The Official 2018 Calendar Contest Thread

[DesignFlaw06]

Don't be so defensive! I (usually) put a positive spin on whatever you post, I certainly didn't take offense.

DAMMIT MAN, quit attacking me! Didn't realize you thought I was taking offense. I wasn't questioning foul play, I just find it odd. I would have expected a larger count on an image submitted earlier. Those who may have voted initially but forgot about it as it went on. Wait a second.... Redfish. RED-fish. RED = Russian. Russians interfere with voting. I sense fraud!

I can't answer for everyone else but I can say that I voted immediately for some pics and I waited for a long while on others. There were a few that had a WOW!!! Factor for me and others that I had to think about. Since I did not want to cast a "negative" vote for any of the pics, I had to sit and ponder them for a while.

In the end I realized that I needed to rate them all so that the voting could be evened out fairly. If other folks are doing as I was, some pics are getting votes while other pics are not. It isn't deliberate, I didn't really consider that before.

There is a neutral bias factored into the algorithm for this reason. An image shouldn't be punished because it didn't get many votes, but it also shouldn't rocket to the top because it has just 1 vote for 5 stars. But in a perfect world, voting for every picture is the best way to put the results on an even playing field.

On another note... I may need to change one of my votes. I see that Yamafitter has closed the gap and I am in danger of losing my free calendar. I cannot tolerate that. I may need to change my vote for his pic down to a One Star rating.

See rule #1.

I debated on showing the current rankings for this very reason. The other thing I want to do is not allow vote changes. The software has the option to not allow users to change their votes, but then it doesn't display the average rating of each image. I'm thinking I'll fix that so the average rating still shows up, but you can't change what you've voted for. The other thing will be that the rankings won't show until you have voted for every picture.

I'm being as transparent as I can. I'm not taking offense to anything here and this is not being defensive. I'm having fun with this. Both years I've done this on here has worked out pretty well so far. I really want to believe that nobody would intentionally screw this thing over, but the sad truth is some of the members of the Nighthawk forum did just that and that's why I don't do this over there anymore. So I'm just trying to prevent future problems to an extent.

But with this contest in full swing, I'm not mucking with the software anymore this year. There will be improvements each year. I think hiding the rankings until you've voted for all of the pictures provides incentive that could even out the vote count some more. Ideally, I would like to get to a point where you can submit your own images through the website. If I can automate that some, maybe we can open it up to more than just one submission per user. I'm open to suggestions.

Nothing wrong with what Redfish said, I'm just using it as a springboard to discuss what direction the contest could go in the future.

[gixxerjasen]

I debated on showing the current rankings for this very reason. The other thing I want to do is not allow vote changes.

Ok now. See, this I'd have something of a problem with. Originally I voted up Redfish's image because it's a good shot which is helped greatly by his mug not being in it. But...with him sitting in the number 1 spot, we don't need his head inflating any more than it already is. I tried my damndest with my votes to fix that but it doesn't seem to do much of a difference. C'mon people! We need to fix this, get RF off the top spot!

[Uncle Hud]

SPECIFICALLY: "There is a neutral bias factored into the algorithm for this reason."

Translation: "No one knows the algorithm or the 'neutral bias factor', so I'm just picking the photos I want."

[wheatonFJR]

SPECIFICALLY: "There is a neutral bias factored into the algorithm for this reason."

Translation: No one knows the algorithm or the 'neutral bias factor', so I'm just picking the photos I want.

[Gramps]

Has anyone suggested a collage page of all the non-winners fitted in somewhere in the calendar? Just a thought.

[Redfish]

Has anyone suggested a collage page of all the non-winners fitted in somewhere in the calendar? Just a thought.

He did that last year. That's the page that my photo was on last year. Just sayin'...


My problem with the ratings being shown is that it makes those entries at the bottom of the ratings look bad. That's depressing. Every picture submitted was a "winner" IMO.

[Uncle Hud]

..... Every picture submitted was a "winner" IMO.

Groan.

[Gramps]

Has anyone suggested a collage page of all the non-winners fitted in somewhere in the calendar? Just a thought.

He did that last year.

Ah, you are so right. I missed that page in February.

[Festus]

All these entries and not one with a bikini clad vixen straddled across the FJR. I'm pretty sure one of those would rocket to the top slot knowing this bunch. :::::making mental note for next year's entry::::::::::

[extrememarine]

All these entries and not one with a bikini clad vixen straddled across the FJR. I'm pretty sure one of those would rocket to the top slot knowing this bunch. :::::making mental note for next year's entry::::::::::

Oh gosh, is there anyone here we would stomach seeing in a thong??

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[Cav47]

..... Every picture submitted was a "winner" IMO.

Groan.

UGH, Agree with Hud here. Redfish prob wants everyone to get a free calendar too. Just like participation trophies. Redfish=Socialism..

Just kidding Andrew!


Side note. I agree that we are all winners in a way for being able to get out and ride such fine machines in awesome locations. I often see people in their cars/harleys and think they are "losers" in the game of travel. Not that they are losers per se, but they sure are not winning like we are on the FJR.

[DesignFlaw06]

Has anyone suggested a collage page of all the non-winners fitted in somewhere in the calendar? Just a thought.

He did that last year. That's the page that my photo was on last year. Just sayin'...


My problem with the ratings being shown is that it makes those entries at the bottom of the ratings look bad. That's depressing. Every picture submitted was a "winner" IMO.

The big reason for that page was because the contest was short notice and I didn't police the resolutions. I was wrong in assuming people kept the resolution version of calendar worthy images. And not even all the leftover images made it there. It was me compensating for my mistake mostly.

You can change your image if you'd like, it just resets your votes. If you don't like your ranking, you can try another image.

[Festus]

All these entries and not one with a bikini clad vixen straddled across the FJR. I'm pretty sure one of those would rocket to the top slot knowing this bunch. :::::making mental note for next year's entry::::::::::

Oh gosh, is there anyone here we would stomach seeing in a thong??

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Like you’ve never thought about seeing FYB in a thong, straddling his FJR

[Redfish]

Like you’ve never thought about seeing FYB in a thong, straddling his FJR

Well we hadn't... But now that you have put it out there most of us just did. I had to clean the vomit off my keyboard.

[DesignFlaw06]

..... Every picture submitted was a "winner" IMO.

Groan.

Should I offer these to the ones who don't make the cut?

[extrememarine]

..... Every picture submitted was a "winner" IMO.

Groan.

Should I offer these to the ones who don't make the cut?

Absolutely not. Welcome to life, not everyone wins every time.

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[Top_Speed1]

..... Every picture submitted was a "winner" IMO.

Groan.

UGH, Agree with Hud here. Redfish prob wants everyone to get a free calendar too. Just like participation trophies. Redfish=Socialism..

Just kidding Andrew!


Side note. I agree that we are all winners in a way for being able to get out and ride such fine machines in awesome locations. I often see people in their cars/harleys and think they are "losers" in the game of travel. Not that they are losers per se, but they sure are not winning like we are on the FJR.

Josh- You one funny mofo!

I'm actually (still) on a Harley Forum but haven't visited in many of moons. I use to own (for only 1.5 yrs) a Nightrod, but was basically "shunned" by the HD crowd, apparently they didn't "accept" that model as one of their own. I sold it to my buddy Stanlee Steamer, he kept in another couple of years, it wasn't comfortable enough for even an Adirondacks day trip!. Anyways, about 5 years ago I was contemplating buying another one just to rub some faces... and have a bar to bar cruiser. I guess the smarter side of me took over and nixed that idea.

Anyways, believe it or not. Those guys say the EXACT same things about the "Jap Bikes", and how they don't know how to travel and take in things. For them; I guess hauling it on a trailer to Sturgis counts with them? huh?!. And yes, they actually dis our bikes more than we dis theirs, but I believe "pieces of junk" are more prevalent in their sentences.

Personally I just lmao, who cares as this is an endless fight, to me it's not worth the battle. Ride what you want and if you're happy... right on brotha!

[CraigRegs]

..... Every picture submitted was a "winner" IMO.

Groan.

Should I offer these to the ones who don't make the cut?

Offer them to everyone so there are no hurt feelings...

[DesignFlaw06]

Absolutely not. Welcome to life, not everyone wins every time.

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Offer them to everyone so there are no hurt feelings...

Funny the different viewpoint from someone who's above the cut line and who's not.

[Redfish]

Good Lord, you bunch of dorks.

When I said they were all winners, Cav47 understood exactly what I meant. I meant that it was a win/win situation for all of us. We all got the chance to take pics of our bikes when we went RIDING our bikes and we got to share that here with each other. I appreciated ALL of the pics and I felt some of the happiness that each of the participants must have felt at the time they took their picture.

If we have to come out and say it, not every picture submitted was my favorite picture ever. That's why it's a contest. I don't believe in "participation trophies", or consolation prizes, or whining because I didn't win. It is a contest and that to me means one winner.

And as of right now... All of you are just competing to be the First Losers!