Writing Contest

Should we do one again? I'm up for it if you want to, and I think it would be good to calm things down and lighten up a bit. The only problem I see with doing it is that I might be offline for two weeks come July as we're switching ISP. It's likely that we'll just pay the old one for a month longer because practically the whole house sucks on this 'net teat (service for the tenants). It'd be awkward to shut it down for so long. And I cannot log in from work unless I can hack Webwasher

We'd need prizes, tho. I don't really have something of value to offer but maybe a surprise pack full of slightly used CDs or my old V3 cell phone

As for the system, I think what we did in the past with the anonymizing has been rather successful. I see no use in changing that.

Whatcha say?

Damn good idea. Get them thinking about something else, for a change.

Good idea, most everybody likes the Writing Contests. Awarding prizes has always been the difficult part. Whether insincere offers or trouble with exchanging shipping information it's always been a hassle. So instead of members donating prizes we should try to set up online prizes.

Amazon coupons are a good thing, IMHO.

It's going to look desperate.

The best way around that is the obvious tie-in of WF's Fourth Anniversary. It's time to plan a big, month-long bonanza of interest to counteract the drama.

Looking for a variety of places like Amazon to choose from for gift certificates or even a straight cash prize through PayPal would be cool.

Maybe let everyone have unlimited rep for the month of July.

Another logo contest...this time with catagories..Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas...winners will be used on the holidays. A New Logo overall...winner will be used for the month of August and then a vote to decide to keep the one we have now or the new winner.

Bring back the White Room....hide it, slap on an age verification thing and get it running.

New pips for July in celebretory colors.

Find a festive smilie set and replace the standards for July.

Have Best of Wordforge threads...Best this and that...not a contest, just discussions...make people remember why they love the place. Do one at a time and others will make more. If not add a new one every few days or so all month.

Stuff like this...make July a celebration of the Forge and make it big and festive and make people remember why they love it here.

Good idea. Make it so.

Oh wait . . . you're not a button-pusher any more. I have to make it so.

I don't care if it's a drama quelling tactic or not.

It would be fun. With unlimited for all it's not like anyone could do any great damage that couldn't be undone.

I think a new writing contest is a great idea!

A few points:

1. If we decide to have one, I'd wait just a bit longer before announcing it. Get a little distance between the and the contest.

2. I think the Amazon.com gift card idea is terrific. Everyone can find something they'd want at Amazon.

3. If we go ahead with this, I volunteer $50 toward prizes.

If we're gonna have bread and circuses, let's just have some dancing girls and gladitorial combat and do it right.