It is on artistic merit that we judge and you can't objectively judge anyone's work that way, not only your own. "Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder." But I take your point. So just don't put a vote if you think yours is the best in a given selection. Thank you.
A lot of people don't want to write to such a tight deadline or to a prompt. That can feel a lot like homework! They want to work on their own stories, their own ideas. I did once enter a contest, but it was an open prompt and I had already written a story for an earlier c0ntest, after the contest was already over. Hey, the prompt was Labyrinth, and I love mythology! I found it impossible to resist. But I worked that story up over my own timeframe, and then later entered it into an open prompt contest. So I didn't feel like I was under a tight deadline. And really I just entered for fun. I almost won, but that was entirely unexpected, and in the tie-breaker I ended up losing. It's all good.
but not a significant one given that non entrants are also voting... at the end of the day the contests are a bit of fun for bragging rights and an electronic medal composed of a few pixels (if/when mingo or i get round to awarding them, and assuming the software plays ball), its not as though there's a prize fund or a publishing deal awaiting the winner so its really not worth getting excited about that kind of thing. the reason we come down on cheats is not so much the integrity of the contest itself as that a cheat is dishonest by definition and thus not someone we want as a member of the community as a whole
I make it a point of honor to vote in any competition I enter, and I'm pretty sure I've held myself to that, but like Moose said, voting isn't compulsory. There have been competitions where I've read all the entries (and I won't name them both out of courtesy and the fact that I honestly don't remember exactly which) where I thought that nobody deserved a win, so I just walked away.
No I get all that. If the software would allow, what I would consider is a prevoting period where all the entrants can vote, but the software would prohibit them from voting for their own work. And if they didn’t vote, then their entry would not be available for public vote. but I also see how ridiculous that is for something that is just for fun to bring the community together.
I would only withhold my vote if I honestly and sincerely thought my entry were the best in a competition. I would do that because it is a question of honour and an adherence to high morals to abide by the rules, which asks to vote for the best entry. That can't be changed. On the other hand it is forbidden to vote for one's own entry. This creates a logical contradiction (I MUST vote for what I consider the best, but I am NOT ALLOWED to vote for what I consider the best). So the only ethical and honorable action in such a case, in my opinion, is to withhold a vote if one SINCERELY thinks his or her entry is the best in a given selection. This is completely in line with the decision and opinion of Big Soft Moose as it is expressed a few posts before this one.
I really can't envisage a circumstance in which honour and high morals would dictate a vote for oneself, because most honour codes hold that a vote for one self is not the done thing. I was always taught that an officer and a gentleman should vote for his opponent as a matter of principal regardless of the quality of the competing entries. If we ever manage to upgrade to xen foro two there are a number of competition plug ins that we could use, chances re though that we wouldn't use something so complicated, more likely it would simply make it impossible for anyone to vote for their own entry.
I absolutely and totally agree. I hope I have not given the impression that I disagreed with this. I merely pointed out a scenario where this moral principle is in collision with another moral principle. I agree that the option of not voting by an entrant in a competition is the only valid choice therefore when he or she considers her or his own piece to be the best.
It's not really a big deal to me, I just ignore my story and consider which one is best. But I always find that other contestants have really good entries so it's not a dilemma for me at all. Perhaps it will be the same for you, as well. You're new so you've yet to actually participate. The contests are small but the entries are often surprisingly strong and impactful, so maybe this whole conversation will be irrelevant once you actually become a contestant. I really think that there will be a story that you will like, and will vote for. That said, I hope that I'll see you there!
Just wanted to say that the contests are so very fun. Great practice, and it's interesting to see how others end up interpreting the theme for the month. You find yourself writing things that you never would have considered without the prompt. Do hope you join in, off. I remember entering one contest and there were only three votes. Now it's routine to see a dozen, which is nice.
I so totally agree, Set2Stun. What I do with prompts is I mull it over in my mind then write the piece. But it only works for me in social situations. If I give myself a prompt, it does nothing. And some prompts just don't work. On the other hand, the shorter the time to work on the prompt, and the word limit is not too long, then my mind changes into an upper gear. You're right. Prompts are great! Thanks for the encouraging words.
I don't disagree with any of that, each to their own and all. My comment was intended to point out the paucity of interest in voting rather than entering, though that may not have been clear. I do make a point of voting, even when I'm not overly keen on the entries, because, entirely personal perspective, the engagement gives a little energy to my writing, whether for competition on WF or not.
Really it's immoral - voting for your own poem when it's set out that you vote for the poem that's most deserving - and if you need rules to prevent you from voting for your own poem - than you are shallow...no less.
I am a little late to the party, I see. But I'll contribute what I can. If there's no way to figure out who voted for whom, it might be best for contributors not to vote for anyone. That way, at least we know that no-one is voting for themselves. (Having said that, it might result in the ridiculous position of no-one voting for anyone at all). On the other hand, if we allow contributors to vote for themselves and no-one else, then yes - everyone starts out with one vote each, which is the same as everyone starting out with no votes at all. Then, everyone else can make up their own mind. (Having said that, winning by one vote - your own - is a bit ridiculous). Then again, not voting for yourself and losing by one vote can sting. But voting for yourself feels like cheating. It's as if Barney the Dinosaur started singing "I love me, I love me..." etc. Ugh. I won't pretend there's a simple solution to this. But it's an interesting conundrum.
It's only a simple contest, with no real prize except a warm feeling if you win, and a reasonable, if limited, critique of your work. So let's not lose a lot of time over it. I agree that it stings a bit to lose by one vote, especially if you lose to one you voted for only because you couldn't vote for your own, but, like someone above noted, your view of your own work might be biased anyway. On the other hand, it feels pretty good to get votes besides your own. I always aim to do the best I can and maybe get to the point where my own vote would be irrelevant anyway.
