Three Dog Night

My LQS had a challenge to use the Kona color of the year in a project (there are prizes, not sure what they are). The project could be a quilt, wall hanging, bag, table topper, home decor or clothing item; it had to use 25% of the Enchanted color in the project and measure at least 20" X 20" not sure how that works with a garment or home decor item but that was the challenge. There are 11 entries and are posted to Facebook for voting (you have join the Facebook group to vote) the vote list does not list the maker of the item just a picture and a brief description.

One of the projects has a cleaver use of fabric in a wallhanging that played off the Enchanted name (dragon scales) and was leading the voting and then yesterday 35 votes came in for a project that had previously been at bottom of the list.

Before anyone calls me out for being a poor loser let me state that I did not vote for my own project - there were 3 or 4 that I felt were more deserving and I voted for 1 of them. I showed to my husband and he even said he liked one of the others better than mine and it didn't hurt my feelings to know he thought someone else's was better.

It just seems to me that it is obvious the maker of the item which is currently in the lead lobbied for the votes that were cast as they all happened at once. It just seems that its not fair to the rest of the contestants in the challenge.

So my question is - Would it bother you?

bearisgray

Yes, it would. It does look rather "strange" that there were so many votes that came in all at the same time.

quiltingshorttimer

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.

sewbizgirl

That's why I don't bother with those "contests".

Onebyone

The type of person that needs a win that badly is a sad soul indeed. I would certainly say to her, congratulations on getting so many votes at one time to push you to the top, while looking straight into her eyes. I have no tolerance for anyone that scams to achieve. I would say I had no respect for them but those type people couldn't care less about my respect anyway.

Tartan

There is always a problem with voting by computer as the person with the most computer savvy friends can stack the deck. If it is a contest, it should be fair.

aashley333

It would definitely cause sour grapes! The higher the stakes, the more incentive to cheat!
Off subject, but, don't get me started on fishing tournaments. You wouldn't believe what people do to win! Stuff fish with ice or lead weights, previously frozen...

JENNR8R

No, it wouldn't bother me because I realize that it is a popularity contest and not a statement of which item is best...

Macybaby

That is how those work, they aren't about the best, they are about who is the most popular.

I think these are set up to encourage people to get the word out about a website so it gets lots of new visitors, and maybe some of them will become customers. So any prize you win isn't about your ability to produce an item, it's your ability to direct people to their website.

So don't feel bad about asking people to go vote for you, because that is what the true contest is.

rjwilder

No, it would not bother me, it happens all the time, I see these types of contests all over Facebook. Some are fund raisers, other are not. I do not enter any contests, in my eyes my projects are always winners.