is the search thread, but I'm thinking of a specific post that covers all this.

If you all think it is a silly idea, I will slink away and say no more

hjb123

I sometimes search on google now, not sure whether its already been mentioned, but on this site it takes account of capitals and you cant search for 3 letter words etc. But on google if you type in the word you are searchign for followed by site:moneysavingexpert.com it will then find it, eg, say you are searchign for the word competitions discussions thread part 3 type
competitions discussion thread part 3 site:moneysavingexpert.com
into google and it will come up with the answers...

avstar

Cheeky_Chicken wrote: »

I've had a look at the post you're referring to, & I'm sure neither kipper or ginjim meant to upset you by saying it was a duplicate - in fact it was kipper who went on to explain how to search.

I must admit when I find a duplicate I don't have time to make a long post saying thanks for posting, please keep trying etc..... I'm usually rushing and trying to catch up with comps, so I just write already posted, post a link add a smilie and hope for the best.

I've had a few abusive pm's from people who've taken offence at me pointing out duplicates, and tbh it would be easier to just thank the post without re-entering and disqualifying myself, and let everyone else enter a second time and put themselves out of the competition. I post the duplicates so that people don't do that, & can go back and check to see if they've already entered, although I sometimes wish I hadn't bothered.

Sorry, rant over

Hi Cheeky Chicken

I'm not against people telling me I 've posted a duplicate, I would be grateful as I don't want to be responsible for people entering twice and disqualifying themselves, as long as it's said in a friendly way, as yours are - I know you don't have time to write much on the comps board - everyone's so busy trying to keep up !

Yes, Kipper was the person I was speaking about when I said someone kindly showed me how to search - I didn't find either of her posts offensive - she added a smiley to keep it friendly, all well and good. Thanks you Kipper.

It was ginjims post that upset me, I felt a right fool and it was said in a nasty way - it was said to make me feel stupid for posting a comp that had only been posted the day before.... I'd even explained it was my first posting of a comp & I had tried to search - if thats how ginjim speaks to newbies trying to contribute then I hope discouraging people from posting was the effect they were after - it certainly worked with me !

chickaroonee

Since I posted my comments above, I've noticed Divadee is way ahead of me!

Perhaps we could all try to post a link to this page for newbies?
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=579767

ginjim

avstar wrote: »

Hi Cheeky Chicken

I'm not against people telling me I 've posted a duplicate, I would be grateful as I don't want to be responsible for people entering twice and disqualifying themselves, as long as it's said in a friendly way, as yours are - I know you don't have time to write much on the comps board - everyone's so busy trying to keep up !

Yes, Kipper was the person I was speaking about when I said someone kindly showed me how to search - I didn't find either of her posts offensive - she added a smiley to keep it friendly, all well and good. Thanks you Kipper.

It was ginjims post that upset me, I felt a right fool and it was said in a nasty way - it was said to make me feel stupid for posting a comp that had only been posted the day before.... I'd even explained it was my first posting of a comp & I had tried to search - if thats how ginjim speaks to newbies trying to contribute then I hope discouraging people from posting was the effect they were after - it certainly worked with me !

Well i'm sorry i offended you
i'm just not very good at explaining things or writing long posts
sorry you too kit the wrong way it wasnt meant to be taken that way
i write posts short and sweet (well not so sweet)

angelbreeze

i didn't mean anything nastily.
same as i said as a newbie i have duplicated myself,and was told off lol !!!!
and i know it does put you off posting again,but same as dalkirst said i honestly don't think some people bother to search.
take the nurofen new york comp how many times has that been posted,you only have to put new york in the search and they all come up.
my post was a reminder about the search facility,and how to search for newbies.
smiley faces allround

Cheeky_Chicken

ginjim wrote: »

Well i'm sorry i offended you
i'm just not very good at explaining things or writing long posts
sorry you too kit the wrong way it wasnt meant to be taken that way
i write posts short and sweet (well not so sweet)

Hi ginjim :hello: I've seen quite a few of your posts, & I'm quite sure that you didn't mean to upset anyone, I can tell that it's just 'your way' to get straight to the point :idea: It might be an idea to shove a few smilies in :think: as I can see how someone who isn't used to your short posts might get upset and think you're being rude when you're really not :doh: but if you add a smilie, it will show people you're being nice without you having to write a long essay to explain :beer:

Dalkirst

loquax wrote: »

I suggest you read my reply above or would you like a copy as well?

Hey i wasn't having a go i just thought it must have been the way you know when people are talking about Loquax:)

avstar

ginjim wrote: »

Well i'm sorry i offended you
i'm just not very good at explaining things or writing long posts
sorry you too kit the wrong way it wasnt meant to be taken that way
i write posts short and sweet (well not so sweet)

Thank you ginjim - it was good of you to reply to my post.
I don't know everybody on this site well enought to knowtheir posting style so mistook your 'short & sweet' style for something else.
I find smileys really do help, posts (and emails) can come across v sarcastic when thats not the intention at all.

Right lets get back to comping - good luck everyone ! :T