Well, first of all a tiny comment: "Life as we know on planet Earth has never been fair nor is it now. Every single second, there are people out there making decisions in your behalf just because they 'think' they have the rights to do so; or blaming/accusing you of things you never said or did; or manipulating your words or life in one way or an other behind your backs; or making subtle plans to ambush you; or working on conspiracies to steal your work or friends or money; or investing in pretencious friendships in case they could benefit from your earnings and triumphs in some way... We are surrounded by these people even when we go out buy our daily groceries or bread at the local baker's. People trade smiles for a little monetary gain or a position even in the simplest encounter between themselves. Humankind's history and present life on Earth are far too full with the 'unfair' relations, trade, business and war affairs and what-nots... Just turn on the TV for news releases at prime times and it's one great show on 'unfair' matters happening all around the world; if you asked people that were hit by the biggest hurricane and floods, they would say nature is unfair without doubt."But the way challenges run at PhotoClubAlpha forums 'unfairness' is not the designated purpose; not at heart or practically. At least when I start one I know that the last thing I want is a good photo gone astray. But there is bound to be times when that's a possible fact. You know why? Because the number of quality photos submitted are increasing at Photo Club Alpha challenges every single day. The contributors matured in their photographical perceptions and are also taking much better photos than when I first joined the forum a couple of years ago.
Surprisingly, with the rule of 'one-vote-each-for-every-voter' for the challenges I started until now, the best photos found their way up the ladder quite naturally. Check the past challenges and you'll see this. The voters voted so smartly with their one vote that all fine entries showed up in the Final Polls. Left to its own course everything found its righful place.
There can be new amendments to the rules depending on the number of entries for a particular challenge with the forum software in mind.
Although it may seem unfair to some, what kept me from granting more than one vote each voter was that the extra votes could also be exploited to manipulate the natural course of the good things. People may not decide to cast the extra votes for the other best photos that may otherwise be left out of the competition but instead to actually push someone they don't like and his photo out of the race as well. The polls would not be a 'one-way-street' any more; some may be willing to use existing extra votes to benefit themselves by using them as negative votes.
That's why I've been asking everyone to make up their minds carefully for that single vote that they will use. We have no idea how the power of extra votes will be used; manipulation or a rightful choice that earns the place.
Thank you for the kind words Pako and Dusty.
I have no trouble nor am in search of praise for setting up a challenge, because everyone in the forum can and I hope will do so. I've enjoyed some past challenges started by yourselves as well. It's open to everyone and we can have simultaneously-running challenges as well. In one challenge which has bountiful of entries we can try allowing 2 or 3 votes to see how that will run its course. If we see no abuse of rights, then why not continue to do so? : )
It's all about, how people will use those extra votes; for the good or for discarding someone's work out of the race to benefit from the situation. These challenges are not promising any designated prizes but for some it still may hold some importance enough to hurt someone's righful position.
At the end of the day though, there'll be unjust things occurring one way or an other, be it the way I run the polls or not; something or a feeling of bad will filter through.
We're all trying to make things better here, that's what I'd like to believe...and hopefully no granted power will be used for ill effects or influence.
No escape though, there'll always be something missing; no system to date was perfect on Earth and we won't be first as members while running the challenges of Photo Club Alpha. : )
Thanks for all the feedback.
Yildiz
