In our ongoing efforts to keep DPC a fun and fair place for friendly competition, SC has been looking more closely at possible incidences of irregular voting. This is defined in the TOS as:
“You may not… offer or cast biased votes for any other user” and “You may not… vote in a manner that suggests an intent to disrupt the voting system”.
We investigate every reported allegation but fortunately, only a fraction turn out to be "targeted". A violation of this (or any other) TOS will result in a suspension from the site, or even a permanent ban, should circumstances warrant it. As a result of our investigations, we have identified several instances of such "targeted" and "strategic" voting, and have suspended the members engaging in it. They will not be named. Don't ask.
To be clear, we study an individual's entire voting pattern, not a specific vote on a particular image. Likewise, we recognize that people may vote on the low end of the scale in general. This does not constitute "targeted" or "strategic" voting.
We take this activity very seriously, as it has a corrosive and deleterious impact on our community. So don't do it.
Will there be any recalculation of results as a result of finding these irregular voting practices?
And Pandora's box has been opened.
I wouldn't count on it, due to the sheer volume of work involved, but you have a point, especially if any of the images were ribbon winners or contenders...
I also doubt it because I have it on good word that the victims don't even know who they are, and won't find out, if a recalculation happened, that would potentially reveal too much information - so for the most part you should probably just count on this being left alone, and know that the guilty have been punished.
In a sense, all "police work" is random. We see signs of something suspicious, we investigate, we take action if necessary. But we're always looking, anyway :-)
I don't know the official answer to the "recalculation" question, but it is most likely "no". Since these types of votes are few and far between, it is highly improbably that they would affect the score sufficiently to alter image placement. Plus the suspension does not affect membership, just participation. In any event, even photos from people who have been banned remain in place.
I have a sense of humor -- I just don't find this thread the proper venue for such expressions ... besides I don't think those statements are particularly funny, but seem to trivialize what is for the site (and certainly certain individuals) a serious matter.
I have plenty of contributions in the thread set aside Just For Some Laughs -- even a couple I made up myself. If you want funny, go there ...
I have a sense of humor -- I just don't find this thread the proper venue for such expressions ... besides I don't think those statements are particularly funny, but seem to trivialize what is for the site (and certainly certain individuals) a serious matter.
I have plenty of contributions in the thread set aside Just For Some Laughs -- even a couple I made up myself. If you want funny, go there ...
I was joking man. The sense of humor bit was me suggesting that you ban the jokers, you know, because it'd be funny.
I have a sense of humor -- I just don't find this thread the proper venue for such expressions ... besides I don't think those statements are particularly funny, but seem to trivialize what is for the site (and certainly certain individuals) a serious matter.
I have plenty of contributions in the thread set aside Just For Some Laughs -- even a couple I made up myself. If you want funny, go there ...
I was joking man. The sense of humor bit was me suggesting that you ban the jokers, you know, because it'd be funny.
At this point I might just decide to take a break and suspend myself ... ;-)
