I posted it in the 2D forum, but Bev suggested I should post it here as well. here's the original message: first of all - I think the votings on the 2d contest are VERY slim. It could be the time - the whole site seems half empty with ppl on vacation or something.. LOL.. but that's not my biggest concern. It's how the voting usually seems to go here.. I noticed it a while ago, and it's obvious in every AOM, contest etc vote - somehow, ppl are just too lazy! When I was voting for AOM last time, I noticed that the first featured artist had most votes.. coincidence? I don't think so, as it's not an isolated event. Few have the patience to go through the WHOLE list and galleries presented. What's even worse, is that once the voting results start showing, ppl jut look at those, and think - "hm.. I'll just check the first few, as the ones with 1 or 2 votes surely just don't deserve it". Yes, it happens, as I've been following many votes here (take the card contest for example) and once 2 or 3 images get more votes, more ppl watch them etc.. typical group influenced behaviour "If everyone else chose it, I think I agree with them". I just KNOW that if the voting results were hidden, MANY contests/votings would have ended differently. Just look at the statistics, and tell me if I'm wrong. It's more difficult to solve the "first come, first viewed" problem (like I said in the AOM vote), but it could be done - maybe a random order every time the page is loaded in a browser? I admit not being an expert on html stuff, so I don't know what's possible/practical.. Just feel bad about the lazyness deciding what's best.. especially at an art site.. it's not like we're in a restaurant, where you can go over the manu, and you order the first thing that looks good, not bothering to go on reading.. >:|

Some things we can't fix, apathy & laziness are part of human nature!! But I do think that changing the contest page to hide voting results might be a good idea.

I agree. I don't know any contest that has the voting results before the vote. At the very least, hide it until it's voted on by the member. Course, holding until the end would even be better...

Every month goes by and I have absolutely no idea when voting takes place. If I did, I don't have time to wade through countless gallery images of "nominated artists." I focus on Poser, and not much else. So if Poser artists can only be nominated or win 2 months out of the year, then I really don't have lots of interest. I don't think any of this is laziness. I had no idea we knew the results of the vote before it was finished. That doesn't sound good to me.

OK, I did post my entry in the galleries and tried to explain the contest and encourage members to come on over and look at all the entries. I didn't say vote for me, my intention was to get some of the roughly 1000 members that I see on line at any given time to come over to 2D. I thought of it as advertising the contest. I was also interested in having comentary on the work itself aside from the contest. If you wish , I will take it down. Let me know. I also think the 2 page design has a weird benefit to those on page 1, but even so, add up all the votes together and not many members have voted at all. Maybe contests being voted on should have their own catagory/forum. I don't know, just a thought. Barbara

I agree with something said in the 2d forum wich was that, they should be in a box on one page, tho this would take slightly longer too download, when you have browser problems or simply lazyness at least it means they are all in the same area, for me its really difficult too go through lots of pages (thats why my replying too peopole posting on my gallery is bad :P... but thats unrelated babble, sorry :)) I also think a rotation would be great, a similar thing is done on the Artists Page with the Slected thumbnails, that would work really well I think, even out the votes a little... Ronknights, this is not focused at people who only vote on the poser forums, I myself wouldent normaly go further than the 2d areas as my connections just not up for lot of browsing, its about the format and how some lazy people may just vote for the first picture becuase its the easiest too get too, and not takeing the time too go through the other entrys. /Satern.

I understand what you're saying. Contests are important to some people, especially if they've entered in them. I know some folks enter the contests for the sheer joy of it. Others, like myself, at least fantasize about winning a nifty prize. I haven't won a prize in a contest. In the end I don't care to try any more. On the other hand I've achieved more satisfaction from a well-done tutorial or freebie. And now I'm back to "art for its own sake," or maybe just a bit of satire.