Competitions Discussion Thread Part 6

bagstaff

Lol Lil'H

Just read an interesting stickie on the freebies board, which if I read first on this board might have left me feeling more at home.

I am sure you can work out which one

I'm sure we could all take heed from that and it reminds us why we are here

kipper_2-2

lil'H wrote: »

Hey all, just been reading the discussion about bumping and wanted to make a comment. Not sure why people get so annoyed about bumping, if you check your thanks you want re-enter comps. I can see why it gets annoying for people but at the same time these forums should be friendly places and i'm not sure the comping forum always is. I personally would never post a comp I found on here becuase of the frequency that people have a go at others for putting up a duplicate thread. I can't get the search feature to find threads I know are there let alone ones I don't know are there or not! Highlighting it's a duplicate is great butthere is quite a vibe of terretorial "we know better than you so get it right" on this board. THe evidence of that is the frequency I see someone post saying "This is the first time I've posted a comp so please don't have a go at me if it's already on here" or words to that effect.

There is also a real habit of ignoring questions posted by newbies, about how to enter specific comps etc.


Don't get me wrong there are a lot of really welcoming members.
All forums will always have an element of frustration for different members but as someone who has posted on a mumber of other forums, please keep the board a welcoming place for newbies!

PS Not aimed at anyone in particular just a general observation so please no one take it personally!

Lil'H

Hello


I think your claims of questions being unanswered are a little unsubstantiated, as far as I am aware the compers on here will do there utmost to answer any questions that come into the discussion board (hence why we created it) it may also be the fact that the rules and several questions which are often asked by "newbies" are answered at the top the board in the stickies, unfortunately a lot just come in and start posting, when it only takes 20 mins or so to learn and digest the board "rules/etiquette" and they don't go anywhere, they are there for permanent reference



Take a look here at the comping guide that was recently complied by a fellow comper in her own time to help others on here old and new alike, you will find several basic and advanced questions answered


As regards to bumping its just a little annoying if people are just posting a thanks on there as it can lead to confusion, NOT everyone clicks the thanks button as they may be comping offline (as I do sometimes, just to hide from this motley crew ) which is why we ask people to click the thanks or alternatively you can keep track of your own comping by keeping records such as spreadsheets.



I'm sorry to hear you think that we ignore the newbies, but as far as I am concerned that is not the case in the majority of times, maybe you just were unlucky


Hope you find the comping guide useful

mpython

Bagstaff, don't give it a second thought and please feel free to ask more questions, the stickies don't every comp or possible issue.

Lil'H, i thought yousaid in post#915 "I shan't bother posting any more" but then you post again in #917. Clearly we can't rely on you as a trusted witness now that you've declined to back up your accusations.

Perhaps instead you could explain why you think contributors to this board should feel obliged to answer these mysteriously unanswered questions? Do you know how much time it takes to find comps & their answers?

lil'H

bagstaff wrote: »

Lol Lil'H

Just read an interesting stickie on the freebies board, which if I read first on this board might have left me feeling more at home.

I am sure you can work out which one

I'm sure we could all take heed from that and it reminds us why we are here

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I'm with you bagstaff, maybe we should go over there!!!!

Lil'H

mpython

Dear o dear, I've posted a question and its not been answered yet - I wonder if this could be evidence to support the accusation???

No, I'll make in jokes instead.......

lil'H

Thanks Kipper for your reply. I do understand why bumping etc gets annoying, I just was hoping to point out that not everyone explains things a nicely as you have and perhaps generally the board could be a bit friendlier when people make a mistake.

Mpython, I never have said I don't know how long finding comps takes etc, not have I said i'm not grateful. I myself have found many competitions and if it wasn't for the fact I don't feel people would be kind if I posted a duplicate by accident I would happily also share them. And as for not posting anymore, I am finishing off a discussion and replying to peoples responses through politeness, before returning to lurking. I won't back up my accusations as I will not make personal attacks on people as I don't believe it is kind, besides many people have clung to only one line of my original text and not the message the whole thing was trying to convey, that sometimes people could be more polite on here.


Lil'H

kimmywal

"perhaps generally the board could be a bit friendlier when people make a mistake."

Hello Lil'H, its not my experience that people are unkind when duplicates are found, generally, it is posted that its a duplicate so that others can check the thanks and then the BGs are notified of it so that it can be merged, I have found this forum very friendly and helpful and sorry that has not been your experience

lil'H

thanks kiimywal it's reassuring to see friendlyness return in you and kipper!

mpython

lil'H wrote: »

.......... I myself have found many competitions and if it wasn't for the fact I don't feel people would be kind if I posted a duplicate by accident I would happily also share them......

Umm, so you don't share comps you've found but you feel you need to tell one and all this isn't a friendly forum??????

lil'H wrote: »

.......... And as for not posting anymore, I am finishing off a discussion and replying to peoples responses through politeness, before returning to lurking. I won't back up my accusations as I will not make personal attacks on people as I don't believe it is kind, besides many people have clung to only one line of my original text and not the message the whole thing was trying to convey, that sometimes people could be more polite on here.....

So which is the friendlier way to raise this point:-

"Do other people think that sometimes regulars don't always answer newbies questions"

or

"There is also a real habit of ignoring questions posted by newbies, about how to enter specific comps etc." (but I won't show you any evidence to support my accusation.)

josie301

bagstaff wrote: »

---

cut----
Even as a newbie I've have now (thanks to the answer) worked out that a newbie bumping up a post wont cause you to disqualify yourself from entering a competition by enterng twice if you have hit the thanks button the first time. I think ---cut---

Anyone unnecessarily (ie just saying 'entered', 'thanks', 'nice one' etc)bumping a post is just a bit irritating, every now and then it happens a lot which get people a bit riled up, and things get blown out of proportion, as newer folks see the kerfluffle and think that is 'the norm' on this board - which is ironic because this is the friendliest board I've come across (freebies - I don't even go there!:eek: )

But if there is point to the post such as a question on how to enter, a change in answer, the link has changed etc that will be fine.

All boards have there own quirks and own 'regulars' but all the same new folks are welcomed here, just take your time read the stickies (they are there for a reason )

If when you first enter the comp (and are logged in) you can click the button - which will then disappear, and it keeps the date of your entry in the who thanked the post bit at the bottom. Meaning you can check for future reference if & when you entered the comp - which is how most people keep a log of which comps they have entered.

Bumping the post (when you reply to a post it jumps to the top of the board - bumping) it makes people think it is a new comp and if you are in a hurry you may not look to see if the 'thanks' button is gone and re-enter by mistake - not really the be all and end all but a bit frustrating.

hth to explain a bit more


edit - you lot have been busy in the time it took to write my essay!!!!

just to add - lil'h, you are always going to find different people on the forum, not everyone is nice all of the time, some have had a bad day and just feel like playing devils advocate and you become the unfortunate person at the time. But thats life!