I agree with most everything I have seen here except I would like to see voting done by PM (to the host) and not announced until the end of voting. I think that would end all of the front-runner bandwagon type of voting and add a needed element of anticipation to the vote. The reason the voting period seems long now is many people see who the winner is going to be, after only three days of public voting, and there are still 12 days of voting left.

There should still be a voting thread (with the instructions) and people can still post there as to who they voted for (and why) but the official voting and tally should be done by PM to the host. This will also eliminate the need to constantly post an update poll on the voting thread.

 

The only thing I disagree with on PM voting is that people should NOT announce who they voted for. I think that takes away from the whole "let's wait until the end to see who wins" thing. I don't think you can say "You shall not name who you voted for" in Gandalf terms, but, I think everyone should refrain from publicly announcing who they voted for. If you want to PM that person and tell them, that'd be fine, but by posting it, the voting process gets polluted.

 

A pm to the OP and the person he/she has designated to help track the voting is a good idea. I sort of like announcing it as one big surprise at the end.

 

I feel that just "hearing" that A got a vote here and C got a vote there would not reveal the actual vote total to anyone. I think it would add to the fun. Not everyone will post who got their vote but some will. As you say, don't make it a rule NOT to but don't require it either.

 

The voting process has been modified.

 

LOL...it would be fun to post things like "Yeah...I voted for gkhnhsuidhgn because I thought that story was best!" or "Babe, you know I voted for your story because you are soooooo sexy" or "I voted for Becky's story because it was HOT!" (and there wasn't a Becky's story!!)..........

...........I'm just a troublemaker at heart

 

If you are going to have rules, the rules should not have built-in loopholes or mitigators that encourage people to try and bend the rules because only their illegal actions will be undone. I think it should be made clear that if anyone breaks the rules, not only will their illegal actions will be sanctioned but they will be disqualified from participating in the challenge and all their actions will be undone.

HD

 

That works for me if everyone is in agreement.

 

+1

I'm good with all of that, pal!

 

I always posted my stories 2 days after the contest was announced... *ponders*

 

Crybaby

Since I have NEVER won a writer's challenge here;



I will add no suggestions!

 

I just hope the CAW host doesn't get banned! for revealing the content of all those PMs (votes) he recieved.

 

How do you all feel about that? Do you want your votes made public?

Barbies Butt Fuck - 1
horsewithnoname

Ken's Cuckold - 2
Elaken-Palmer, wantsomefun

Good Girls Make Great Partners - 1
ejls

 

I was just joking when I made that comment, but you could include a simple disclaimer stating that anyone who casts a vote by PM is consenting to have the contents of that PM revealed.

 

I would think that VOTING by PM would not be considered the same as sending a personal message by PM but it could be so stated on the voting thread... "All votes cast will be considered open votes on a public forum and will be published at the end of the challenge."

 

I actually like the whole waiting till the end to reveal who the winner is and the placement of everyone else. I think it will eliminate a lot of bickering on who is winning and why they are getting all the votes, but that is just me.

 

I have always been for anonymous voting and wouldn't mind seeing it used. Public voting also has its merits as far as verification goes.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

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We can take this one step further. Only if the race is close enough, or if one entry wins by a landslide, should the identities of who voted be revealed. In the event of a tie, the entrants can work in tandem on the next CAW or there can be a playoff of sorts between them. Maybe a thousand word entry on the topic of their choice or something to that effect?

 

Hmm... in previous contests, the voting was always a poll, and whether it was a public poll or not was the relevant question. I like how this would be completely private, so no one knows the tally beforehand to be influenced by. However, there would certainly be a thread that announces that voting has begun, and people who want to reveal their votes can say so there if they want to. This would not be mandatory. That's kind of like having exit polling at an election.

But to disclose private PMs defeats the entire purpose of creating the voting in that way. You might as well just make a public thread if you're going to do that. Besides, revealing PMs violates the standard forum rules that PMs cannot be made public regardless of content.