Possible change to the monthly photo contest

[icvanstra]

All,

There has been a discussion about changing up the photo's used in the upper left corner of the forum. For a long time the photo was of my favorite DS in the world - CINO! Then it was suggested that we should maybe have a rotation of photo's and we decided to use the winner of each month's contest. Just rotating photo's of Cino didn't seem right to some people...

This has worked well except for a few occasions where the contest has been oriented around something like Christmas, spring, or fall ... we do the contest at the appropriate time of the year but the winning photo isn't up until two months later.

So, we have been thinking about ways to get more appropriate photo's up at the right time of the year. One suggestion was to have the contests two or three months before the appropriate event. The downside to this is that everyone must dig through their photo's from the year before and excludes anyone from setting up a new photo-op at that time.

Another idea was thrown out that we start using the winner from one year ago when it comes to these seasonal/calendar based types of contests. With another years worth of contests I think we could do this a little better... but, there is the joy in seeing the winning photo up right away!

Right now I'm leaning towards doing a bit of a hybrid until we get a bigger collection of winners.

...

I would like to hear some input on how you feel about using past winners versus having contests in advance of the seasonal/calendar themed contests versus some other ideas?

[leih merigian]

I think to wait a whole year to see your winning picture on the banner/masthead would be kind of counter-productive. The reward is supposed to quickly follow the behavior .

One idea...ditch the holiday themes. Then there's no conflict.

Another...who cares? A cool picture is a cool picture, regardless of the time of year. I mean, it's just us anyway, right?

That's all

[felixone123]

I think to wait a whole year to see your winning picture on the banner/masthead would be kind of counter-productive. The reward is supposed to quickly follow the behavior .

One idea...ditch the holiday themes. Then there's no conflict.

Another...who cares? A cool picture is a cool picture, regardless of the time of year. I mean, it's just us anyway, right?

That's all

I agree with Leih. I like seeing the winning picture as soon as possible - so, yes, who cares about the time of year?

[Christie M]

Well here's a question - if the contest is posted with a theme that will be relevant in 2 months, will that discourage people? I posted a Sinterclaus (sorry - sp??) picture and it was the Feb picture. But it had grass in it and I likely would have taken it in October if that was when the contest was...so that it would run in December. So would posting themes 2 months before they are relevant effect people's ability and desire to submit?

[felixone123]

hmmmmmm.......another good point from Christie. Will hv to think about this.

[leih merigian]

I don't know, Christie, it probably depends on the holiday. (I'm thinking I wouldn't want to get out my Christmas lights, for example, in October...)

It wouldn't exactly bother me tho...

[Raven]

Looking at this from the perspective of a former position, keeping things "generically specific" worked best and the public was happy. Relating to this topic, avoiding holiday themes. Example: there could be a month where "presents" is a theme, where the interpretation is open to the submitter (Christmas, dog gets a new bone, dog brings home a dead squirrel in June, whatever). Example: a month for "celebration," again open to interpretation, allowing people a variety of photos from which to chose. (During the month of "Welcome," Christie could have submitted her "Santa's Welcoming Committee"--and I would've voted for it even if that months' contest was in April. I did, anyway, but....)

In regard to giving people time for fresh photos in lieu of hurriedly scouring for old ones/trying to orchestrate new ones, an option would be to post the years' themes in advance or X-number of months' worth of themes in advance.

[Dutchringgirl]

I just love seeing cute pictures of the dogs no matter what. I do agree though that doing holiday themes before may be a pain only because no one gets their holiday stuff out that early. I dont mind seeing any holiday pictures 2 months after. I also think an anything goes is fine too. A year later is counter productive becuase what if the person isnt around anymore to enjoy it. I do like the themes.

[CaroleBoaz]

Since I'll never have a winning photo, I don't really care.

[GSDNanny]

You all are splitting hairs here. I say post them whenever. Surprise us. Heck, I love seeing snow pics in the middle of the 100+ degree summer. Anytime there are pics posted of a Dutch Shepherd is fine by me.

[vneerland]

I never have a winning picture either, but I do seem to care

It is strange to me (I will admit) to see a Christmas theme at the top of the page, when my daffodils are flying out of the ground. Call me crazy, but I like my Christmas decorations up at Christmas.
The appropriate theme could be created by
1. possibly announcing the contest months ahead of time. Example: the January contest will be 'diet'. Opens on November 1st, votes on December 1st and posts on January 1st. The February contest will be 'leap year' Opens on December 1st, votes on January 1st, posts on February 1st. Etc etc. Post a list of 6 months ahead of time, and open the contest so the winning picture will reflect the current 'mood'. Some digging or rigging on behalf of the poster may be required.
2. announcing the contest month by month, but posting the outcome (example: Christmas) at the appropriate time of year, which could mean a maximum of a year waiting time for the winning pic to emerge.
3. Avoiding (holiday) themes all together. I admit that I would consider that a shame.

And of course, there is a possibility that I am the only one who would love to see pumpkins in the fall, and daffodils in spring. In which case, we leave things like they are.

[alspyce]

Skip a month now and let things catch up to themselves? After all, who in their right mind goes camping in the middle of winter??? And with no electricity!!!!

Seriously, I would have hated to miss this yrs. Santa photo, or Thalie in the pool with her sunglasses when the temps were so high in the summer!

There are great minds on the forum---I have faith that It'll get worked out----

[Raven]

You all are splitting hairs here.

[icvanstra]

I never have a winning picture either, but I do seem to care

You have to buy a lottery ticket to win.

It is strange to me (I will admit) to see a Christmas theme at the top of the page, when my daffodils are flying out of the ground.

Some of the holiday/calendar based themes are never going to work 100%. You have daffodils and we have snow.

In the last four days I have heard people talk about three things - the unseasonably warm weather, the tornado's and the unseasonably cold weather.

I do agree a Santa Claus/Sinterclaus photo in February is a bit off though...

[icvanstra]

...okay... okay...okay... I have the solution!!! From now on we only have pictures of Malinois!


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JUST JOKING!!!!

[icvanstra]

The reward is supposed to quickly follow the behavior

hmmm...clicker training

[vneerland]

You have to buy a lottery ticket to win.

I did. Once or twice.

Some of the holiday/calendar based themes are never going to work 100%. You have daffodils and we have snow.
In the last four days I have heard people talk about three things - the unseasonably warm weather, the tornado's and the unseasonably cold weather.

True, of course. I will immediately state that I do not endorse a "tornado" contest theme. And for the rest, we might just have to accept a theme that fits the average current events. Like camping in February, indeed.

...okay... okay...okay... I have the solution!!! From now on we only have pictures of Malinois!

Okay!!! Can I post fawn DS's too? And how about the Santa Claws theme. Will that run in Oktober or December?

[Marjolein]

hmm, as a long-time contest creator *ahem* I happen to know that at one point you will run out of theme's anyway
I would suggest we do not do holiday theme's and keep putting up the winning photo, I really like that.
In order to get into a holiday spirit, which we all like, I would suggest some nice clip-art on the banner on top of the forum, not that hard to do. I would even volunteer creating some banners for each holiday (christmas, easter, thanksgiving, koninginnedag ) We would still have thie winning photo in the banner like it is now.
Just an idea

[icvanstra]

hmm, as a long-time contest creator *ahem* I happen to know that at one point you will run out of theme's anyway
I would suggest we do not do holiday theme's and keep putting up the winning photo, I really like that.
In order to get into a holiday spirit, which we all like, I would suggest some nice clip-art on the banner on top of the forum, not that hard to do. I would even volunteer creating some banners for each holiday (christmas, easter, thanksgiving, koninginnedag ) We would still have thie winning photo in the banner like it is now.
Just an idea

ahhh... refreshing! someone thinking outside the box!!! If you come up with DS themed holiday banners I would definitely give them a try. Are you using them on the NL language board? ...I know...I haven't been there in a while.

[Marjolein]

hmm, as a long-time contest creator *ahem* I happen to know that at one point you will run out of theme's anyway
I would suggest we do not do holiday theme's and keep putting up the winning photo, I really like that.
In order to get into a holiday spirit, which we all like, I would suggest some nice clip-art on the banner on top of the forum, not that hard to do. I would even volunteer creating some banners for each holiday (christmas, easter, thanksgiving, koninginnedag ) We would still have thie winning photo in the banner like it is now.
Just an idea

ahhh... refreshing! someone thinking outside the box!!! If you come up with DS themed holiday banners I would definitely give them a try. Are you using them on the NL language board? ...I know...I haven't been there in a while.

I'm not...yet As I was writing this I thought it would be fun. On the Dutch board we have 4 pictures that we rotate according to the season. It would be way more fun to have the whole banner in the right theme.
If I find some time I'll make some simple ones, to see what everyone thinks

(I checked, it's the "inner" layer you would have to change, the search box, photo and text will remain as it is, just have to make sure I don't put any things behind those...)