In a further effort to curb the cheating without really impacting the openess of the challenges too much, maybe it is time to change the password on the galleries, and
1) As each request comes in for the new password log the email and require the dpreview and challenge handles for the particpant (may be the same) - that way an email list corresponding to the nicknames can be generated. ie
Challenge Artist Name DpReview Handle Email
2) Require voters use both their challenge handle and their dpreview handle if they are different ie [CindyD (Sis-Q)] (the mystery voters don't seem to be even registered on dpreview - or use it???)
3) Require voters validate their vote by a simple "voted (nt)" post to the voting thread indicating they have voted. Any votes from a person that doesn't check in will be thrown out. This would make it more of a hassle for last minute friends/family/multiple personalities to vote because they would also have to register at dpreview and that is hard to do from one machine (my daughter and I had to share an account because we couldn't register more than one at dpreview from one machine even with different email addresses). Additionally, it would keep the voting thread active.
The host can have access to the email list and the updated list will be provided to each new host. This will allow the host to make a personal contact if there is an issue with an image, or if a question about the voting needs to be posed.
This won't prevent all cheating, but it would give the host some extra tools useful in gallery administration and make a more closed loop for voting - thus making it easier to identify oddities. I still wouldn't advocate participant-only voting, but at least registered (ie they got the password).
I would also suggest volunteer voting monitors to keep an eye on the voting irregularities since the host has plenty to do.
Cindy
--
The other half of 'Us' is now 'Lensbaby'
1) As each request comes in for the new password log the email and require the dpreview and challenge handles for the particpant (may be the same) - that way an email list corresponding to the nicknames can be generated. ie
Challenge Artist Name DpReview Handle Email
2) Require voters use both their challenge handle and their dpreview handle if they are different ie [CindyD (Sis-Q)] (the mystery voters don't seem to be even registered on dpreview - or use it???)
3) Require voters validate their vote by a simple "voted (nt)" post to the voting thread indicating they have voted. Any votes from a person that doesn't check in will be thrown out. This would make it more of a hassle for last minute friends/family/multiple personalities to vote because they would also have to register at dpreview and that is hard to do from one machine (my daughter and I had to share an account because we couldn't register more than one at dpreview from one machine even with different email addresses). Additionally, it would keep the voting thread active.
The host can have access to the email list and the updated list will be provided to each new host. This will allow the host to make a personal contact if there is an issue with an image, or if a question about the voting needs to be posed.
This won't prevent all cheating, but it would give the host some extra tools useful in gallery administration and make a more closed loop for voting - thus making it easier to identify oddities. I still wouldn't advocate participant-only voting, but at least registered (ie they got the password).
I would also suggest volunteer voting monitors to keep an eye on the voting irregularities since the host has plenty to do.
Cindy
--
Formerly half of 1ofUs or 1ofUs!
The other half of 'Us' is now 'Lensbaby'
