We need contest ideas!

Chris OConnor · Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:28 am

Do you have any ideas for contests? Be as specific as you can.

stahrwe · Fri Dec 10, 2010 8:15 am


	Chris OConnor wrote: Do you have any ideas for contests? Be as specific as you can.

Can't believe I am saying this but how about a skeptics version of the Twelve Days of Christmas?

Chris OConnor · Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:49 am

You're suggestion might be fun, but I think we should try to not turn this forum into a religious debate. Don't we have enough of those around here? LOL

Any other ideas that don't involve hurt feelings and confrontation?

stahrwe · Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:19 pm


	Chris OConnor wrote: You're suggestion might be fun, but I think we should try to not turn this forum into a religious debate. Don't we have enough of those around here? LOL Any other ideas that don't involve hurt feelings and confrontation?

I wasn't contemplating a debate or confrontation this would be a creative execise.

For example:

On the first day of Festivus
My true love gave to me
A druid in an oak tree.

On the second day of Festivus
My true love gave to me
Two Yule logs
and a Druid in an oak tree.

On the third day of Festivus
My true love gave to me
Three giant cats*
Two yule logs
and a Druid in an oak tree.

*in Iceland there is a legend of giant cats who arrive in the yule season to eat humans who were too lazy to help their neighbors prepare for winter.

anyway, you get the idea.

Chris OConnor · Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:37 pm

ROFL That's hilarious!

Would you like to create the contest thread? It can be your contest. I will soon be editing this forum to make it more inviting to members. There is no reason why members cannot create and run their own contests.

We are going to get away from giving free books away in most of the contests for a variety of reasons. But quit often the prospect of winning a free book had nothing to do with members willingness to participate in our contests. They did the contests because they were fun.

If you do set up a contest I strongly suggest you make the title of the thread start with "CONTEST:" or at least have the word "Contest" in the thread title. And then make the directions short and simple. A sentence or two or three should do the trick.

Make it clear that the contest is for fun and not free books. I think I will participate in your contest if you set it up as described. You just gave me some ideas.

Create a new thread...don't just start it in this thread.

Suzanne and I were in the chat room last night talking about ideas for the Contests forum. We both agreed that picking a "winner" is not easy, not necessary, and it can be really an unpleasant thing to do. When everyone is having fun participating in a contest I see no reason to select a winner and designate "losers." I think we can just run a contest and let people decide (in their own minds) whose contribution they liked the best.

Once in a while we can have contests with clear winners, but don't feel you have to create such a contest. The contest can be just for fun. That takes the pressure off everyone.

stahrwe · Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:10 pm


	Chris OConnor wrote: ROFL That's hilarious! Would you like to create the contest thread? It can be your contest. I will soon be editing this forum to make it more inviting to members. There is no reason why members cannot create and run their own contests. We are going to get away from giving free books away in most of the contests for a variety of reasons. But quit often the prospect of winning a free book had nothing to do with members willingness to participate in our contests. They did the contests because they were fun. If you do set up a contest I strongly suggest you make the title of the thread start with "CONTEST:" or at least have the word "Contest" in the thread title. And then make the directions short and simple. A sentence or two or three should do the trick. Make it clear that the contest is for fun and not free books. I think I will participate in your contest if you set it up as described. You just gave me some ideas. Create a new thread...don't just start it in this thread. Suzanne and I were in the chat room last night talking about ideas for the Contests forum. We both agreed that picking a "winner" is not easy, not necessary, and it can be really an unpleasant thing to do. When everyone is having fun participating in a contest I see no reason to select a winner and designate "losers." I think we can just run a contest and let people decide (in their own minds) whose contribution they liked the best. Once in a while we can have contests with clear winners, but don't feel you have to create such a contest. The contest can be just for fun. That takes the pressure off everyone.

I agree 100%. I've been robbed a couple of times when I was the clear winner but someone else got picked. I know it was all politics. Kidding.

I think BookTalk is moving away from merely a discussion site and becoming a cyber amusement park. Think about it; it has an arcade, and fun contests as well as discussions on literature, poetry, current events, religion.

Chris OConnor · Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:30 pm

You may be right. LOL

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