Would it bother you?
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,782
that is often a problem in that type of contest--happened to my husband with a flash fiction contest recently. But would also say I've seen it happen with the Viewer's Choice award at a guild show--bringing in all your family & friends to vote. Always leaves a sour taste with me.
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,845
Yes, it would bother me. Because I'm naive and wouldn't see the possibility for a different motive in someone's mind. I'm thinking, the best quilt wins, verses the one with the best marketing abilities and the most "friends". This is a good lesson when it comes to advertising of any kind. When traveling, I've learned to get off the beaten path, have lunch at a local restaurant, off hours and where the parking lot is mostly local license plates. Repeat customers know what the food's like.
I rarely enter these competitions unless I've got something I want people to see. And I prepare myself to not take it personally, even judges comments.
I rarely enter these competitions unless I've got something I want people to see. And I prepare myself to not take it personally, even judges comments.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 847
Clearly some of you are better souls than I...
Absolutely I would be bothered and mad as hell. That said - popularity contests are what they are and some people are still of a certain mindset firmly established during school elections.
Absolutely I would be bothered and mad as hell. That said - popularity contests are what they are and some people are still of a certain mindset firmly established during school elections.
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Keller, TX
Posts: 1,942
I have been disillusioned with people recently. I am vetting small business to give them a 5,000 grant in my community. I have been amazed at the cheaters, liars and out right criminal attempt to get these grànts....good thing I am playing researcher and detective to catch the cheaters and award the deserving. But still saddened, most of us were raised better.
#27
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,515
Contests like that can certainly bring out the worst in some people. It wouldn't bother me because if I enter anything like that, I just do it for the fun of it. One time, I won a little contest in my Bee. When they announced who won it, one of my friends said, "Oh, I thought that was Tina's." She had lobbied for Tina's project to win.
#28
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chula Vista CA
Posts: 7,403
My friend watched one of those talent shows on TV and whenever she had someone she liked, she would call all of her friends to call in the votes for that person. It was kind of funny to me, because I don't watch those shows and couldn't care who wins so I just told her I would do it and then not do it. I didn't need to upset her or lecture her on the reason they limited the number of calls from a specific number.
I am of a different mindset though, in an online quilt shop deal and it being a last minute dark horse win, I would be more suspicious of the shop itself so it wouldn't have to pay off the winner. These are tough times and people do weird things. It's kind of like that - $10 gift certificate and low and behold the shipping and handling is $9.99 to start. That's nice if you need something else, but why not just say you won free shipping.
I am of a different mindset though, in an online quilt shop deal and it being a last minute dark horse win, I would be more suspicious of the shop itself so it wouldn't have to pay off the winner. These are tough times and people do weird things. It's kind of like that - $10 gift certificate and low and behold the shipping and handling is $9.99 to start. That's nice if you need something else, but why not just say you won free shipping.
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,530
It would bother me also! In my retail management years my store won 3 national based contests. I knew just how hard we worked. The last one was a national sales and customer satisfaction based contest. Another store "won" initially, but was disqualified when it was discovered that too many of the satisfaction surveys repeatedly came from the same numbers. I don't understand win at any/all costs. How does one enjoy such a hallow victory?