VT Awards Voting

[maniamsmart]

I wish this would have been done a little differently. Then again, what I am thinking may be expecting too much, so perhaps this is the better way. Plus what I am going to say may also cause problems amongst members feeling left out. Oh well, I am just going to say it :P

I thought the admins or mods (since they pretty much read every post) would select 5-10 members for each category and then we could all vote. It seems kind of... a chore (for those who really want to vote) to have to look through threads and see which person deserves it. On the other hand, it seems kind of... unfair and pointless (for those who really don't care) to just post a random username.

Also with the large number of members here, the winner would only have gotten 3-5 votes maybe. Compared to a poll created with members selected it could be someone who won with 20-50 votes. Another thing, for new members who really want to participate in the awards, they kind of can't, because they haven't been around long enough and probably don't know many people to vote for.

With this being said, I can understand why it is done the way it is done though. To avoid users from feeling left out, if the mods or admins only pick a certain number of people, and someone believes they should have been nominated they will feel left out. It also would take some time to gather a list of members for each category... but then again, that's what I was expecting from mods and admins... to work and put time into this.

But yeah... I don't mean to come off in anyway as unappreciative or rude, because I do love the fact that we have awards, and I think it's great that this is something that happens annually and can help recognize members in the forums. But I also think that the awards could be a bit more improved, in regards towards activity, participation, fairness, and user-friendliness.

I don't think I am going to be able to vote for every category, even though I'd like to, but I just don't spend that much time in every forum section. I mean yes, I do stop by, and post here and there, and I do see some people that are regulars in specific forum sections, but I can't name them off the top of my head. Compared to the Advice section, or the arcade, or the white padded room, I can pretty much list users there, and remember them because I spend time there more than other places.

Just thought it was a suggestion, and maybe you all can post your opinion on this. Maybe I am just new to this method, and used to the polls and nominating like I've done on other forums :P

[xXl0sth0peXx]

First, you don't have to vote for every single category. If you only wanted to vote for 5, you could vote for 5. If you want to vote two a day for the 15(ish) days they're open, you can do that. You can vote none at all too. There's no rule on how you can vote.

I don't see how having a poll would help this at all for the new members, because they'd still have no clue who to vote for? It'd be a random vote from them. You're saying it seems like a chore for you guys to look through the threads to decide who to vote for, and while I disagree that it's a chore, it'd be a 'chore' regardless of whether you guys did it or whether we did it. Maybe the winners will only get 2 or 3 votes.. But that's it. A lot of other people get nominated though, and maybe we get 8 nominees instead of just 3 or something.

This is at least the 4th, if not 5th year we've done the awards, and in this forum and it's never really an issue. Having hosted them and voted in them as a user, it's kind of fun to think back on who impacted me on VT this year, instead of who was just chosen. Sometimes, it's someone who may not have impacted you, and not someone you'd ever choose to vote for, but I would. We all have different experiences here and vote based on that.

It would just be so hard for us as staff to have to pick users who get voted for. It leads to hurt feelings and honestly, it's part of why we don't do the 'mock elections' anymore, as were done in the past. I really think allowing users to pick who impacted them most or who was friendliest to them is best. We're all different.

The input is always appreciated of course.

[maniamsmart]

First, you don't have to vote for every single category. If you only wanted to vote for 5, you could vote for 5. If you want to vote two a day for the 15(ish) days they're open, you can do that. You can vote none at all too. There's no rule on how you can vote.

I know, it's just that kind of responsibility feeling of (wanting? needing?) to vote, for me, because I am a member of the community. I want to vote for every category to pitch in. It's like if you're a citizen of the US, you're expected to vote, kind of how I feel here.

I don't see how having a poll would help this at all for the new members, because they'd still have no clue who to vote for? It'd be a random vote from them. You're saying it seems like a chore for you guys to look through the threads to decide who to vote for, and while I disagree that it's a chore, it'd be a 'chore' regardless of whether you guys did it or whether we did it. Maybe the winners will only get 2 or 3 votes.. But that's it. A lot of other people get nominated though, and maybe we get 8 nominees instead of just 3 or something.

What I mean is this, here's an example. If I am looking at the friendliest user award section, and I see a list of 6 people listed there, I have an idea of who the 6 friendliest members on the forum are, based on posts that have been reviewed. Now say I see person X on the list of nominated members, and I remember person X being really nice to me, so I can vote for person X. If there are no nominated members, I won't even have an idea of who are considered the friendliest. And yes I understand that some people may still vote random, but the same can happen now. I just think people who don't really know many people can vote easier if they see a list of nominated users because they've interacted with 1-2 of them and can make a better judgement. Or at least it is helpful for me, not sure about others. I also don't think it's a chore if we have nominated lists, because then we can make easier and quicker decisions, like I explained in my example above. Right now members who are new won't know who to vote for, maybe it will be random, with a nominated list members can have an idea and maybe recognize someone on the list that they've seen and shown that they are fit for the category. That's what I mean by being more helpful for new members. You'd still get random votes regardless though.

This is at least the 4th, if not 5th year we've done the awards, and in this forum and it's never really an issue. Having hosted them and voted in them as a user, it's kind of fun to think back on who impacted me on VT this year, instead of who was just chosen. Sometimes, it's someone who may not have impacted you, and not someone you'd ever choose to vote for, but I would. We all have different experiences here and vote based on that.

Right and this is one of the positive things about this method, that you'll see who the winner was and you'd never expect it because you wouldn't have known because the person may have never impacted you. Hence, I don't disagree with the system that is being used right now, I just wanted to hear what your thoughts were on the system I brought up. Maybe it's just because I am somewhat new here and I want to vote for every category but I can't because I don't have an idea or I don't have as much experience as some other people here who have been here longer and have a better idea of who the friendliest, is or whatnot.

It would just be so hard for us as staff to have to pick users who get voted for. It leads to hurt feelings and honestly, it's part of why we don't do the 'mock elections' anymore, as were done in the past. I really think allowing users to pick who impacted them most or who was friendliest to them is best. We're all different.

Yeah, that's what I thought too. And like I said, it's probably just me being somewhat new here and feeling like I won't be a "good community member" if I don't vote in every category and pitch in. Now that you've given your view on it I kind of understand, and maybe next year I'll be able to vote for every category.

[Emerald Dream]

When I joined VT a few years back, it was in November. I voted for some of the awards in December, but not all of them - because I did not have enough to make an informed decision. I was in the same position, but I didn't feel like the system needed to change for my personal benefit.

Like Val said, there is no requirement for how many you have to vote for - or having to vote at all. I think the way it works is fine. If you are dedicated to the community, then you will feel more comfortable with voting for more categories in the future, I suppose.


eta - I also fail to see how staff nominating people for awards would not outright hurt people's feelings across this forum. In my opinion, this is really not a good idea at all.

[SethfromMI]

mods dont you see your opportunity here? you could have people bribe you with cash and lavish gifts so they make one of the people who can be voted for