Comments on: Giveaway Day 02 http://www.seaslugteam.com/archives/2007/10/03/giveaway-day-02/ Yo Quiero Takako Bell Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:16:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Kabitzin http://www.seaslugteam.com/archives/2007/10/03/giveaway-day-02/#comment-66344 Kabitzin Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:23:46 +0000 http://www.seaslugteam.com/archives/2007/10/03/giveaway-day-02/#comment-66344 Chris, just found out that the weird words that you have to put in your comments have a purpose. It's to make sure that they can easily find your improperly eaten comments and retrieve them from Akismet. They probably should have made that clear from the start, though. Chris, just found out that the weird words that you have to put in your comments have a purpose. It’s to make sure that they can easily find your improperly eaten comments and retrieve them from Akismet.

They probably should have made that clear from the start, though.

]]> By: Kabitzin http://www.seaslugteam.com/archives/2007/10/03/giveaway-day-02/#comment-66336 Kabitzin Thu, 04 Oct 2007 02:33:19 +0000 http://www.seaslugteam.com/archives/2007/10/03/giveaway-day-02/#comment-66336 Also, none of these prizes are actually flowing through ProBlogger. I submitted a prize, and here's how it works. ProBlogger runs the contest and picks the winners. Then it provides a way for the sponsors and the winners to exchange the prizes. Our prize hasn't been put up yet, so I'm not sure how it works exactly, but that is what we've been told. Also, none of these prizes are actually flowing through ProBlogger. I submitted a prize, and here’s how it works. ProBlogger runs the contest and picks the winners. Then it provides a way for the sponsors and the winners to exchange the prizes. Our prize hasn’t been put up yet, so I’m not sure how it works exactly, but that is what we’ve been told.

]]> By: Jesus159159159 http://www.seaslugteam.com/archives/2007/10/03/giveaway-day-02/#comment-66335 Jesus159159159 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 02:25:38 +0000 http://www.seaslugteam.com/archives/2007/10/03/giveaway-day-02/#comment-66335 <blockquote>a scam to collect personal data.</blockquote> I don't think they'd do that either, but I am a tiny bit scared, since I've won the Mederma Scar cream. I'm glad you pointed this possibility though. I doubt its a scam, but I'll have to be more careful with these type of contests (I usually only enter contests officially from Nintendo. I can trust them for life! :D)(but never win anything -_-) Since Kabitzin entered his prize in this contest, I sort of felt safe entering. Lets just hope Kabi's not one of those scammers! right? ;) [spoiler]Kabi-kun: "hurr hurr yes! I now know the location of Jesus159159159's hardrive and have access to his Diary! MWA HAHAHAH! Now I can see what he says about me! Lets read todays entry!": <blockquote>"Dear Diary. Today Kabitzin updated his blog with a post that says 'Hotlink Protection Is Off', which really turned me on since it is a reference to The Legend of Zelda series and condoms. It can be read as: 'Hot Link's Protection is OFF' MMMMMM!!!"</blockquote> Kabi-kun: "OMG YOU FREAK!!! *blocks Jesus from commenting on blog*" Jesus159159159: "WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS!!!!"[/spoiler]

a scam to collect personal data.

I don’t think they’d do that either, but I am a tiny bit scared, since I’ve won the Mederma Scar cream. I’m glad you pointed this possibility though. I doubt its a scam, but I’ll have to be more careful with these type of contests (I usually only enter contests officially from Nintendo. I can trust them for life! :D)(but never win anything -_-)

Since Kabitzin entered his prize in this contest, I sort of felt safe entering. Lets just hope Kabi’s not one of those scammers! right? ;)
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]]> By: Kabitzin http://www.seaslugteam.com/archives/2007/10/03/giveaway-day-02/#comment-66324 Kabitzin Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:14:01 +0000 http://www.seaslugteam.com/archives/2007/10/03/giveaway-day-02/#comment-66324 Nah, it's ok Chris, there is nothing wrong with disagreeing, especially since you are being civil. Don't worry about spoiler tags. You bring up real concerns, and they are relevant to online giveaways. Plus they're giving me ideas about what to do should we ever hold a contest. (Oh BTW, your spoiler tags didn't show up because we are now only using forum-syntax for spoiler tags, i.e. spoiler enclosed in square brackets). Anyway, regarding your concern about the Find function in the browser, this is true, but if you consider that the first entry had 764 comments in 7 hours, it is not feasible to scan through the comments by hand. And that was only the first of three contests on the first day of 7 days of contests. I do feel that using a distinct phrase that no one would normally type is a reasonable solution. Also, it looks like most of the future contests will not have such weird commenting requirements. The one that just went up asks for real content tailored to your audience, and just requires you to link the article on their site. That seems very reasonable, and is a great way for participants to get publicity. Nah, it’s ok Chris, there is nothing wrong with disagreeing, especially since you are being civil. Don’t worry about spoiler tags. You bring up real concerns, and they are relevant to online giveaways. Plus they’re giving me ideas about what to do should we ever hold a contest. (Oh BTW, your spoiler tags didn’t show up because we are now only using forum-syntax for spoiler tags, i.e. spoiler enclosed in square brackets).

Anyway, regarding your concern about the Find function in the browser, this is true, but if you consider that the first entry had 764 comments in 7 hours, it is not feasible to scan through the comments by hand. And that was only the first of three contests on the first day of 7 days of contests. I do feel that using a distinct phrase that no one would normally type is a reasonable solution.

Also, it looks like most of the future contests will not have such weird commenting requirements. The one that just went up asks for real content tailored to your audience, and just requires you to link the article on their site. That seems very reasonable, and is a great way for participants to get publicity.

]]> By: Chris http://www.seaslugteam.com/archives/2007/10/03/giveaway-day-02/#comment-66323 Chris Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:03:18 +0000 http://www.seaslugteam.com/archives/2007/10/03/giveaway-day-02/#comment-66323 I've used spoiler tags because I really don't want to ruin the fun. I'd just like to further comment because I don't find your answer technically satisfying. Sorry, but I don't buy this explanation. The comments are public. Every web browser can search for phrases, also case-sensitively. I don't understand why they have too little time. I came up with this short list in 30 seconds and it's not like you can multiple contests which are almost identical. Do they have some deadline before the prizes expire? Otherwise, they have additional 24 hours between each daily contest to come up with next idea with a one week advantage I don't see the problem. Extending the contest over a longer period would gain a larger audience too. I’ve used spoiler tags because I really don’t want to ruin the fun. I’d just like to further comment because I don’t find your answer technically satisfying.

Sorry, but I don’t buy this explanation. The comments are public. Every web browser can search for phrases, also case-sensitively. I don’t understand why they have too little time. I came up with this short list in 30 seconds and it’s not like you can multiple contests which are almost identical. Do they have some deadline before the prizes expire? Otherwise, they have additional 24 hours between each daily contest to come up with next idea with a one week advantage I don’t see the problem. Extending the contest over a longer period would gain a larger audience too.

]]> By: Kabitzin http://www.seaslugteam.com/archives/2007/10/03/giveaway-day-02/#comment-66319 Kabitzin Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:34:08 +0000 http://www.seaslugteam.com/archives/2007/10/03/giveaway-day-02/#comment-66319 Oh, I should mention that I bet that the reason they are asking for a specific text phrase in the comment (which is case sensitive) is because they want to just do a simple query of the comments table in their database, and then run a random number test on the entries that fulfill the query. This way it is easier to tell who won without having to wade through comments that are not actually entries in the contest. I don't think it's meant to be a Google bomb or anything, since pasting the same phrase over and over again the comments doesn't really make Google rank a page higher. While perhaps these justifications could be made more apparent, I honestly believe it is more a result of trying to get everything done quickly and not scheming for some sinister purpose. BTW, when I run a contest, I'm going to have participants comment simply with their credit card numbers and security code to enter =D. Oh, I should mention that I bet that the reason they are asking for a specific text phrase in the comment (which is case sensitive) is because they want to just do a simple query of the comments table in their database, and then run a random number test on the entries that fulfill the query. This way it is easier to tell who won without having to wade through comments that are not actually entries in the contest.

I don’t think it’s meant to be a Google bomb or anything, since pasting the same phrase over and over again the comments doesn’t really make Google rank a page higher. While perhaps these justifications could be made more apparent, I honestly believe it is more a result of trying to get everything done quickly and not scheming for some sinister purpose.

BTW, when I run a contest, I’m going to have participants comment simply with their credit card numbers and security code to enter =D.

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