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FAKE PROFILES IN CONTESTS AND HARASSMENT - Dale Gregory Cozart's Blog

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FAKE PROFILES IN CONTESTS AND HARASSMENT

Blog Posted:11/7/2017 3:49:00 PM

I judge my contests blind.  In other words, I don't know who the poets are until I've finalized the contest and look at the winner's page. 

However, I have been recently apprised that the second place winner in my Midnight Romance contest,  is very likely a fake profile created by one of our member poets(it's the only poem on her profile). 

I want to continue to judge blindly.  Perhaps the only remedy is to require a certain form, then look at who has posted under that form and compare to my contest entries.  I can then make sure that poets in question don't advance past the first round and expand the number of entries for each one I find. 

The problem that creates is for new poets entering contests for the first time.  What else can I do?  Does anyone else have better remedies? 

I have been warned that three poets(whom I will not name) not only have fake profiles to the extent they enter their own contests and come in the top ten, but they use these fake profiles to harass other poets with negative comments and enter contests under multiple names.  This isn't fair to other poets as it takes away their chances to enter contests and even place in them!

I honestly do not know what the answer is, but before I host another contest I hope I will have figured something out.

Sincerely



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Tripp Avatar
Rhoda
Tripp
Date: 11/25/2017 6:13:00 PM
I find it increasing sad and pathetic what some will do for recognition, fame, or to satisfy their immature needs. I'm sorry that you did something wonderful for writers here and this is how you are rewarded. Shame on the few.
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Seal Avatar
Richard D
Seal
Date: 11/11/2017 6:54:00 PM
Hi Dale, I have to second what Taai and Cyndi say above, a quick glance at the contest results lately would not appear to show anything unusual. There will always be some strange folk in the soup and they are not worth the effort, in fact it’s blogs like this they get their kicks from, they are best served by being ignored. Take care, Richard
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Macmillan Avatar
Cyndi
Macmillan
Date: 11/11/2017 3:21:00 PM
Harassing Soupers should not be tolerated. Mean-spirited and nasty comments should be reported then blocked or deleted. But as far as contests go, a win should all come down to the quality of the poem. Whether the person is a jerk, a (w)itch, a person without a soul or heart, a thorn in the side or a poor excuse of a human being has nothing to do with the poem, right? Who the heck cares what they do with their own contests, accumulate as many fake-wins with their fake-accounts, let them live their bizarre and psycho fantasies... whatever floats their boat. I'd just avoid contests I find odd/suspect and run my own as fair as possible. All that matters is the poetry, not the personality.
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Macmillan Avatar
Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 11/11/2017 5:11:00 PM
I'm taking a course and I'm late closing my contest, but this gives me an idea. Instead of one entry for my next contest, I will let all participants enter up to five poems. Will have to be on one page... but 1 or 5, makes no difference.
Macmillan Avatar
Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 11/11/2017 3:24:00 PM
Soup contests aren't serious contest, anyways, right folks? They are prompts which are rewarded with comments and a number. They are supposed to be fun. There is no point on taking these 'wins' seriously. Want serious? Try a literary journal's contest.
Seal Avatar
Richard D
Seal
Date: 11/8/2017 6:21:00 PM
Why anyone would enter a contest with a fake account makes no sense to me. As a contest host though Dale you should carry on doing so blind to entrants, remember you are judging the poem, not the writer. There is no cheat in this, if your initial placement is based on the worthiness of the poem. The writer gets the same result whatever account they use. Take care, Richard
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Cozart Avatar
Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 11/10/2017 5:22:00 PM
The problem, Richard, is that now a poet can enter a contest as many times as they have profiles. And award themselves places in their own contests. This blocks all poets from entering and having a chance of placing. If it was just poets writing under pen names it wouldn't matter.
Dietrich Avatar
Andrea
Dietrich
Date: 11/8/2017 5:56:00 PM
I just don't understand why anyone would want to do this!!! So silly. Sorry when it happens to good judges like you, Dale.
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Raynes Avatar
Lewis
Raynes
Date: 11/8/2017 4:51:00 PM
Wow, news to me... Once poems r out there they're free to be judged by everyone, and just because it might have a "medal" doesn't make it good. I don't read peoples work based on medals at all. I pick form and topics... Not much else.
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Allison Avatar
Jan
Allison
Date: 11/7/2017 5:24:00 PM
Dale I've recently complained to soup about a fake account and its finally been removed today, its a shame the person isn't removed as they still hold an account on soup. I suspect there are many more out there with fake profiles and I wish soup would close the loophole. For the record I hold an account in my name and was part of Jadazzle united but that account hasn't been opened in well over a year and will remain like that unless Darren comes back to soup.
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