So . . . the number one issue around gather other than drive-by ratings?? It's popularity contests!
I have entered my puppy in the 2oo7 Tournament of Pets Briane P. who spent so much time and effort putting it together. It was just a fun side-track to show off the pets and raise money for a worthy cause. No prize . . . well . . . perhaps some bragging rights . . . but nothing substantive.
Then I noticed something in round three when my pup went up against a particularly weaker opponent. She was getting killed in the voting. And by famous people (and the cast of the Simpsons). Wait a minute . . . who were these people?
Turns out these "People" were all ONE PERSON. All created to cheat Cujo out of a rightful win. Then used again to cheat Kaylee out of hers. But there weren't enough so a boatload more bogus names were registered only to cast the one vote each. While writing this . . . I see even more have signed on to fight the fight and get this pathetic cheat a coveted win of . . . uhhhh . . . "bragging rights".
Look at this "HONOR roll":
ware b May 21 member-one group owned by Lisa M. Only comments FOR saira in the 2007 T of pets. Nothing else.
tanwer z May 21 Only comments FOR saira in the 2007 T of pets. Nothing else.
rockstar r June 6 Only comments FOR saira in the 2007 T of pets or Saira. Nothing else.
http://rockstar123.gather.com/
muhammed ali March 3 27 comments all for saira or the tournament of pets only. Nothing else.
http://mohammadali85.gather.com/
tasneem z May 21 5 ToP 2007 comments for saira ONLY. Nothing else.
rema s May 21 5 of 6 comments for saira in ToP ONLY!
zia h May 21 All 6 comments for saira 5 were votes for Saira ONLY!
wajeeha z May 21 ` Only 5 comments ALL votes for saira in ToP 2007.
brooke p July 16 Just two votes for saira. NOTHING else.
http://brookephillip.gather.com/
wasim s May 21 Just three ToP 2007 votes for saira.
maya b March 2` 24 comments ONLY for saira.
soldier m. July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
debra m. July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://debra2messing.gather.com/
hermoine g. July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://hermionegranger2.gather.com/
rebecca a July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://rebbecaalex.gather.com/
ali a July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
caramel lady July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://caramellady.gather.com/
rammsey d. July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://rammseydonald.gather.com/
ray s July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://rammseydonald.gather.com/
susan c July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://susancasper.gather.com/
johnny q July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://johnnyquest.gather.com/
eliza s July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
kreme c July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
phillip s July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://phillip2sawyer.gather.com/
jeremy s July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://jeremyseaver.gather.com/
samm r July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY
http://sammreynold.gather.com/
Linda r July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://lindaramsey.gather.com/
trump r July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://trumprocker.gather.com/
ivanka p July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://ivankapatrick.gather.com/
prue h. July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://pruehalliwell.gather.com/
Samuel t July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://samueltruck.gather.com/
dr. zhivago Aug. 6 1 vote for saira ONLY.
http://doctorzhivago.gather.com/
tweety b Aug. 6 1 vote for saira ONLY.
http://misstweetybird.gather.com/
Gabriela a July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://gabrielatta.gather.com/
eric e July 16 2 votes for saira ONLY.
http://ericestrada.gather.com/
kimm p Aug. 6 1 vote for saira ONLY.
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Comments: 105
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
These are my friends, cousins, family and inlaws.
And yes i asked them to become a member to vote for my pet. they are free to choose whatever name they want, be it from top gun,. or simpsons. You need help in accepting that your pet lost, after all, they are gather members who voted be it my relatives.
Regards (and congratulations again),
Doyle I <~~~~~
: - )
I hope Kaylee isn't taking this too hard, Doyle.
My point is simple. These contests are meant for saira types . . . with a LOT of time. Not for me or anyone with intelligence who unwilling to sit and enter name after name to win a contest and get the $25 card or whatever . . . especially if they'll do it for something like this with no money on the line.
Say something and all of a sudden it's all about you. Sore loser? Never.
Sure saira. Signed up 68 people who only did so to vote for you the one time the day of the vote 98% of them (many minutes apart). Okie dokie.
Regards (and congratulations again saira),
Doyle I <~~~~~
Nahhhh . . . I'm feeding her Choooo-ey Chicken! And since I really DO raise birds, I tossed a couple yellow feathers her way . . . I know it's LA but pet therapists just cost too much so we took the NY approach . . . and made a deal she couldn't refuse! LoL!
Regards (and congratulations again saira),
Doyle I <~~~~~
You are one sore looser.. really. i dont have to prove anything to you.
Sheryl
( *sigh* ) Ok . . . . Guess I'll move on . . . . ( circling toe in sand ) . . . . What's that? ( points up and away - and while you look quickly stick my tongue out at saira ). I know, I know . . . I'll be good! LoL!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Oh, Doyle - now you've dragged the hopes and dreams of 12-yr-old girls into jeopardy! When will it stop? : - )
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Hey, better yet, go to the park and pass out email addresses with the Gather url and a "Vote for Kaylee or Bust!" button!
Or, just listen to the wife. : - )
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Nothing to look up, just a clip and paste from saira's vote list. So now I'm sad? Okie Dokie, Thanks for the advice! To be honest I wasn't "worked up" but truly I was simply amazed to see the lengths this went . . . But thanks for the lesson in class . . . which I see conspicuously missing from any comment about saira who really put some time into this. You might not find this interesting . . . but I think some people would be surprised to see this kind of commitment.
"Get some friends in the REAL world . . . "
Wow. You really DON'T know me at all! :)
PJ - My point exactly.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
The truth is that it could be exactly as you have described it - or it could be exactly as Saira described it.
Within the last two weeks I have been asked by one of my connections, by means of a 'personal mail' to all her connections on Gather, to go to a particular website to vote for a design she had entered in a contest on another site. I thought, "why not?" so I went to that site and found that I had to open an account in order to vote. Again, I thought, "why not?", opened the account and voted. I am almost positive that I will never visit that site again but I did it merely to please my connection/friend - Why Not?
I am sorry you felt that what Saira did was unfair, but you truly can't prove that what actually took place was according to your version or saira's. These contests are only for fun anyway.
I am sure that Gather is most appreciative of members asking friends and family to visit, sign on and vote. I would guess that some of them will eventually become active members - or perhaps not if they see this squabbling. :-(
Nice try but I just don't buy it! Saira claimed family, inlaws . . . 68 members - signing up within minutes of each other?
21 family members all signed on just in time to take out Cujo, huh? Family from all over . . . drop a vote? BINGO . . . family vote at 2:11 in Chicago then 2:13 in PA then 2:15 in DC then 2:18 . . . . she's ahead again. Funny haw where ever they are in the world they all vote within minutes of each other.
Just this morning . . . 8:29, 8:32, 8:35, 8:36 . . . People who JUST signed up from all over and all voted almost (but never) at the same time! It's patently obvious to anyone who's thinking clearly about this . . . 11:48,11:50,11:51 . . . puh-leeese.
Oh yeah! Wanna know another truly amazing coincidence?? They vote from their homes (all over the place) but in the same order! Almost like a checklist, wouldn't you say? Scan back on the Kaylee competition (Aug. 6) and compare the names to the (July 16) Cujo competition and you'll see Uncle Trump in Chicago followed By Aunt Ivanka in PA followed by Prue in DC followed by Samuel T . . . go to July 16th and look . . . again . . . they all voted in exactly the same order! What are the odds?
I'd say about the same as the odds of saira being honest.
Donald: SCORE!!! Now THAT was funny! LoL!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
"which are usually cast right after she sends out an e-mail asking all her connections to vote for her bird."
Please understand . . . these are not 'connections' and they have NO connections. They are all ONE person! If they were actually other people I'd have no trouble at all . . . . ask whoever. But they're not. They're her. Click a random name and see that they're not connected even to each other . . . family.
"Actually, I was just trying to have some fun and enjoy the competition..."
Exactly Amy . . . I didn't become a sore loser when my pet Socrates lost out or over any of the other many photo thingees I've been in. It IS for fun. I enjoyed how it sparked some creativity . . . in me and in others . . . but the trend that caught my eye . . . caused me to look closer and see . . . WOW. Some people just don't get it! And some people are cheaters.
Anyway . . . it was an eye-opener for me to see this kind of intensity over nothing . . . and led to some stimulating and, ocassionally humorous conversation. oh . . . and, of course, name calling. :)
Jerry my friend . . . r r. actually had images, a name, an icon, comments, articles . . . all gone now. Kinda' wierd and very suspicious but -- you know -- whatever. ;)
Katie: Great analogy . . . but forget the cheater denying it . . . I think we expect that . . . lay out the evidence and let people decide on their own, right? But for the cheater to accuse the 'cheatee' (it's an ethical industry term) of being a poor loser . . . it's just bully tactics to stop people from . . . well . . . you know . . . telling on them! LoL! I'M TELLING MOM!!
Fer shame . . . . :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Would you have expected anything less, my friend?
A horse is a horse, of course, of course.........(hum, hum, hum)
LMAO!!! I couldn't resist, Sheryl! you know how tenacious I am! ...and how I like to have a good time . . . ( Oooooh ) . . . hear that? It's (shhhhh) internet Sybil listening in! MWA HAHAHAhahahaaa!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Well, I must say that we have known a few people who have ASSUMED identities on Gather, too, haven't we? In fact, one person comes to mind who's having way too good a time with it. : - )
Thanks for going through all this work and time to expose a big fat cheater!
68 friends and family..yeah right!
I truly hope Brianne disqualifies her from the tournament... but you know what? At this point I think I am going to pull my remaining two pets out of the race... it has become so unfair and lop-sided... example...my Kira dog lost to another members cat.... why? That memeber has thousands upon thousands of connections that she emailed.
thats how my other animals beat other people...and now I feel bad for emailing anyone at all about this tournament. Yeah, I am done.
Why? It's not a Gather sponsored contest is it? I was under the impression that it was an informal pet popularity contest run by a member. What a points bonanza that must be!
Having enough "real" connections qualifying for your own ZIP CODE to show support is one thing, but signing up your own extra alias accts. + fictitious accts. is cheating plain and simple!......this ain't rocket science, people!...LOL...
Doyle is someone i know as having high integrity,a fun loving spirit,and is very generous.....for those of you who missed the point of this article, here are the ABCs:
A. this pet contest was all for fun and showcasing family pets
B. what should have been a "fair playing field for ALL" was corrupted by stacking the votes via less than honorable methods...
C. exposing those who cheat and their methods informs others who and what they should be aware of for future contests, prize offered or not....this is a CONSEQUENCE of not playing fair...
"You are either part of the solution,or part of the problem".....remaining silent when you have done your homework and your findings point to clear irregularities is part of the problem .....speaking out to let others know, is HELPING!
Doyle, Rivvie pup is shaking her head and gives a shout out to Kaylee!
You did good here,and i give you major props!
cheers,gayle
NOTHING< NOTHING at all.
SHAME ON YOU SAIRA.
Mandi Your first sentence says it all.
Sheryl: Never anything but respect for you.
"Well, I must say that we have known a few people who have ASSUMED identities on Gather, too, haven't we?"
But how many and, more importantly, for what purpose my dear? To be better than others in their twisted minds or to win something . . . ? Not likely. Not our friends.
"Was it all worth it in the end, Doyle?" I had fun . . . Briane helped others from our participation . . . I exposed a cheat. Ummmmm . . . yep. It WAS fun. If it didn't injure my relationship with the people who know me . . . it didn't cost me anything. Frankly, I look at the comment from Lori F. (we have had some serious disagreements) and feel like I actually won something. We still disagree on things . . . but she is more open-minded than I am am willing to give me some credit. Then I see the comment from Gayle, a fellow photographer. She and I have not had the smoothest of relationships . . . but we have come to have intense respect for each other and an unwavering degree of honesty is permitted when trust develops. Knowing of my post-surgical drug induced haze she's trying to make me cry but I am so happy to see her comment. She "gets it". And I am made proud that she calls me her friend even more than I am proud to have her as a friend. ;)
Gayle: You SO "Get it"! THANK you . . . for recognizing my 'genius'! LoL!
Vicky: Your LAST sentence says it all!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Cheating is rampant. Why should Gather be different?
It's not. When I detest something and see it . . . I speak out.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
guess my cats won't have a chance either....it will be difficult to explain to them.....sigh.
thanks for exposting this.
not arguing for or against either side. just curious!
Nice work, Doyle.
: - )
Chip: Good luck with the 'money' contests . . . it's really just a contest to see how much time you have to invent fake accounts to vote for yourself. I don't know how much you make an hour . . . but it ain't worth MY time! Enjoy your $25.00 but start making the bogus accounts now . . . Not on the day you need the votes. (Just my advice)
Judi: As a photographer I was equally frustrated that my otherwise great images were dropping like rocks in the ratings during the Mother's Day Contest . . . but only when they were entered. I vowed to avoid that in the future . . . let the 'elite' time wasters collect their prizes. But this was just for fun so I foolishly thought it would stay that way. I even asked immediately of Briane if ratings would be considered and got a straight No response (See initial Briane article) . . . who knew that prizes or cash would not be needed for people to be absurdly competitive?
Just fun . . . root for the picks, console the drops . . . all fun.......and Briane pulling BACK in even some of those who washed out . . . how cool is that? Pure entertainment. No one minded or cared. So why this extensive cheating? What was gained? She has Amy convinced these are contacts but click ANY of them and they aren't. They're inventions who have one purpose . . . to vote for her.
These people kill the fun and have all but extinguished the participation of creative, intelligent people. Frustrating? I can relate. Missed the FC contest but have (as you may have guessed) heard something about it.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
I stand corrected.
The e-mail issue seemed to be distracting from the bogus account issue and, to be fair to saira . . . briane made it clear that that activity was to be allowed. That being the case I saw no need to mention it.
I guess I have a different take on my friends than some do . . . So many have declined the mass e-mailings that go around that I can't remember well who doesn't want SPAM . . . so I'll ocassionally e-mail selected friends and did so for this last round. I have also recieved them. I don't mind. What I thought was so cool was that I had voted against Cheri's cat at one point and . . . shocker . . . we remained friends. No earthquakes . . . the world didn't stop spinning . . . Briane got more participation for his charitable donation . . . Spartan came by at my request and refused to vote . . . but added his comment . . . and I haven't put a "hit" out on him. I usually indicate that they should feel free to vote for whomever and they usually vote for me . . . well . . . I'm usually better -- LoL!-- but the e-mail issue . . . just not the thing that amazed me. You're right, I guess . . . that the most connections win . . . but even that wouldn't bother me and we knew that going in . . . as long as your connections see and sense a fun contest . . . you not only have to get them there but you have to get them to vote for you anyway.
MY connections are simply NOT slaves. And if I had a poor essay or mediocre photos I feel 100% confident that many would NOT vote for me and probably tease me about it too! That's the kind of people I hang with. Welcome aboard.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
PS: I saw the profanity. How come she spelled out the entire 'F' word but used ** for the H-E-Double-Matchsticks word? Seems odd too, doesn't it? :)
DDC I
The reason I entered our big fuzz ball CuJo was to help Mateo and McHale's parents have the honeymoon they never had. CuJo only lost by two points. However this really bothers me that someone would go to such length to win and ruin the reason that Brianne did this in the first place.
This tarnishes the real cause for this tournament.
I believe Doyle has great integrity, and that this is not about his pet losing. In the pass Doyle has always been on the side of honesty and has reacted to anything that isn't honest.
I really believe that gather should look into all these member names Doyle has above and make sure that they are legit. I find it would be in Gather's best interests to look into them; because of the potential to scam points that shouldn't be awarded.
Doyle thank you for bringing this wrong to light. If more proof can be brought to light this contestant should be removed from the tournament.
Blessings
This makes me sick to my stomcahe.
Blessings
Welcome to the "sore 'looser's" club! You and I both know that this is NOT about the pets . . . which we'd never think one whit less of for losing and couldn't love more if they won. Your motivation was even more respected and giving than mine . . . which was to find a fun and much needed escape for a time . . . with me, the fact that this was helping someone else was good . . . but not my reason.
Thank you for the nice words about my integrity. It makes me feel good that it seems to be recognized and I would be first in line with tail between my legs to apologize if I was wrong. I've done so before and don't care for it which is why I do my homework before this kind of thing emerges from my lips.
Notice Plato and Cujo both were freely lost to the competition without issue . . . or complaint? Cujo, unfairly . . . Plato - straight up! It's not winning or losing (apparently a coffee cup) . . . it was the fun and creativity it seemed to spark. It was the escape. I would donate a case of coffee cups for this not to have happened. But I will NEVER sit by and ignore it. I can't.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Brianne I want to thank you for your quick attention into this matter. Brianne I personally want to also thank you for your hard work and thoughfulness by sponsoring this tournament.
However I want it to be known that I entered our fuzzball because of your effort to give something to some very deserving parents. You did this to help Ryan and Angie Shaw get their honeymoon that they have never had, because their twins were conjoined at birth and had to go through many operations and still have some left to go; through they are seperated today.
Ryan and Angie have been under so must stress and this honeymoon is excatly what they need.
So I am pleading with everyone to still support this wonderful cause by leaving as many comments as you can.
Blessings
wiaka and CuJo
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
how dare u expose someone like this ....
if u have lost ... try to face the bitter reality rather than doinginjustice wid others ....
jus go n get a lyf ..!!!
Ok, saira . . . oooops, my bad, " Mohammad ", you're right . . . SO right. What WAS I thinking???? You're upset because - and I quote - "how dare u expose someone like this ...."? I LOVE it. Why expose it? . . . it deserves to linger in the darkness where it was intended to be!! Well . . . no need to add one to the comment FOR saira count for you -- ;)
Now just 60 some-odd more comments to go. LoL! Spartan mentioned not one of you guys came here to comment and "viola!" . . . that proved HIM wrong!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
When I was involved in the First Chapter's writing contest, I saw this sort of thing fairly often. I refused to do so myself, but I pride myself that, when I make writing a success, it will be because I write good stuff, stuff I'm proud of even if I don't have 9000 supporters or alter-me's. I can't even imagine WANTING to win that way.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~