Forums: War Room → Cases of Cheating in the User Awards

After looking at the User Awards, it seems that Acer Indonesia, may have cheated on the User Awards. He possibly has had some of his friends vote every 24 hours on the polls by logging out. This may effect the integrity of the User Awards. I'm worried that the results won't be fair using the poll system. So, I propose we restart voting, and do it in the system that we use for Admin Elections, and other Serious matters, with a User Account, and a Support. I worry that some users, such as Lady Lostris for the User of the Year Award, or The 888th for the Most Active in the War Room award, are being 'robbed'. The 888th Avatar is clearly more active in the War Room than Acer Indonesia, yet Acer Indonesia is beating him. So I think we should restart voting in the system that we use in Admin Elections, as I said above. Suzon | Talk ^co Fanon

While I'll steer clear of saying that anyone actually cheated, I do think it's a mistake to decide anything the community considers to be such a big deal through embedded polls. Everyone who is familiar with the workings of the Internet would know that there are so many ways to silently and insidiously reduce its accuracy without being a hacker. That's why Internet polls are usually so quick to disclaim any scientific accuracy, and that's why wikis have always decided anything that actually matters with votes on a page that can have names attached to numbers. I suggest we start this process over with votes put on a project page instead (no reasons would need to be attached, unlike our War Room process), and advertise that page as much as possible. After all, if people are winning fair and square now, they should be able to replicate the margin once we begin using our traditional voting system. The 888th Avatar (talk) 14:43, July 20, 2012 (UTC)

Mostly per 888 here. It is very hard to prove that anyone cheated at the moment, there's no looking into who's voted in where thanks to the polling system. But, get some advertising going, or reset your modem to vote anonymously, and you can certainly manipulate a polling system to suddenly turn things in your favor. Certainly, it's hard to believe that - as Suzon has pointed out - that Acer is pulling so close in some categories that really would be very hard for most regulars to see how, and to not have at least some suspicion is quite a challenge. A forum-like vote would be the most fair way, to show who's voting and assure they only go once. Katara and Bolin Fanboy Send me a messenger hawk 14:49, July 20, 2012 (UTC)

I'd support this. Having a poll voting is always a bit risky when trying to honestly decide something as it is so easy to cheat on and the chances of getting caught are none-existing. What strikes me as odd is the number of overall votes on some categories -two in particular- in comparison to all the other categories. Those numbers just don't add up and coincidentally, that are just the categories people are wondering about when it comes to fairness.

People seem to find their way to the blog post of the award just fine with the single community message, so I do not see why they would not find their way to another page to vote again. As 888 mentioned, if people are winning fair and square now, they will get the "upper hand" again in a traditional "support" system. Lady Lostris (talk • HotN) 15:19, July 20, 2012 (UTC)

Without pointing fingers at anyone, I must agree that duplicity is very much possible in such poll votes and while it doesn't always happen, some unusual cases in the voting suggest it. Thus, I am also in favor of a new voting system for the awards, to keep things fair. The Ultimate Waterbender 15:25, July 20, 2012 (UTC)

I agree per everyone. Polls are not reliable, and even though this contest is just for fun, it doesn't mean the system should be taken advantage of. ― Thailog 15:45, July 20, 2012 (UTC)

That's why I'd prefer with the {{Support}} template, and using "Avatar Wiki:" title so people could vote clearly. I'm sorry if you think I'm cheating. And I'm will fell good if you all delete my name from 2nd User Awards. :) Acer Indonesia Ask anything about fanon! • TCA:TFF 15:50, July 20, 2012 (UTC)

Support. If the importance of the awards is reaching a point where users could start cheating, I think it's necessary to use this system to make everything fairer. Dcasawang1 • wall 16:31, July 20, 2012 (UTC)

Well then.... Per everyone. I agree with the proposal of a revote out of the fairness of the community, but using the {{Support}} system instead of the Poll system. Icy Ashford (wall • contribs) 16:11, July 20, 2012 (UTC) a.k.a Shock

Everyone, I'm sorry. Please, read this - EVEN I DON'T FEASIBLE TO WRITE A SIGNATURE!

While I feel this may be a better system, I feel as if though interrupting a voting process right in the middle of it shouldn't be done, and this new idea should be implemented for next year's awards.  Technology Wizard  Wall  Contribs  17:02, July 20, 2012 (UTC)

I don't see the utility of sticking to the existing numbers when they've been established as tarnished. The 888th Avatar (talk) 17:10, July 20, 2012 (UTC)

Evidence he cheated

Acer Admits cheating Acer has admitted cheating :/ So we definatelly need to revote. Suzon | Talk ^co Fanon