Would it bother you?
 

My LQS had a challenge to use the Kona color of the year in a project (there are prizes, not sure what they are). The project could be a quilt, wall hanging, bag, table topper, home decor or clothing item; it had to use 25% of the Enchanted color in the project and measure at least 20" X 20" not sure how that works with a garment or home decor item but that was the challenge. There are 11 entries and are posted to Facebook for voting (you have join the Facebook group to vote) the vote list does not list the maker of the item just a picture and a brief description.

One of the projects has a cleaver use of fabric in a wallhanging that played off the Enchanted name (dragon scales) and was leading the voting and then yesterday 35 votes came in for a project that had previously been at bottom of the list.

Before anyone calls me out for being a poor loser let me state that I did not vote for my own project - there were 3 or 4 that I felt were more deserving and I voted for 1 of them. I showed to my husband and he even said he liked one of the others better than mine and it didn't hurt my feelings to know he thought someone else's was better.

It just seems to me that it is obvious the maker of the item which is currently in the lead lobbied for the votes that were cast as they all happened at once. It just seems that its not fair to the rest of the contestants in the challenge.

So my question is - Would it bother you?

Yes, it would. It does look rather "strange" that there were so many votes that came in all at the same time.

that is often a problem in that type of contest--happened to my husband with a flash fiction contest recently. But would also say I've seen it happen with the Viewer's Choice award at a guild show--bringing in all your family & friends to vote. Always leaves a sour taste with me.

That's why I don't bother with those "contests".

The type of person that needs a win that badly is a sad soul indeed. I would certainly say to her, congratulations on getting so many votes at one time to push you to the top, while looking straight into her eyes. I have no tolerance for anyone that scams to achieve. I would say I had no respect for them but those type people couldn't care less about my respect anyway.

It would definitely cause sour grapes! The higher the stakes, the more incentive to cheat!
Off subject, but, don't get me started on fishing tournaments. You wouldn't believe what people do to win! Stuff fish with ice or lead weights, previously frozen...

No, it wouldn't bother me because I realize that it is a popularity contest and not a statement of which item is best...

That is how those work, they aren't about the best, they are about who is the most popular.

I think these are set up to encourage people to get the word out about a website so it gets lots of new visitors, and maybe some of them will become customers. So any prize you win isn't about your ability to produce an item, it's your ability to direct people to their website.

So don't feel bad about asking people to go vote for you, because that is what the true contest is.

No, it would not bother me, it happens all the time, I see these types of contests all over Facebook. Some are fund raisers, other are not. I do not enter any contests, in my eyes my projects are always winners.

It would upset me because like you, I would vote for the one I thought was the best even if it wasn’t mine. It is unfortunate and the reason I no longer would be involved.

I entered one of those contests at a local quilt shop. We had to use certain fabric but could add some of our own material. The goal was to make 100 different blocks and use them all. I made a queen sized quilt and quilted it myself. Some folks made smaller projects but submitted them anyway. The winner did make a full sized quilt but had it quilted by a professional. In all honesty....I really think my quilt was in contention for the prize and I had done it all myself. The quilt who won had the most popular votes. What can I say. Anyway. I learned a lesson, that these types of contests are really a sales marketing ploy by the shop owner to sell more product and a popularity contest based on who you will have vote for you. It has very little to do with the actual quality of your work. And unlike a real quilt show, you do not get any feedback from professional judges on how to improve your work in the future. But I did enjoy the process of making the quilt using fabrics and a pattern outside of my usual and I did gift the quilt to my nephew and his wife who have chosen to use it in their guest bedroom.

Yes, it would bother me for a short minute and then I would move forward knowing the contest was 'rigged' somehow most likely by solicited votes. I usually don't bother with contest for that reason.

You have me laughing with the description of fishing tournament.

I have to say that I don't think quilt shop meant to make this an online vote. The original closing date for contest was May 15 and due to COVID 19 they extended to July 15. They were going to display all entries in store which they have done before and voting would take place there but since they were closed until June and now only allow a limited number of customers at a time with reduced hours they decided to make vote online. Anyway it is what it is and I was just wondering how others felt.

I have to say I did win a Viewer's Choice at a local quilt show. It was a total surprise as my quilt was not the best made. None of my family attended and all my friends had quilts entered too. That is the best kind of win feeling. I wouldn't trade it for a scam win at all.

Yes, that would bother me but rest assured that you are not the only one who noticed the influx of votes.

Watson

Yes, this! I do not even react to these any more.

I remember when Accuquilt had online voting for a winning block for the year. One quilter was so determined to have a win she flooded facebook with pleas to vote for the block. She said the most votes wins not if it was the best block so she said it wasn't cheating at all only self promotion and others were fine with it and defended her. It's hard to think there are so many like this in the world but there are and growing.

Contests like that can certainly bring out the worst in some people. It wouldn't bother me because if I enter anything like that, I just do it for the fun of it. One time, I won a little contest in my Bee. When they announced who won it, one of my friends said, "Oh, I thought that was Tina's." She had lobbied for Tina's project to win.

Life is too short, Shallow people will always be shallow people. I completely agree with rjwilder - see posted comment!

I've had it happen to me at car shows also. People learn pretty fast that they can get others to vote for them and vote themselves into prizes whether they deserve them or not. I avoid this type of contest now.

I'm not one to enter competitions but from what you said it's sounds like something elementary school kids would do!

I do not enter any contest. I don't have a competitive bone in my body.

Yes, it would bother me. Because I'm naive and wouldn't see the possibility for a different motive in someone's mind. I'm thinking, the best quilt wins, verses the one with the best marketing abilities and the most "friends". This is a good lesson when it comes to advertising of any kind. When traveling, I've learned to get off the beaten path, have lunch at a local restaurant, off hours and where the parking lot is mostly local license plates. Repeat customers know what the food's like.
I rarely enter these competitions unless I've got something I want people to see. And I prepare myself to not take it personally, even judges comments.

Clearly some of you are better souls than I...

Absolutely I would be bothered and mad as hell. That said - popularity contests are what they are and some people are still of a certain mindset firmly established during school elections.

I have been disillusioned with people recently. I am vetting small business to give them a 5,000 grant in my community. I have been amazed at the cheaters, liars and out right criminal attempt to get these grànts....good thing I am playing researcher and detective to catch the cheaters and award the deserving. But still saddened, most of us were raised better.

Wow what a jerk. I'm glad you won and not Tina. LOL

My friend watched one of those talent shows on TV and whenever she had someone she liked, she would call all of her friends to call in the votes for that person. It was kind of funny to me, because I don't watch those shows and couldn't care who wins so I just told her I would do it and then not do it. I didn't need to upset her or lecture her on the reason they limited the number of calls from a specific number.
I am of a different mindset though, in an online quilt shop deal and it being a last minute dark horse win, I would be more suspicious of the shop itself so it wouldn't have to pay off the winner. These are tough times and people do weird things. It's kind of like that - $10 gift certificate and low and behold the shipping and handling is $9.99 to start. That's nice if you need something else, but why not just say you won free shipping.

It would bother me also! In my retail management years my store won 3 national based contests. I knew just how hard we worked. The last one was a national sales and customer satisfaction based contest. Another store "won" initially, but was disqualified when it was discovered that too many of the satisfaction surveys repeatedly came from the same numbers. I don't understand win at any/all costs. How does one enjoy such a hallow victory?