Do you let staff participate in contests?

[Geoffrey]

Earlier there was an impression of talking about posting contests. So I also mentioned about other kind of contests, for example: referral contests, or some kind of forum banner contests, or forum quizzes related to specific topic the forum covers, or treasure hunt contests, or battles, or polls, and so on.

So you're still talking about larger competitions. Like you added, staff would likely be running those (at least all but the first two). As for referral, shouldn't staff be referring and bringing members where possible anyways? Just like with posting, why let them win something when they're just doing their job.

I was thinking, when you said other contests, of smaller things like caption contests, name that pokemon, name that celebrity, sotw, aotw, etc. in which case I see no harm in staff participating assuming of course they aren't the one running it but that should be obvious.

 

[Migi]

So you're still talking about larger competitions. Like you added, staff would likely be running those (at least all but the first two). As for referral, shouldn't staff be referring and bringing members where possible anyways? Just like with posting, why let them win something when they're just doing their job.

I can understand this part. Well, I personally think pulling someone to join a forum is a tough work. So I wouldn't mind letting my staff members joining and then rewarding them if they win the referring contest. This is subjective, though. It is indeed their job, but because it is not an easy task I think once in a while at least they deserve their rewards too.

I was thinking, when you said other contests, of smaller things like caption contests, name that pokemon, name that celebrity, sotw, aotw, etc. in which case I see no harm in staff participating assuming of course they aren't the one running it but that should be obvious.

If that is the case, then indeed they can participate, as long as they are not the one running it.

 

[Geoffrey]

If that is the case, then indeed they can participate, as long as they are not the one running it.

Or they don't have another unfair advantage, like in the posting contest example, already an largely active poster and being unfair competition to members.

Another problem would come in when the staff are supplying some of the prizes for the contest, so they really have nothing to gain and are just keeping members from winning by being in the event.

 

[Migi]

Or they don't have another unfair advantage, like in the posting contest example, already an largely active poster and being unfair competition to members.

Oh? It doesn't seem unfair to me if the staff member is an active poster. I think instead it would be a great "mood boost" for members to be even more active and beat this staff member to prevent him/her from winning.

If you want to play some "tricks", you can let staff members participate but have an agreement before hand that they will not get the prize if they win or will get a smaller compensation and give the contest prize to the highest-posting member. This can be one of the ways to encourage members to post more as they have more "enemies", but the deal should be kept in secret between staff members.

Another problem would come in when the staff are supplying some of the prizes for the contest, so they really have nothing to gain and are just keeping members from winning by being in the event.

Well, if a staff member takes part in contest he/she sponsored, it is not a good idea then. It means he's getting his own prize. No sponsors would do that. XDD

 

[Jay]

It really depends on what type of contest it is. If it's a posting competition for example, it wouldn't be fair to members because staff members already are required to stay active and moderate the forums as part of their job.