[Suggestion] Aotw Judging (And other Contests)

[Akаsh]

I've recently been following the events in the Album of the week section and the contests in general, and it seems users have a problem with the judging that is being done for the submissions. They feel it is unjust to see their hard work to go to waste when they keep seeing the same minority in the winners list.
Now, I've never participated for this contest, but I did think of some ways in order to bring a standstill to the commotion that is being brought to the contest and it would really take the load off of the moderators as they are usually blamed or criticized the most for the shortcomings of participants.

Now you may ask me "Why do you care? You don't even participate in this contest.."
True, but being a member since 2009, and seeing the same cycle of problems revolve around contests and it's judging is not a good sign for the stability of these contests, plus it only breeds misconception and most importantly, I actually do care about this forum and can't stand to see something so trivial tare this family apart ^^

If you don't find this big of an issue, then its best recommended you don't post here.

Problem caused due to this: Lack of participation. Some users start going by false claims that the contests have been biased and the incentives are given to the small portion of people despite their hardwork. In the end the respective contest will be boycotted. We wouldn't want this now would we?
Another one would be the more radical effect of this cause, furious members calling mods out and getting in trouble for trivial reasons. ( God forbid this happen :lol )


Suggestion 1: A recent development in the PotM contest shed light in the judging scheme of users' profiles where Nefertari gave constructive criticism on the winners profiles, and certainly proved so as to why they were worthy of the said trophies and incentives.
This got me thinking, since participants of AotW don't have a clear idea on who or on what basis their albums were not selected for the winning lot, why don't mods, after the submission deadline, write constructive criticism to show that the albums have actually been fairly judged and there is no one but the participants themselves to be blamed for aany shortcomings and can try harder next time.

Limitations: Mods have lives, hence they can't go about this task within an expected amount of time, they have enough workload, on NB and in real life.
Solution: We make AotW bi/tri-weekly in order to give mods a breathing space.

What can you expect? : You can certainly expect relief from members, as this solution is a method of Transparency, notice why I bolded that? Its because transparency is what clears all misunderstandings between the people in power (Staff) and the people being affected (participants), a method of fairplay among both parties if you will

Oh, I hope that the constructive criticism still goes on in the PotM as it is truly an excellent method of settling disputes.

Suggestion 2: If you don't like the first one, then I guess, AotW will have to be a user based judging scheme, ie, Voting! just like the Signature of the week, participants can PM the Contest holder their albums, another thread willbe posted where all submissions are numbered to specific participants who will remain anonymous during the voting phase, and the members can have a fair vote on which album pleases their eye.

Limitations: Members may not have the critical criticism that of designers/moderators , who actually have some knowledge regarding aesthetics, hence members may vote whatever simply pleases their eye.

Solutions: No more misconceptions on moderators, and participants will learn to accept different opinions of users.

Suggestion 3: Increased incentives and awards decided based on the participation count.
For example, if the OP of the contest thread mentions that there will be five prizes instead of the usual three prizes if the participation increases a certain number, then we can clearly observe a rise in participation to compete for the extra prizes.


It is up to you to see which suggestions can be implemented and see how the solution of problems outweigh the limitations mentioned.
My personal opinion being, that Suggestion 1 and 3 be executed.
I request all members, participants and staff members to kindly give a reasonable input so as to how we can collectively come to the solution for this. If you disagree with any of these feel free to give your opinion and draft a justification so as to why you think it is better.
To me, no problem is unsolved when it comes to communication and yes I really do care about the forum so please, its a personal request to set things straight once and for all.


And yes, even I despise making long threads, or reading long threads, but given the gravity of this problem I hope you all can kindly understand why I'm bringing this up.

~ Given the gravity of this situation, I kindly request members to please refrain from spam, and put forward useful inputs. ~​

Cheers.​

 

[Tenshi Hikari]

Thanks for the suggestions and effort Akash, its now up to them

 

[Legendary Saiyan]

How about setting up polls for each submission and whoever is top 5 or any number can be selected. Then those 5 will also be voted again to determine the winner. That's just an example but it could bring new opportunities and a chance to win. *shrug*

 

[Akаsh]

How about setting up polls for each submission and whoever is top 5 or any number can be selected. Then those 5 will also be voted again to determine the winner. That's just an example but it could bring new opportunities and a chance to win. *shrug*

I see. repeated voting sessions you mean?
Not sure if members would be up for it, as their, decisions wont be changed easily, meaning, if they vote for someone in the first voting, they'd vote for the same person again in the secondary votings. It would require more voters turn up then.
It would help out narrow the contestants if thats what you're looking for.

Thanks for the input mate

 

[Legendary Saiyan]

I see. repeated voting sessions you mean?
Not sure if members would be up for it, as their, decisions wont be changed easily, meaning, if they vote for someone in the first voting, they'd vote for the same person again in the secondary votings. It would require more voters turn up then.
It would help out narrow the contestants if thats what you're looking for.

Thanks for the input mate

I'd suggest getting active Naruto fans from DeviantART. I knew that website and I'm surprised how popular it became after 2007 lol

Besides the point, I think luring them in would up the voters I guess. But then again, Boruto manga is not out yet so I don't know if it would work like that. lol

 

[Sheele]

The problem with lack of people joining a contest, is because 9/10 times the same users win, sometimes I see someone with 10+ Medals, while someone else has zero. The people with zero will think F. this I won't join cause that other person will win anyway. The reason why they think that is because they have been given zero information/criticism on why they didnt win and the other one did (Aotw is perfect example for this) One of the Judging Criteria is: Creativity, this was once explained as '' Don't grab the first images you see on google '' Yet, a lot of people who have won literally grabbed the first image you could find on google and just used it.

I have said it many many times before that people who havent won a single thing and others who have won 10+ should give the people who havent won a single thing some recognition. This will keep them motivated to atleast continue in the contest hoping to enter up in the top 3. ( Most want first place for the cyan name color )

Is the one who won 10 times and the one who won zero times better? No. There is nothing to base that upon because no one explained why Mr. 10 times won over Mr zero times.

 

[Akаsh]

The problem with lack of people joining a contest, is because 9/10 times the same users win, sometimes I see someone with 10+ Medals, while someone else has zero. The people with zero will think F. this I won't join cause that other person will win anyway. The reason why they think that is because they have been given zero information/criticism on why they didnt win and the other one did (Aotw is perfect example for this) One of the Judging Criteria is: Creativity, this was once explained as '' Don't grab the first images you see on google '' Yet, a lot of people who have one literally grabbed the first image you could find on google and just used it.

I have said it many many times before that people who havent won a single thing and others who have won 10+ should give the people who have have won a single thing some recognition. This will keep them motivated to atleast continue in the contest hoping to enter up in the top 3. ( Most want first place for the cyan name color )

Is the one who won 10 times and the one who won zero times better? No. There is nothing to base that upon because no one explained why Mr. 10 times won over Mr zero times.

Exactly, that would mean you're opting suggestions 3 and 1, same as mine
More incentives and constructive criticism and justification from mods.

Thanks for sharing this

 

[Sheele]

Exactly, that would mean you're opting suggestions 3 and 1, same as mine
More incentives and constructive criticism and justification from mods.

Thanks for sharing this

ah yes, haha should've added that

 

[ROHAN]

I think Suggestion 2 is the best, making the contests voting based is the most fair option.

I would like to say is that some of the NB contests are too High Level for people to participate, the biggest one being Profile of the Month Contest where a Newbie can never hope to win. I mean Newbies do make good profiles, but the Pro Participants are too ridiculously good and there is no way to match them (Which is why I stopped participating in that contest).

I think we should have contests where everyone can participate regardless of their skill levels. Some of the Contests in this category are Fill Up The Bubble, Hidden Phrase and Treasure Hunt. You don't need High Tier GFX Skills for this, anybody can participate and have an equal chance to win. As far as I think, these three are the only NB Contests which have a lot of Potential. Another Contest Idea that I held was the Mafia Game Death Note Contest (The next one is in April and it will be hopefully more successful than the first one I hosted). This contest also has a lot of potential if it does become Official Permanently.

Basically what I want to say is make contests where everyone can win easily, and not do loads of effort just to win one. Cause if you have contests where people have to do loads of effort to win one, no one will bother to participate.

 

[Airi]

Suggestion 1: A recent development in the PotM contest shed light in the judging scheme of users' profiles where Nefertari gave constructive criticism on the winners profiles, and certainly proved so as to why they were worthy of the said trophies and incentives.
This got me thinking, since participants of AotW don't have a clear idea on who or on what basis their albums were not selected for the winning lot, why don't mods, after the submission deadline, write constructive criticism to show that the albums have actually been fairly judged and there is no one but the participants themselves to be blamed for aany shortcomings and can try harder next time.

Limitations: Mods have lives, hence they can't go about this task within an expected amount of time, they have enough workload, on NB and in real life.
Solution: We make AotW bi/tri-weekly in order to give mods a breathing space.

What can you expect? : You can certainly expect relief from members, as this solution is a method of Transparency, notice why I bolded that? Its because transparency is what clears all misunderstandings between the people in power (Staff) and the people being affected (participants), a method of fairplay among both parties if you will

I think this is a good suggestion. Sometimes people don't know how the submissions are chosen and judged, and I think it might be a reason for someone to stop participating.
It hasn't affected me personally tho, I started participating in AotW in early 2015, and I remember it took me a long time before I finally placed but it hadn't stopped me from participating. I enjoy making picture albums for my school projects so AotW was the contest for me. ^^

I still participate whenever I can, and I don't have a problem with the judging, but I agree that there needs to be more transparency. I really think that it would benefit the contest and give people more incentive to participate.

 

[Horus]

Good suggestions! I'll link this to Pekoms as he's incharge of the AoTW

 

[Deviation]

As former host of the FUB contest, even a public poll system can be abused by its own members through skype. One thing I can recommend is to report others if you feel they are cheating (legitly) or are in clear violation of the rules.

As for the other contests, while I have not participated in any other than Album of the Week, I would suggest that the person that won one week can't join the next one but can rejoin the following one after that. It may seem cruel, yes, but it certainly gives other people a chance at the spot light.

 

[Akаsh]

I think Suggestion 2 is the best, making the contests voting based is the most fair option.

I would like to say is that some of the NB contests are too High Level for people to participate, the biggest one being Profile of the Month Contest where a Newbie can never hope to win. I mean Newbies do make good profiles, but the Pro Participants are too ridiculously good and there is no way to match them (Which is why I stopped participating in that contest).

I think we should have contests where everyone can participate regardless of their skill levels. Some of the Contests in this category are Fill Up The Bubble, Hidden Phrase and Treasure Hunt. You don't need High Tier GFX Skills for this, anybody can participate and have an equal chance to win. As far as I think, these three are the only NB Contests which have a lot of Potential. Another Contest Idea that I held was the Mafia Game Death Note Contest (The next one is in April and it will be hopefully more successful than the first one I hosted). This contest also has a lot of potential if it does become Official Permanently.

Basically what I want to say is make contests where everyone can win easily, and not do loads of effort just to win one. Cause if you have contests where people have to do loads of effort to win one, no one will bother to participate.

I understand! Very interesting point.
Plus I think DN Games must be considered as an official contest

I think this is a good suggestion. Sometimes people don't know how the submissions are chosen and judged, and I think it might be a reason for someone to stop participating.
It hasn't affected me personally tho, I started participating in AotW in early 2015, and I remember it took me a long time before I finally placed but it hadn't stopped me from participating. I enjoy making picture albums for my school projects so AotW was the contest for me. ^^

I still participate whenever I can, and I don't have a problem with the judging, but I agree that there needs to be more transparency. I really think that it would benefit the contest and give people more incentive to participate.

I agree!


I can see difference in opinions now,
That is what we want, more people who think maybe a solution so that we can come up with a viable one through communication.
Thank you so much! I hope the moderators take light of these opinions

Good suggestions! I'll link this to Pekoms as he's incharge of the AoTW

Much appreciated Horussu! :T_T:
though I VMed him already :Sparks:

As former host of the FUB contest, even a public poll system can be abused by its own members through skype. One thing I can recommend is to report others if you feel they are cheating (legitly) or are in clear violation of the rules.

As for the other contests, while I have not participated in any other than Album of the Week, I would suggest that the person that won one week can't join the next one but can rejoin the following one after that. It may seem cruel, yes, but it certainly gives other people a chance at the spot light.

I had the same idea!!!
about the winners skipping one contest, and rejoining in the following contest. Though I figured people wouldn't like that.
Though thank you so much for shedding light on this

 

[iNotorious]

The problem with lack of people joining a contest, is because 9/10 times the same users win, sometimes I see someone with 10+ Medals, while someone else has zero. The people with zero will think F. this I won't join cause that other person will win anyway. The reason why they think that is because they have been given zero information/criticism on why they didnt win and the other one did (Aotw is perfect example for this) One of the Judging Criteria is: Creativity, this was once explained as '' Don't grab the first images you see on google '' Yet, a lot of people who have won literally grabbed the first image you could find on google and just used it.

I have said it many many times before that people who havent won a single thing and others who have won 10+ should give the people who havent won a single thing some recognition. This will keep them motivated to atleast continue in the contest hoping to enter up in the top 3. ( Most want first place for the cyan name color )

Is the one who won 10 times and the one who won zero times better? No. There is nothing to base that upon because no one explained why Mr. 10 times won over Mr zero times.

I think Suggestion 2 is the best, making the contests voting based is the most fair option.

I would like to say is that some of the NB contests are too High Level for people to participate, the biggest one being Profile of the Month Contest where a Newbie can never hope to win. I mean Newbies do make good profiles, but the Pro Participants are too ridiculously good and there is no way to match them (Which is why I stopped participating in that contest).

I think we should have contests where everyone can participate regardless of their skill levels. Some of the Contests in this category are Fill Up The Bubble, Hidden Phrase and Treasure Hunt. You don't need High Tier GFX Skills for this, anybody can participate and have an equal chance to win. As far as I think, these three are the only NB Contests which have a lot of Potential. Another Contest Idea that I held was the Mafia Game Death Note Contest (The next one is in April and it will be hopefully more successful than the first one I hosted). This contest also has a lot of potential if it does become Official Permanently.

Basically what I want to say is make contests where everyone can win easily, and not do loads of effort just to win one. Cause if you have contests where people have to do loads of effort to win one, no one will bother to participate.

These 2 gentlemen said it all. If we talk about PoTM, people have stopped participating in that contest, including myself, because there's no way that a noob would win it. There's no chance.

Suggestion #1: The only problem that I find is that it shouldn't take a week in order to give proper critic to couple of people that participate in it. In fact, some mods could do it in less than 2 days.

Suggestion #2: I like this one the most, but know some members can be biased.

Suggestion #3: This one seems way too good for the mods to approve. I'll say that it would make more people to participate on it because there's a higher chance to get an award BUT I dunno if Zise is gonna like that. We can just hope and wish for it to happen. Maybe I will force myself to participate.

In my opinion, I do know how you feel when it comes to AoTW judging. It has to be re-evaluated. It need some work in order to become better, for the members and the staff members.

#MakeAoTWGreatAgain

P.S @Sam, Death Note in April? :bdpf: I'm ready

You must be registered for see images

 

[Hexuze]

I agree.

 

[ROHAN]

P.S @Sam, Death Note in April? :bdpf: I'm ready

You must be registered for see images

PK has agreed to host the April Contest. If there are 15+ Participants, it will go though. You better be ready. :Sparks:

 

[Akasha]

The truth is, no matter how it is, some will complain because it wasn't the other way and other because it wasn't in another way. At least my experience when it comes to it. Although, nice job on suggestions!

 

[iNotorious]

PK has agreed to host the April Contest. If there are 15+ Participants, it will go though. You better be ready. :Sparks:

I got 3 members ready for it =) Noto, Airi and Spiderman expect 12 more

You must be registered for see images

 

[Sheele]

I got 3 members ready for it =) Noto, Airi and Spiderman expect 12 more

You must be registered for see images

PK has agreed to host the April Contest. If there are 15+ Participants, it will go though. You better be ready. :Sparks:

I am in :Sparks:

 

[Akаsh]

These 2 gentlemen said it all. If we talk about PoTM, people have stopped participating in that contest, including myself, because there's no way that a noob would win it. There's no chance.

Suggestion #1: The only problem that I find is that it shouldn't take a week in order to give proper critic to couple of people that participate in it. In fact, some mods could do it in less than 2 days.

Suggestion #2: I like this one the most, but know some members can be biased.

Suggestion #3: This one seems way too good for the mods to approve. I'll say that it would make more people to participate on it because there's a higher chance to get an award BUT I dunno if Zise is gonna like that. We can just hope and wish for it to happen. Maybe I will force myself to participate.

In my opinion, I do know how you feel when it comes to AoTW judging. It has to be re-evaluated. It need some work in order to become better, for the members and the staff members.

#MakeAoTWGreatAgain

P.S @Sam, Death Note in April? :bdpf: I'm ready

You must be registered for see images

Thanks for the input on all three iNoto <3

I agree.

Thank you xd

The truth is, no matter how it is, some will complain because it wasn't the other way and other because it wasn't in another way. At least my experience when it comes to it. Although, nice job on suggestions!

Thats the harsh truth for ya
True but we must do our best to minimize this.

Thank you all <3