Posted January 10, 201411 yr We've gone through the Rules as part of the changes we're currently implementing. Below are the new rules but I'm going to score through like so anything that has been axed so you can see what has been removed. I'm going to bold new rules that have been added and I'm going to italicise things that have been rewritten. Ok, so let's go! ---- Rules: Joining BJSC: **Registration is currently closed for an indefinite period. Keep checking back from time to time to see if it's re-opened** - Members wishing to join must have been a member of Buzzjack for at least 6 months. This is a measure aimed at preventing alias countries. Discovery of alias countries will lead to a permanent ban from BJSC. - Members wishing to join the Buzzjack Song Contest may do so as soon as they join Buzzjack.com - For the first 3 months after joining Buzzjack.com you may only take part in our spin offs. This is a measure aimed at preventing alias countries. - After 3 months you may progress to the main contest - Upon registering, members must come up with a country name and capital city. Other information like languages and flags are also welcomed, but are optional. - If it is discovered you have used an alias to enter BJSC as a second nation, you will be permanently banned from BJSC. If you are discovered to have an alias on Buzzjack.com, but have not attempted to register for BJSC with it you will receive a 6 month suspension from BJSC that will commence immediately following your site suspension. Confirmation of entries: - Every edition of BJSC commences with a confirmation thread. This is when you must submit your desired entry to the host of that edition. Please wait until the thread has opened before submitting your entry. - You may submit any artist/song of your choice, providing it fits the following criteria: * The song must not have been entered into a previous edition of BJSC or a BJSC spin off. A complete list of previous entries can be found HERE. * The artist must not have finished in the top 3 of the previous edition of BJSC. * The song must not be a former entry of the Eurovision Song Contest, or currently be in the running to represent a country at the forthcoming contest. * Your desired artist must not have been submitted by yourself in the previous contest (ie. You can't send the same artist twice in a row). It is encouraged that you enter songs that are unlikely to be well known to other participants. Songs can be in any language and can have been released at any time. Cover versions of previous BJSC entries are permitted if moderators judge the cover to be significantly different to the version entered previously. Covers of Eurovision entries are not permitted. Songs which sample previous BJSC entries are allowed, but songs which heavily sample previous BJSC entries may be vetoed. Entries are accepted on a first come, first served basis. If your desired entry has already been taken, you will be informed as soon as possible and be offered the chance to submit a replacement entry. Artists can only appear once in each contest. If the artist you are planning to send has already been submitted by somebody else to that same contest, then you will be offered the chance to submit a replacement entry. All entries will be assessed by the mod team. An entry will be vetoed if it is deemed too uninspired or in the case of covers, too similar to a version entered previously. You will be informed by the host if your entry falls into any of these categories and you will be offered the chance to change your entry. As a guideline, the mod team may veto an entry if it falls under one or more of the following categories: * The artist/song is currently or has recently (within the last 12 months) been in the UK Top 40 Singles Chart * The song is on a current Radio 1 playlist (any playlist published just prior to or during the confirmation period) * The song has received substantial radio, internet and/or TV exposure. * The song is a fresh leak or forthcoming single by an artist with a significant following on Buzzjack. * The song is by an artist, or associated act with an Artist Forum on Buzzjack. * The song is in the Multichart during the week/s in which the confirmation process is open. * The song has performed significantly well in another contest on the forum, eg. Unknown Pleasures. * The song is a similar sounding cover version or contains a heavily used sample of a previous BJSC entry An entry may also be vetoed for another reason not listed above. If this is the case, an explanation will be given as to why it has been banned. Please see the Veto Framework, in the next post down, for our comprehensive guide to the veto process - You must not reveal your proposed artist/song prior to the confirmation opening, but you may post various songs that you are thinking of sending. - You must not reveal the artist/song you have submitted until the voting is opened either. - This includes via the sites Personal Messenger function or via off-site messenger services such as MSN or Facebook messenger. - Violating this will result in a suspension. Hosting: The right of hosting an edition is automatically passed to the winner of the previous edition. If the winner cannot or does not wish to host, then the right falls to the runner up, then the third placed, then the fourth placed and so on. In the event of the winner of the contest being unable, or unwilling, to host the following will apply: - The right to host will pass to the highest finishing nation that has yet to host an edition of the Buzzjack Song Contest. - If they decline to host the rights will pass to the second highest finishing nation that has yet to host, and so on. - If there are no eligible, or willing nations, in the final then the rights will follow the previous path of second place, third place etc. - To have the right to host the next contest, you must have progressed to the final of the current edition. - If there are no willing nations in the final then a moderator will host the contest. The host is expected to take care of voting and results threads, as well as the collection of entries and votes. They must also submit a list of confirmed entries, with the names of countries missing, to moderators on a regular basis during the confirmation period and inform participants if their entries have been vetoed. Screenshots of full scoreboards are also encouraged to be posted once the final results have been announced. In addition we have added the following rules to the contest that specifically effect hosting: - Deadlines must be 23:59 GMT/BST (which ever applies in the UK at the time of the contest) - Results must follow within 20hours of the ORIGINAL deadline Voting: - All nations must send their votes to the host via PM. They must order their top 10 entries and award them the following points: 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point - If a country does not submit their votes on time, a 33% deduction will be applied to their score. - If a country fails to vote in the final, then the deduction will be applied and that country will be banned from entering the next edition of the contest. We may be slightly more flexible where countries have put in genuine effort into attempting to vote. - If the deadline is extended before it has passed and a country fails to vote in accordance with the ORIGINAL deadline then a reduced penalty will be applied of 15%. - If a deadline is extended after it has passed, then anyone voting after the deadline will be subject to a one contest ban. - The deadline for votes must be 23:59 GMT/BST. - Countries that failed to qualify from semi finals must also vote in the final, or they will also be banned from entering the next edition unless an effort to vote is made. - Revealing your votes before they are officially announced is not acceptable. You must also not post the points you awarded in the semi finals to qualifying countries. Points to non-qualifying countries may be revealed. - Vote swapping, or any other form of "voting deal" is not acceptable. In the case of a tie for first place in the final (or ANY tie in the final!), the winner of the tie is determined by the highest number of votes (ie. 14 countries voted for X, whereas only 10 countries voted for Y. Therefore, X wins). If both have received the same number of votes, then it's determined by number of 12s received. If this fails, then it's determined by number of 10s, and so on. However, semifinal ties are first broken by number of 12s. If the tie hasn't been successfuly broken, then it's done by 10s, and so on. ---- As with the Framework update, let us know what you think in the usual manners (PM, Post in here & Answers on the back of a Postcard)
January 10, 201411 yr lol so no PM help from now on then? - You must not reveal your proposed artist/song prior to the confirmation opening, but you may post various songs that you are thinking of sending. ^_^
January 10, 201411 yr oops, only read the bolded bits! that means i DO have to reply to lee's PM now ughh. damn u oricon.
January 10, 201411 yr love the one about the passing down to someone new, hate the one about the 20hr thing - what happens if things don't go to plan? i know when i hosted it took me F O R E V E R to prepare. not that i'm saying this because i'm gonna host again, just saying for those that will in the future.
January 10, 201411 yr - This includes via the sites Personal Messenger function or via off-site messenger services such as MSN or Facebook messenger. lolwut
January 10, 201411 yr Those new rules on hosting and changed deadlines seem a bit...unnecessary? Like, the whole point of having a penalty for not voting is so that you don't get an undue disadvantage over other countries by not voting. Hence, totally understandable why not voting full stop gets a penalty, but I don't really see what not voting in time for the original deadline if it's been changed before then does to advantage that person. Bit of an overly anal rule - so long as the votes are coming in, who cares?
January 10, 201411 yr Author It's actually standard practice that we are just formalising so we can't be accused of being inconsistent over what happens in the case of deadline extensions. The main point being that we don't want deadlines unnecessarily extended, contests dragging out and the very carefully managed schedule being thrown out of whack. Hence the 20hrs after deadline thing too. Results should follow the next day, not well over 24hrs after the deadline has passed. It's just making things more efficient, clear, and removing inconsistencies that may have happened.
January 10, 201411 yr Well, let's introduce the same rule about updating the stats thread then as well. It's just making things more efficient, clear. ;D
January 10, 201411 yr Well yeah, but ultimately we are talking about a (very fun) game on an Internet forum here. If we're genuinely at a point where a host starting results at 9 or a day later than expected could cause problems then I'd suggest there's probably a slightly bigger problem going on with how the BJSC as a whole is being run than that contest - is the whole thing really so over scheduled that that needs rules? And my point about penalties for voting after an extended deadline remains - what exactly is the point of that being standard practice? I can understand people don't want deadlines dragged out, but has that ever really consistently been an issue beyond a few hours here and there added on at the discretion of the host?
January 10, 201411 yr but ultimately we are talking about a (very fun) game on an Internet forum here. If we're genuinely at a point where a host starting results at 9 or a day later than expected could cause problems then I'd suggest there's probably a slightly bigger problem going on with how the BJSC as a whole is being run :wub:
January 10, 201411 yr Can I know why we can't show people our entries? It's not like there's any real harm in it and can be part of conservations with each other. I don't usually complain as I know you guys put such a huge effort into everything but I just wanna know why. Edited January 10, 201411 yr by G R I F F
January 10, 201411 yr Author Well yeah, but ultimately we are talking about a (very fun) game on an Internet forum here. If we're genuinely at a point where a host starting results at 9 or a day later than expected could cause problems then I'd suggest there's probably a slightly bigger problem going on with how the BJSC as a whole is being run than that contest - is the whole thing really so over scheduled that that needs rules? And my point about penalties for voting after an extended deadline remains - what exactly is the point of that being standard practice? I can understand people don't want deadlines dragged out, but has that ever really consistently been an issue beyond a few hours here and there added on at the discretion of the host? It causes problems because people start to bitch and whine about the results not being immediately. This causes headaches all round. Also by saying results should start by 8pm it makes it easier for new hosts and new members as we're giving a clear structure to follow. We will be flexible when required, we aren't unreasonable. It's about making things easier for all, like specifying when the deadline should be so there are no mix ups over people just assuming the deadline is X when it's actually Y this month. That time when the deadline was midday instead of midnight caused mass confusion and it was agreed that a smaller penalty should be applied to those voting after the deadline. This has been intermittently applied since and we've been accused of inconsistency when it has been, this is why we have formally written it down. Deadlines exist for a reason, I work in an environment with very stringent deadlines and missing them can cost the University millions. The vast majority of people vote within the deadline every single month without fail, it's there to stop people expecting deadline extensions and then abusing them by continually voting after the deadline which gives them longer to vote and thus, arguably, an advantage. The 1 month ban was brought in to stop people just not voting. It's designed to be a deterrent, that's all. :wub:http://media.tumblr.com/e4e37e92d1b22cf77d7adb17847b0b22/tumblr_inline_ms9t1fWx891qz4rgp.gif
January 10, 201411 yr Author - You must not reveal your proposed artist/song prior to the confirmation opening, but you may post various songs that you are thinking of sending. ^_^ Can I know why we can't show people our entries? It's not like there's any real harm in it and can be part of conservations with each other. I don't usually complain as I know you guys put such a huge effort into everything but I just wanna know why. See above. You can talk about your options but we have a confidential confirmation system in play to give everyone a level playing field come the opening of the Semi-finals, thus you can not expressly state your entry. Just rewriting that section to expressly, rather than just imply, that you can't reveal your song choice anywhere prior to the opening of the semis. The more people that are pre-exposed to your track gives your track an advantage over others, without malice of course. When we brought it in we wanted every entry to start off on the same level playing field for fairness. The whole process has been well received and has made the opening of the semi's more of an event. It also aids us in the veto process as an added bonus. We don't want to harm conversations about your potentials, as much as I'd strongly prefer that it take place IN the forum rather than via PM or MSN, we encourage it as it all is part of the experience. We just ask, and have done so since the veto was brought in, that you don't say "i've entered X" ahead of the semi's opening and felt it was time to make it clear that that didn't just mean on the forum itself.
January 10, 201411 yr Deadlines exist for a reason, I work in an environment with very stringent deadlines and missing them can cost the University millions. The vast majority of people vote within the deadline every single month without fail, it's there to stop people expecting deadline extensions and then abusing them by continually voting after the deadline which gives them longer to vote and thus, arguably, an advantage. The 1 month ban was brought in to stop people just not voting. It's designed to be a deterrent, that's all. Yeah, I understand the point of deadlines - but it's not as if somebody voting after a midnight deadline here costs the BJSC millions, so it's a bit of an irrelevant comparison. And as it goes - surely the easiest way of sorting out the last half is by leaving it to hosts? If a host doesn't want to accept votes after the deadline, fine. Surely the fact that punishment is there for voting after the deadline is the deterrent to stop people expecting extensions if you leave it to hosts - if someone takes the chance and gets caught out, they learn their lesson that they can't expect deadline extensions. I don't really see what advantage someone gains over another entry by having a couple of extra hours in which to vote if they miss a midnight deadline and then end up voting in the morning. And if there are people out there who will bitch and whine about results being an hour late or a day late because something got in the way for the host - well, the easiest suggestion is just to ignore them and tell them to get a life! I totally get that guidelines are necessary for new hosts, but I don't really see why we need rules creating when a lot of these things aren't really consistent problems in any real sense and could easily just be left to the host's discretion (it's not like the situation where the veto was introduced- given the problems that led to that were pretty consistent and were taking a hell of a lot of the enjoyment out of the contest, which was a case where action kind of was required).
January 10, 201411 yr I did see above, I meant showing people our actual entry. But that's a fair enough explanation so thanks for that.
January 10, 201411 yr In the olden days confirmation was a complete bloodbath whereby you all had to publicly confirm a song in a confirmation thread and some entries always ended up getting discussed loads before semi voting even opened. Then I think came the revolt against 'cheap' songs which resulted in members being allowed to send a list of songs they wished to be 'vetoed' (r.i.p 'Kom' :(), and then it all got a bit dark and loads of people were murdered and then came the mod veto panel, and then there was a bit of an outcry concerning trust issues, which then led to everything becoming anonymous (for us and you) and resulted in the GMs and Admins having an official role in the vetoing, and then there was the outcry over inconsistency, which then led to more extensive and rather time-consuming research on each track, which then led to the veto framework that we have today. My point is, even though it's a pain in the arse for all of us, the system we have today is a result of previous problems down through the years and is probably the fairest one we've had as it ensures that nobody has an advantage over anyone else. It's far from perfect (believe me, we know) but there's not much we can do at the moment to make it any better. We're always open to suggestions so just drop us a PM if you have any ideas! Part of the reason why proper deadlines are more important this year is because we're giving BJFest its own month (this includes a tiny summer break to prevent total burnout), rather than it being hosted alongside another contest. Running both at the same time is obviously doable, but we want to make it an event that people can focus on without having to worry about voting in another contest in the same forum. We're not going to execute the poor fecker who can't, for whatever reason, follow these rules because all of us here have lives to be living, but they're really only there so that we can have some organization and allow things to flow smoothly. We don't take joy in making these rules because we know we're going to take two in the chest, but we're only trying to maximize the full potential of this forum. Obviously if it all goes tits up then we'll review it, but we'd like to give it a try. ^_^
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