Regarding Advertisements & Competitions

[Kuroaitou]

NOTICE:

Due to several concerns pressed by fellow various community members, we've decided to help improve the fairness of all competitions by disapproving forms of advertisements for personal entries OUTSIDE the Poll Topic.

You may link and discuss cards in chat as long as you don't 'spam' the link, or advertise your submission by pretending to 'look for feedback'.

Here's an example of what you can and cannot do when a poll for a forum competition goes up:

GOOD:
"Hey guys, remember to take a look at the "X-Competition" on the forums! Try to vote before the deadline is up!" (In elements-chat) OR (In Kong-chat)
"Hey all, vote for my entry, #, in the 'X-Competition' ASAP please! It's a cool idea!" (In the Polls/Voting Topic)
"Hey guys, can I have feedback on my card at [link]?" (Once) (In elements-chat) OR (in Kong-Chat)

BAD:
"Hey all, vote for my entry, #, in the 'X-Competition' ASAP please! It's a cool idea" (In elements-chat)
"Hey all, vote for my entry, #, in the 'X-Competition' ASAP please! It's a cool idea" (In Kong-chat)
"Hey all, vote for my entry, #, in the 'X-Competition' ASAP please! It's a cool idea" (Anywhere else that isn't the Polls/voting Topic)
"Hey all, can I have feedback at [link]?" (5 Minutes later) "Hey all, can I have feedback at [link]?" (5 Minutes later) "Hey all, can I have feedback at [link]?" (In elements-chat) OR (in Kong-Chat)


Basically, advertisements for your own entries is heavily frowned upon outside of the voting topics, and if people provide evidence that you or someone else have been gaining votes simply due to excessive advertisement (in-chat, on Kong, through P.M.s, etc.), action may be taken accordingly based on the FCO's decision.

This is to hopefully improve the fairness of voting in all of the forum competitions, and to also prevent issues of extreme vote influence/swaying during any competitions. While the only thing one could win is an icon, if future awards are much more 'expensive' (i.e. - attractive to the community), these rules need to be in place to prevent such unbalancing popularity contests and variables.

Feel free to discuss any issues with this new standard.

[Dragoon1140]

Just so it is known, all CO's will support this clause.

Thank you, Kuro, for making a pretty OP. 

[asymmetry]

Awesome.

[QuantumT]

"Hey guys, remember to take a look at the "X-Competition" on the forums! Try to vote before the deadline is up!" (In Kong-chat)

This would be fine too right?

[Dragoon1140]

"Hey guys, remember to take a look at the "X-Competition" on the forums! Try to vote before the deadline is up!" (In Kong-chat)

This would be fine too right?

Keyword is this:
(In elements-chat)

[Kuroaitou]

"Hey guys, remember to take a look at the "X-Competition" on the forums! Try to vote before the deadline is up!" (In Kong-chat)

This would be fine too right?

What Dragoon1140 just said.

I should add that to the initial post though, so thanks QuantumT. ^^

[Hyroen]

How can forum members be assured that this doesn't occur in other chat rooms other than Elements Chat?

[willng3]

How can forum members be assured that this doesn't occur in other chat rooms other than Elements Chat?

Some of us keep Kong open while playing and also chatting in Elements chat.  If it helps, I'll do my best to watch for this kind of activity while on Kong (but that leaves 3 other rooms unaccounted for; not a good solution but it's a start).

[Dragoon1140]

How can forum members be assured that this doesn't occur in other chat rooms other than Elements Chat?

Trust, mostly.  We can't control all forms of advertisement, but we can encourage everyone to trust each other to have a fair, fun competition.

[QuantumT]

As long as people are aware of the rules, I don't think people will try to actively break them. Before it was a bit iffy, but not explicitly forbidden.

[Kuroaitou]

How can forum members be assured that this doesn't occur in other chat rooms other than Elements Chat?

A tough question, but here's my answer: it can't always be assured. I personally don't have access to everyone's P.M. inbox, chat histories, and whatnot, but if you spot someone advertising on any other chat room and screenshot it, you've done the community and participants a favor by giving us evidence to take action against those who are attempting to get illegal votes on these polls.

That said, chat moderators should also be aware of this sticky if possible - such personal ads will also be frowned upon in elements-chat.

[kobisjeruk]

How can forum members be assured that this doesn't occur in other chat rooms other than Elements Chat?

you cant
theres a direct solution and indirect solution
a direct solution is something akin to limit the voting option to those who has a certain number of post
this is to deter those who only come in here, register just to vote (believe me, it does happen)

this is more of an indirect solution...something that you cant be sure of unless you or someone else happens to be there when people do the act
but at least its better than nothing

edit: wow, 4 post before i get to submit...damn i'm a slow typer