This lets some space for definition. I'm not sure me would understand it.
??
IcemanBo said:
It works like:
- Topic discussion. Basicly it can be iniated by anyone.
- Result of discussion. When there is an appropirated result a mod will step in and approve the contest. He will be the maintainer.
- Host. The person who posts the contest thread is usually called host. In certain situations the mod himself will take this task or just permits a person.
It can be, but is not written in stones, that the initiator of the discussion is always the host. Basicly it should be a trust-worthy person.
- The host can recommend judges, rules additions, specifications and alike in case it's needed. He has no rights to do these things on hiw own, but must discuss it with the contest maintainer.
- The host will usually post results. Or the mod can also.
- If all goes fine, the maintainer will have no job and the contest will auto run. But in case there is an issue, then he is the person who should be contacted at first.
Let's sum up what a host is.
The host starts the contest thread.
He can feel free to take some voluntary tasks to help dealing with the contest.
In cases of problems he can act as medium to the maintainer and also helping to deal with it.
He can post the results.
All what goes beyong can be interpreted as presumption, and must not always be align with the official's oppinion.
Hm. Well, let me first say that I won't claim to know what the "official" stance is. Moreover, my interpretations/following statements come from my experiences, and I've only Hosted 3 such Contests in the past (created the "submission threads" for a few more, but yeah), so I can really only speak to what I've done/known.
That being said, AFAIK it goes something like this:
Thread | What? | Who? | Where? | When? |
Idea(s) | Suggest an idea, and/or gathers Ideas (i.e. Theme & other parts of Contest), and/or gauges interest. | Anyone (Users) | Contest Submission | Whenever |
Poll-Idea | A collated, collected list of all the results from the Idea(s) thread, put into a Idea Poll and formatted to receive votes & discussion. | Anyone (Users; generally the same guy who made the Idea thread) | Contest Submission | Sometime after the Idea thread |
Contest | The actual Contest thread (contains previously-agreed-upon Theme, Criteria, etc) | Anyone (Users, again generally the same from above) - Moved by Moderator) | Contest Submission -> to Arena | Generally after Poll-Idea thread, at reasonable (Start) time. |
Poll-Entries | An organized list of all valid entries with a resulting Poll, formatted to receive votes & discussion. | Anyone (User, often same as aforementioned) - Moved by Moderator | Contest Submission -> to Arena | As soon as the Contest is over |
Results | A thread showing the full Polling & Judging Results, along with the line-up & proclamation of winners (full disclosure of information is ideal), formatted for discussion & congratulation. | Anyone (User, often same as aforementioned) - Moved by Moderator | Contest Submission -> to Arena | As soon as Poll-Entries thread is over & results (Polling/Judging) are tallied & compared
|
(Sometimes the first two ("Idea" and "Poll-Idea") are combined)
Within that framework, it generally follows that only people who can literally modify the given thread (Administrators & Moderators always, but Users if the User in question has submitted the thread) are allowed to change any given element of the thread; that is to say, I as the Host of previous Contests would change the Criteria or Theme or whatever as needed.
However, I did not so arbitrarily; I would (nearly always) ask around to get consensus from potential Contestants and/or the Moderator/Administrator who was at hand. (i.e. it wouldn't do to change the Judging Criteria amounts, or change the Rules or the Theme, without getting some consensus first).
But for the most part, like you said the Contests just "run themselves" (though that's under-emphasizing the vast amount of work we Hosts expend in making these things happen; I'm sure you know that.
), with minimal interference from Mods/Admins if possible (just doing what the Users/Hosts cannot do themselves).
This is essentially what I've seen done & done myself, and not only has no one (moderator/administrator) called me out on it, I don't think I've ever even gotten an
implied "that's not the way it's done".
But again, just my experience(s).
IcemanBo said:
Iirc Fladdermasken made a sugar sweet graphic about a contest cycle, but I can't find it.
I would love to see it, if you find it. : )
)
