# Linking to offsite contest and asking for votes **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 31, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371 "2006-01-31T17:40:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/1 "2006-01-31T17:40:28Z")
I have entered one of my dogs in a Cute Dog contest. Is it permissable to post and request that members (and guests) vote for my dog? I would imagine, if so, that I should post in MPSIMS? Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/2 "2006-01-31T17:44:12Z")
Not a mod, obviously, but I specifically remember an incident where a poster needed votes to win a contest, and the thread was deleted because self-promoting type rallying is frowned upon. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/3 "2006-01-31T18:32:57Z")
I’d be surprised if it were to be allowed. It sails pretty near to vote-rigging. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/4 "2006-01-31T18:39:26Z")
> [@kaiwik](#): > > Is it permissable to post and request that members (and guests) vote for my dog? It’s a good idea, usually, to respect the spirit of the contest in which you (or your pet) is entered. My guess–without having seen the contest or its rules–is that the contest officials would probably frown on an orchestrated voting attempt; that is, an attempt which gets hundreds of others to vote for a specific entry for anything other than merit (rigging the vote). Basically, we don’t want the other contestants (i.e., their owners) to feel cheated, and we don’t want the SDMB community to be seen as one that can be used to unfairly influence a fun contest. So, what does this mean? Well, how about if we go half-and-half with you on it: you’re welcome to start the thread in MPSIMS; you’re welcome to include the link to the contest; however, don’t mention which dog is yours. Let the Dopers vote for the one(s) they think is the cutest. When the contest is over, then let us know which one is yours. If that sounds unappetizing to you, then I think it’s best we avoid the thread altogether. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/5 "2006-01-31T18:40:40Z")
We’ve discouraged this sort of thing in the past for a couple reasons: 1. We really don’t want to see Dopers endlessly petitioned to vote for stuff; to our minds this is not a good use of our site. 2. It’s also unfair, as it skews whatever vote process might be going on to have hordes of people mindlessly voting. It’s unethical. That being said, we’re always up for cute dog pictures and the like, so a link would not be inappropriate. Just don’t beat the war drums for votes for your dog – or anything else. TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/6 "2006-01-31T18:40:44Z")
That’s pretty much what I figured, if I could get the Dope community to vote for her, it would be a landslide victory. _sigh_ Well, if a mod wants to give me the okay that would be fantastic, otherwise I will just keep quiet. Thanks for your answers. ---
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/7 "2006-01-31T18:49:14Z")
Okay, I posted my reply pretty much simultaneously along with **SkipMagic** and **TubaDiva.** I appreciate the permission with restrictions on not naming my dog, but here is how the contest works in this particular case: after submitting the dog’s photo one receives a url to one’s own dog, and is encouraged to send the link to as many people as one may, in order to both win as well as make others aware of the website. I don’t want to overstep my boundaries, but it sure would be sweet if my pup won. If it is decided that I should not make such a post, I will happily post a link to her photo, because she really is a beautiful dog! ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/8 "2006-01-31T18:57:49Z")
Hmm… why don’t you send me a link (my e-mail is in my profile) to that site so I can take a gander at the contest and its rules. I’ll discuss it with the other mods at that point. ---
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/9 "2006-01-31T19:06:18Z")
Thanks, **SkipMagic,** email has been sent. ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/10 "2006-02-01T06:28:11Z")
Hmm, well that’s one way to spam your friends and such with a website. I don’t like it. It isn’t really a cute dog contest as much as it’s a “get all your friends and such to click on our url and increase our hits” contest. Can’t see as that should be allowed. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/11 "2006-02-01T07:57:32Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > I’d be surprised if it were to be allowed. It sails pretty near to vote-rigging. We could always vote for one of the _other_ dogs. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/12 "2006-02-01T15:24:24Z")
We decided not to allow it. Not because of **kaiwik** ’s intentions or the way she approached it, but because we feel it’d set a bad precedent for allowing the SDMB to be used as a way to overrun a contest. Again, our decision isn’t a reflection on **kaiwik** ; we’d just rather not dip our toes in dem murky waters. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/13 "2006-02-02T04:30:04Z")
So where’s the promised picture? ---
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/14 "2006-02-02T06:26:16Z")
Although I have been denied, I completely understand the decision. I also appreciate the manner in which **SkipMagic** handled the request. **Suburban Plankton,** her photo, along with a few more, and then a few of some of the other pets can be found in MPSIMP, where they belong. Thanks for reminding me! [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7059907#post7059907](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7059907#post7059907) ---
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linking-to-offsite-contest-and-asking-for-votes/342371/15 "2006-02-02T06:35:27Z")
> [@kaiwik](#): > > MPSIMP MPSIMS _sigh_ I need to make it an early night.