Should have 25 post to enter. :2cents:
Members for members sake isn't really helpful to the site. It is content that drives the site. All you have to do is look at PH right now -- tons of members, no one posting. So nothing to read and be educated or amused or saddened by.
When we started this forum, we honestly thought at the end of the first year we would probably have 50 members. But we thought "Hey, if they are all contributing thoughts, ideas, recipes, etc. it won't matter that it is 50, it will be great content." So to have guests and lurkers might be nice for the guests and lurkers because they have great things to read, product reviews from members who spent some serious time, they see questions answered, photos posted, how to on cooks, etc etc -- but they take only and contribute nothing. I want to reward the contributors.
And yeah, someone could go in and post a lot of hellos, but they never know when a drawing might be and, as a retired attorney, I can probably write a rule that says your posts will be reviewed and if more than 50% are "welcome" posts, you are disqualified (I have never had a problem being a Blue Meanie :pig: and Bent isn't the only decision maker on these issues.)
as a retired attorney
as a retired attorney
My first thought at reading this is I bet you were a FIERCE attorney.
Members for members sake isn't really helpful to the site. It is content that drives the site. All you have to do is look at PH right now -- tons of members, no one posting. So nothing to read and be educated or amused or saddened by.
When we started this forum, we honestly thought at the end of the first year we would probably have 50 members. But we thought "Hey, if they are all contributing thoughts, ideas, recipes, etc. it won't matter that it is 50, it will be great content." So to have guests and lurkers might be nice for the guests and lurkers because they have great things to read, product reviews from members who spent some serious time, they see questions answered, photos posted, how to on cooks, etc etc -- but they take only and contribute nothing. I want to reward the contributors.
And yeah, someone could go in and post a lot of hellos, but they never know when a drawing might be and, as a retired attorney, I can probably write a rule that says your posts will be reviewed and if more than 50% are "welcome" posts, you are disqualified (I have never had a problem being a Blue Meanie :pig: and Bent isn't the only decision maker on these issues.)
wow , quotas . please delete my account .
cheers
Some people are shy or less experienced cookers and feel like they have nothing to contribute but yet have a desire to learn as part of the community. Over time, they should be able to get to 25 posts even if it is just asking questions about how to do things. We all learn when people ask questions.
I voted anyone. My caveat would be that they would have to be a member to participate and that guests and lurkers would not even know there was a drawing was going on.
Bentley,
What are you trying to accomplish by giving something away?If your goal is to increase membership to the site, then being a member should be enough.If you want to reward long time members, then pick a time window by which they must have subscribed.If you want to reward active members, then why not use the number of posts as a weighting for the drawing? Someone with 100 posts has 100 more entries than someone with 1 post.
Personally, I'd make it open to anyone who is a member, even if they registered just to enter.Sure some people will register and never come back, others might discover the site because of a giveaway.I'd optimize for growing membership.
Some people are shy or less experienced cookers and feel like they have nothing to contribute but yet have a desire to learn as part of the community. Over time, they should be able to get to 25 posts even if it is just asking questions about how to do things. We all learn when people ask questions.
I understand what you are saying Lew, but this is a very welcoming and accepting group of folks. There are many avenues to participate. Asking a question is good. Posting a photo of your pit or a cook. Responding to a question on a favorite rub or sauce. Heck, doing a review of a favorite rub or sauce, there is no right or wrong answer for your tastes and preferences. I just want folks to realize that forums die without some real participation and input. All are welcome to read, but I appreciate more those that will even take the time to snap a photo and tell what they are cooking for Super Bowl Sunday.
This is an issue that has the potential to be pretty divisive among our members. I am a member with relatively few posts and I see merits to most of the arguments being made. The one thing I definitely can agree on is that a person has to be a member prior to the lottery being announced. As to the number of posts required I believe the higher the required number is the more danger there is in it becoming an exclusive domain of experienced cookers. It may create a perception of exclusiveness to the detriment of our welcoming goal.I honestly see it differently, it truly could help more folks share/post.
For sure you should be a member prior, ....
With the idea of keeping people from signing up just to be able to enterFor sure you should be a member prior, ....
Why?
I think it should just be if someone is a member at the time of the drawing. One way to ruin this site is to have a few thousand people show up and just start making useless posts in order to qualify for a drawing. Trust me, it will happen. We will have to wade through post after post of random "hey what pellet grill is the best" and "pellet grills are awesome" posts from people just trying to qualify. Then, as soon as the contest is over, they will go away. It is better to use contests just to get the word out about the site. Yes, it's possible that someone that isn't a regular might win, but it will also likely bring in a lot of new posters that wind up sticking around and make the site better.
To me it comes down to 1 thing. What is the purpose of a "Pellet Fan Giveaway"? Are you trying to get new members to join, whether they contribute or not, or are you trying to reward members that have contributed to the site that helped make it what it is? Personally, I am a fan of a minimum number of posts (use you lawyer wording skills to minimize padding the post count), which ensures the winner has made some meaningful contribution to the site. I have never been a big poster, and I doubt I ever will be. If I do not have enough posts, so be it. It is my own fault for contributing enough.
If you let any new member be in the drawing, without some minimum number of posts, what prevents a member from logging in under 25 different new handles and giving himself 25 times the chance to win than the other members that have contributed to the web site for years and only log in under their real handle?
I think it should just be if someone is a member at the time of the drawing. One way to ruin this site is to have a few thousand people show up and just start making useless posts in order to qualify for a drawing. Trust me, it will happen. We will have to wade through post after post of random "hey what pellet grill is the best" and "pellet grills are awesome" posts from people just trying to qualify. Then, as soon as the contest is over, they will go away. It is better to use contests just to get the word out about the site. Yes, it's possible that someone that isn't a regular might win, but it will also likely bring in a lot of new posters that wind up sticking around and make the site better.
I think it should just be if someone is a member at the time of the drawing. One way to ruin this site is to have a few thousand people show up and just start making useless posts in order to qualify for a drawing. Trust me, it will happen. We will have to wade through post after post of random "hey what pellet grill is the best" and "pellet grills are awesome" posts from people just trying to qualify. Then, as soon as the contest is over, they will go away. It is better to use contests just to get the word out about the site. Yes, it's possible that someone that isn't a regular might win, but it will also likely bring in a lot of new posters that wind up sticking around and make the site better.
Not really following why there would be spam. If all we say it anyone can enter, no post count required, then folks sign up, and their first and last post is "Enter me in the contest." I saw it all the time on PH. No spamming, just lots of people who were brand new members making one post to enter the contest.
Still have not heard any explanation of why someone who signs up after a freebie is announced and whose first post is "Enter me" is different from someone who has been a member for months and their first post is "Enter me."
To me it comes down to 1 thing. What is the purpose of a "Pellet Fan Giveaway"? Are you trying to get new members to join, whether they contribute or not, or are you trying to reward members that have contributed to the site that helped make it what it is? Personally, I am a fan of a minimum number of posts (use you lawyer wording skills to minimize padding the post count), which ensures the winner has made some meaningful contribution to the site. I have never been a big poster, and I doubt I ever will be. If I do not have enough posts, so be it. It is my own fault for contributing enough.
If you let any new member be in the drawing, without some minimum number of posts, what prevents a member from logging in under 25 different new handles and giving himself 25 times the chance to win than the other members that have contributed to the web site for years and only log in under their real handle?
I really really really don't like the "meaningful contribution" part of this post. Does this mean that someone is going to check all of your posts and decide whether or not they are good enough to count? That seems very arbitrary to me, and open to bias, which, if we know anything about people today, is going to cause a huge stink when someone thinks they would have won if their posts counted.
As far as logging in under 25 different handles, that is easily enough checked by the IP addresses that people signed on with. Only one entry per IP address.
It is better to use contests just to get the word out about the site.
Some people don't like to post frequently. I read a ton of posts on here but don't comment. Is that wrong??
Maybe someone newer to the forum, who is looking for their first pit wins. They will tell others about where they got there pit, resulting in additional members.
This is not a democracy.
I have never been a big poster, and I doubt I ever will be. If I do not have enough posts, so be it. It is my own fault for not contributing enough.
Sounds like most have x amount of posts prior to the drawing is announced may be the way to go.
This means nothing to me! I don't need to get the word out about the site. If no one else sighed up for this from this point on, it would not bother me, as long as 99% of the people who are here now stay!It is better to use contests just to get the word out about the site.
And I just happen to pick this post, so don't feel the comments are aimed directly at you, they are not.
Let me be clear...This is not regarding "Pits" I have said it before and I will say it again. I WILL NEVER HAVE A DEAWING FOR A PELLET UNIT THAT HAS BEEN PEFORMANCE TESTED ON THIS SITE!
Now having said that, something that has been donated for a Product Review, a blender, a vac sealer, a grinder, this is what I am talking about...
And no there is nothing wrong with people who do not comment on this site, and there is nothing wrong with them being on this site...But the ones who do comment and add content, I want to reward them more then the person who just reads...Very blunt, but very simple for me!
And to be even blunter and colder, do I care if I alienate that person? NO I DON"T...why would I if they are NOT CONTRIBUTING!Some people don't like to post frequently. I read a ton of posts on here but don't comment. Is that wrong??
Maybe someone newer to the forum, who is looking for their first pit wins. They will tell others about where they got there pit, resulting in additional members.
But the ones who do comment and add content, I want to reward them more then the person who just reads...Very blunt, but very simple for me!
And to be even blunter and colder, do I care if I alienate that person? NO I DON"T...why would I if they are NOT CONTRIBUTING!
Just curious. It seems that you already knew what criteria you were going to go with, so why did you ask us? I totally feel used..lol :)
May I ask why even have the first two answers? Could have been just how many posts. 20, 30, 40 50 or other?
Mudflap
Thank you for this, I just assumed everyone knew that. You all have no idea when the drawing might take place, I can assure you that when I announce it, if you don't have X amount by that time, you ain't qualifying!Sounds like most have x amount of posts prior to the drawing is announced may be the way to go.
Just throwing this out there for discussion or food for thought. I recall joining and researching Pellet Grills for almost a year, reading only before I made a decision to purchase the PG1000 in June of 2011. I might have asked a question or two, but certainly did not post as an "active member." Now I'm saying this only to bring up the possibility of using "data" from a profile, i.e. "Total Time Spent Online." Could this be of value in determining commitment? Like I said, just throwing this out there...
Doug
Whatever decision is made, i will abide by it, but when you have the next ticket sale/survey, Could you please either sticky it to the top of the forum, or add a new section just for the contests? I missed the uuni one and the survey one due to not seeing them on time.
Whatever decision is made, i will abide by it, but when you have the next ticket sale/survey, Could you please either sticky it to the top of the forum, or add a new section just for the contests? I missed the uuni one and the survey one due to not seeing them on time.
I assumed it would take at least a week.
I thought a month would be fast!
Why does everyone assume it is his decision? If folks only knew......
Why does everyone assume it is his decision? If folks only knew......
Except I am a sister, not a wife and an older sister to boot!
Except I am a sister, not a wife and an older sister to boot!
Except I am a sister, not a wife and an older sister to boot!
I need to 1st say, this is not for anything upcoming, I REALLY need people to believe that as there is NOTHING to be drawn.
I am sure most just feel I am a liar...I had no idea this pellet give away was coming!