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Decided we should not have a theme to start with, as many people write from their feelings and emotions at the time, so that wouldn't be very fair, and it's quite hard to write a poem about a given subject.

Maybe introduce one later or nearer to Christmas ?

this sounded a very good idea from the first post and now im not sure whats what or whats happening ha

I would suggest later Granny,Xmas time is a busy time.

I dont think Marks suggestion was to keep the identity of the writers secret Granny, I think it was to keep the identity of the voters secret. Where his poll showed just two options of men , and women, I presume the poetry poll would have a bullet for every poem , and then people just vote for whichever they want to win, and then the winning poem and writer is identified? If you wanted two classes of winners eg humorous and serious, I guess youd have to have two seperate polls?

Mark if a dedicated thread was created by yourself, is there any way people could post their poems to it without identifying themselves ?

In the past we would use the poll for our "Car of the Year Competitions" and after a few years worked out a formula that would work for the member and the software we use on the forums to also give a air of tension and surprise.

Obviously a poem is not the same as a car, but the method is still the same.
We would have about 10 - 20 entries.
So the first poll was created to get us a top 3, from users voting.
Then the top 3 would go into a final vote.
We found keeping the results hidden until the end worked best as there was no influence to go with a trend.
And after 2 separate polls a winner was declared yeahhhh. . . .



We found that if you try and do anything with the word secret in it, it would back fire, so keeping it all public worked for us back then. So yes if you wanted to submit a poem submit it as the user you are. The if anyone found it had already been copy and pasted from google they would be disqualified before the vote / poll is locked in and created.

The Poll
The Users Names would be the vote options. (Not enough space to include the poem).
Users would not be able to see the results until after a time and date was set, this is the period of time you want to allow users to vote, too short, low votes, too long time period people forget.

When the time set has elapsed then the winner is declared !
its the forum software that displays the vote.

You can not find out from the vote who voted for who, and you cant stop a member posting what they have voted its just part of the territory.

I know your already thinking bloody hell can i be bothered.....
Well its great fun, and just wanted to help you along, in such away you can use the forum software to keep it in house.

The poll software is simple and basic its limited to its options and that's why its simple in its options.


No, sorry.

My Suggestion
Is run a competition per month.
Entries accepted for first 3 weeks.
Final week the vote.
End of the month the Result.

One entry per user.

I can make the poll if you give me the names, and when to show the results.

Once you get going its great.
I know its complicated right now, but its not really.

Found a working example :

Because we had so many entries we created a knock out round to leave only 3 Click Me

The poll is at the bottom of the first topic.
So you can see how the poes could be copied and pasted into the content of the topic so there all in one place.


The Final Vote : Final 3
This one you get more concentrated vote as there is fewer to choose from Click Me

Food for thought.

Would it be helpful to set a maximum number of lines for entries? The Chris Salmon Poetry Extravaganza asks for max 30 lines, for example. Having entries of similar lengths might make it easier for people to compare and choose.

Dont understand what that poll has shown up in terms of its use for poetry ? Only 6 votes anyway. Did it sort out what you needed it to Mark?

Its an option or tools you have with in the forums.
You dont have to use a poll, its just there if you need too.
Anyone can set up a poll if i remember you just need a bit of practice.


It gives you the ability to vote on a poem with out seeing the results until the very end.
And the results being displayed to all.

If you go down the road of a poll, drop me a pm incase i miss the topic.

Mark

ok thanks Mark . Granny has probably worked it out by now being 'oh wise one' but we'll see what final way she sees as the best to nurture this baby.

Oh no she hasn't !! Been away, read this and feel like going away again. Blimey Charlie.......Think I get the part about having a limited number of entries, the time factor and how the poem will be voted for i.e. by person identity. Haven't a clue how the vote would be set up. I would not know how to make the poll including all the names of the entrants, or how to receive the votes. Where would it show up etc. if it's behind the scenes ?

It sounds a good idea Mark, if it keeps on running. Do you think it would do so, as my original was just for a one off ? If it starts to flag (if it ever gets going) then a couple of entries here or there will still have to be voted for as a good will gesture toward the entrants. (this sounds like a major project, doesn't it ?)
BUT...we can try.

Greenwood, I think we have to maybe give it open to every option without putting restriction in place, otherwise people might feel impeded. A bit like setting targets. Most people work twice as well without targets because targets close down freedom of natural ability. (IMO)

How about:

1) Poems, Limericks, Raps, Odes, Nursery Rhymes.

2) Any theme

3) As long or as short as one wishes

4) Only ONE entry per session from each member

5) Two weeks to enter.......followed by one week for voting.

6) Overlapping the voting week, with starting a new session.

The voting thingy; I don't understand who would be setting that up and in control of it ........MARK , yes please !

sorry not read through all the suggestions--but one would be to have atrusted person to whom all the poems are pmd or emailed by a certain date. They then in turn post them all up with just a number or A-Z and just an open forum vote. So everyone can see the voting but not know the author.

Ha fish! Full circle - are you doing Spock type mind transfers now?

apologies Venice---- well your post was 3 days ago-doh!

LOL , it seemed a simple idea didnt it. Makes two of us simple minded