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Threaded | Newest First | Oldest First
 Joe Stanganelli
11/18/2016 6:05:18 PM User Rank Author 
One
"Clarification: Will the proposed merger be 'huge' or 'yuge'?"
 freehe
11/19/2016 7:55:34 PM User Rank Platinum
Entry 1
We are nearing the final step of the merger process. This step is the fun part.
I would like to hear comments from the respondents on the naming convention of the new companies. Do we name them alphabetically, chronologically (from the company start date), or do we just draw names out of a hat? Joe Stanganelli
11/18/2016 6:07:10 PM User Rank Author
1
"Perhaps you should consider naming the new entity 'AT&TTW' instead."
 faryl
11/30/2016 12:48:29 AM User Rank Platinum
Faryl 2
Yes, Milburn Moneybags, we understand it's also the title of your hit boardgame...
 JohnBarnes
11/20/2016 11:32:18 AM User Rank Platinum
•
We hope to get started in a few weeks, but we still have not been able to locate anyone who doesn't already work for either of the remaining Telcos.
 mpouraryan
11/20/2016 1:42:46 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: •
Before I "go dark" for this thanksgiving week", I wanted to "chime in" with my contribution:
"....Can you hear me now? Will you ever hear me now? " JohnBarnes
11/20/2016 4:24:05 PM User Rank Platinum
&
If you'll cast your minds back, ladies and gentleman, fifty years ago there was just one all-powerful communications company. HA! HA! HA!
Joe Stanganelli
11/20/2016 4:24:50 PM User Rank Author
2
"I move to continue this hearing until the petitioners' contribution checks to my campaign clear."
Joe Stanganelli
11/20/2016 5:24:48 PM User Rank Author
3
"I actually called you here today because I need to dispute my bill."
Joe Stanganelli
11/20/2016 5:25:20 PM User Rank Author
5
"Before we get started, could I get a signal refresh?"
Joe Stanganelli
11/20/2016 5:28:41 PM User Rank Author
8
"If you'd like to oppose an injunction, press 1. If you'd like to amend a proposal, press 2..."
Joe Stanganelli
11/20/2016 5:32:02 PM User Rank Author
13
"The next hearing involves T-Mobile, so we'll have to go outside."
Joe Stanganelli
11/20/2016 5:34:00 PM User Rank Author
21
"I want to assure the carriers represented here today that you have our unlimited* support."
Joe Stanganelli
11/20/2016 7:26:27 PM User Rank Author
34
"Given that the companies here have access to what's on my phone, I move for approval."
JohnBarnes
11/20/2016 9:41:53 PM User Rank Platinum
%
Well, yes, I have heard words like regulation, oversight, and public interest. I keep meaning to look them up.
 elizabethv
11/22/2016 6:34:22 AM User Rank Platinum
Liz 1
"We want to assure your clients we heard their concern. But that doesn't mean we listened...."
elizabethv
11/22/2016 6:36:50 AM User Rank Platinum
Liz 2
I prefer the philosophy from Short Circuit: "As we are fond of saying in my country, market place make dull home for rodents." Personally, that's why you won't find Mr. Stephenson there.
 Ariella
11/22/2016 9:55:26 AM User Rank Author
Re: Liz 2
You may be wondering why you were all summoned to an in person meeting. Unfortunately, the network is down now, so we had no other way of communicating to the group.
brianlb
11/22/2016 4:23:48 PM User Rank Steel
Re:
Look, just do whatever you want. We suddenly have much bigger problems to deal with.
brianlb
11/22/2016 4:28:07 PM User Rank Steel
Re:
"I know I haven't been inaugurated yet, but I just need to say it: net neutrality is a disaster, it's not working. Have you seen the SNL hit job on me? NBC is NOT a neutral network!"
 vnewman
11/22/2016 7:47:27 PM User Rank Platinum
Stop me if you've heard this one #1
A guy walks into a bar...
 DHagar
11/22/2016 8:55:28 PM User Rank Platinum
Year-End Caption
"This merger is called a 'Hail Mary'!
DHagar
11/22/2016 9:02:31 PM User Rank Platinum
Year-End Caption
"This is not a 'clutch play' - it is a 'winning play - long and deep'
Joe Stanganelli
11/23/2016 5:14:30 PM User Rank Author
55
"Next on the docket is the hearing for 'In Re: Make American Telephone and Telegraph Again.'"
Joe Stanganelli
11/23/2016 5:17:59 PM User Rank Author
89
"I've been told to inform you all that you're 'losers.'"
Joe Stanganelli
11/23/2016 5:20:09 PM User Rank Author
134
"I've never heard of this one. Look at those telcos. Are they small telcos?"
Joe Stanganelli
11/23/2016 5:26:09 PM User Rank Author
223
"We'll approve the proposal if you tell us how Game of Thrones ends."
JohnBarnes
11/23/2016 8:08:51 PM User Rank Platinum
$
Master very busy, no have time talk to silly committee. Igor talk for Master. Questions?
Itsmeshawn22
11/24/2016 8:56:13 PM User Rank Platinum
Year-End Caption Contest: Merger Mania
As I was reading this I was shocked of how important it is. It taught me about the merger mania. I never thought of it this way and looked at it this way.
Joe Stanganelli
11/27/2016 11:26:46 PM User Rank Author
580
"No, but if you hum a few bars I can fake it on a touch-tone keypad."
Joe Stanganelli
11/27/2016 11:28:08 PM User Rank Author
937
"We're waiting to see if the new Supreme Court will have anything to say about same-techs marriage."
Joe Stanganelli
11/27/2016 11:33:24 PM User Rank Author
1517
"We'd like to hear more about your plan to spin off AT&T into a separate company eight years from now."
Joe Stanganelli
11/27/2016 11:37:29 PM User Rank Author
6425
"Approved, pending the return of my 'smart' HVAC to my control."
Joe Stanganelli
11/27/2016 11:45:58 PM User Rank Author
44038
"No, 'Net Neutrality' does not invalidate our antitrust considerations."
 srufolo1
11/28/2016 7:57:19 AM User Rank Platinum
Caption Contest
Do I hear a motion in favor of calling us the Big Baby Bells?
Ariella
11/28/2016 2:08:03 PM User Rank Author
Re: Caption Contest
@srufolo1 actually today's generation may not even get the Ma Bell reference. I still remember being taught out of an old book in economics in high school that the telephoen company was a "natural monopoly."
srufolo1
11/29/2016 2:13:05 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: Caption Contest
@Ariella You are probably correct, but it is part of history. The American Telephone & Telegraph Company was a monopoly, but I don't know how "natural" that was. Apparently the Department of Justice didn't think so. Because the antitrust suit in the 80s forced it to break up into 7 companies -- the "Baby Bells."
Ariella
11/29/2016 2:22:51 PM User Rank Author
Re: Caption Contest
@srufolo1 yes, I know that's the problem with the assumptions of the books we were given at the time. I found a good article on the concept here https://mises.org/library/myth-natural-monopoly
It is a myth that natural-monopoly theory was developed first by economists, and then used by legislators to "justify" franchise monopolies. The truth is that the monopolies were created decades before the theory was formalized by intervention-minded economists, who then used the theory as an ex post rationale for government intervention. At the time when the first government franchise monopolies were being granted, the large majority of economists understood that large-scale, capital-intensive production did not lead to monopoly, but was an absolutely desirable aspect of the competitive process. Though the article first discusses public utilities, it does come to cable TV, as well: "The theory of natural monopoly is an economic fiction. No such thing as a 'natural' monopoly has ever existed." The existence of longstanding competition in the cable industry gives the lie to the notion that that industry is a "natural monopoly" and is therefore in need of franchise monopoly regulation. The cause of monopoly in cable TV is government regulation, not economies of scale. Although cable operators complain of "duplication," it is important to keep in mind that "while over-building an existing cable system can lower the profitability of the incumbent operator, it unambiguously improves the position of consumers who face prices determined not by historical costs, but by the interplay of supply and demand."[48] Also like the case of electric power, researchers have found that in those cities where there are competing cable companies prices are about 23 percent below those of monopolistic cable operators.[49] Cablevision of Central Florida, for example, reduced its basic prices from $12.95 to $6.50 per month in "duopoly" areas in order to compete. When Telestat entered Riviera Beach, Florida, it offered 26 channels of basic service for $5.75, compared to Comcast's 12channel offering for $8.40 per month. Comcast responded by upgrading its service and dropping its prices.[50] In Presque Isle, Maine, when the city government invited competition, the incumbent firm quickly upgraded its service from only 12 to 54 channels.[51] In 1987 the Pacific West Cable Company sued the city of Sacramento, California on First Amendment grounds for blocking its entry into the cable market. A jury found that "the Sacramento cable market was not a natural monopoly and that the claim of natural monopoly was a sham used by defendants as a pretext for granting a single cable television franchise ... to promote the making of cash payments and provision of 'in-kind' services ... and to obtain increased campaign contribution."[52] The city was forced to adopt a competitive cable policy, the result of which was that the incumbent cable operator, Scripps Howard, dropped its monthly price from $14.50 to $10 to meet a competitor's price. The company also offered free installation and three months free service in every area where it had competition. srufolo1
11/30/2016 7:34:34 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: Caption Contest
@Ariella Thank you for providing that interesting explanation of a "natural monopoly." I didn't realize it was actually a concept. Also, it would make sense that where there are duo-opolies in regions with competition from cable operators, it's good news for subscribers, but not so good for operators, because they are forced to lower their prices.
 afwriter
11/28/2016 5:24:38 PM User Rank Platinum
Consumer
I don't see what the consumer has to do with this.
Joe Stanganelli
11/28/2016 8:18:31 PM User Rank Author
y
"It looks like your networks don't get good reception in here."
Joe Stanganelli
11/28/2016 8:22:24 PM User Rank Author
a
"It's hard to accept your arguments that the merger won't form a monopoly when your proposed new logo is a race car next to a thimble."
Joe Stanganelli
11/28/2016 8:28:40 PM User Rank Author
b
"We don't know what anything you just said means, but we've decided we need to regulate it."
elizabethv
11/29/2016 8:42:59 AM User Rank Platinum
Liz 3
"You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means."
 mhhf1ve
12/2/2016 5:41:27 PM User Rank Platinum
MY VOTE: Liz 3 - elizabethtv
> "You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means."
The Princess Bride always wins in my book.. (Unless someone here has a more appropriate Star Wars quote..) elizabethv
11/29/2016 8:44:53 AM User Rank Platinum
Liz 4
I understand your concerns about the share we'll have in the market, but just trust us it won't be an issue. I said it won't and it won't. Just trust us.
elizabethv
11/29/2016 8:47:05 AM User Rank Platinum
Liz 5
"This is the last merger we'll try to do. No more mergers. We promise. "
"(whispers) Dale...." "Don't worry, I crossed my fingers." Joe Stanganelli
11/29/2016 1:32:41 PM User Rank Author
c
"I now pronounce you monopoly and acquihire. You may split your stock."
Joe Stanganelli
11/29/2016 1:34:28 PM User Rank Author
d
"In front of you, you'll see we've provided transcripts of earlier testimony and a tipping chart."
Joe Stanganelli
11/29/2016 1:40:18 PM User Rank Author
e
"The Commission votes 3-2 to allow the purchase of Water Works but oppose the acquisition of Park Place."
srufolo1
11/29/2016 2:15:51 PM User Rank Platinum
Caption Contest
Whoever has their cellphones on, I would appreciate it if you could please turn them off!
jbtombes
11/29/2016 9:47:19 PM User Rank Platinum
Charlie Brown's teacher
"Blah, blah, market share, blah, blah, blah, public comments, blah, blah, regulatory scrutiny..."
jbtombes
11/29/2016 9:49:12 PM User Rank Platinum
Back scratching
"...finally, to maximize billable hours accruing to the K Street lawyers assembled here before us, we have extended our review period by 18 months."
jbtombes
11/29/2016 9:50:30 PM User Rank Platinum
Expert testimony
"And now, to explain why competition is for losers, I'd like to call upon Peter Thiel."
elizabethv
11/30/2016 2:59:37 AM User Rank Platinum
Liz 6
For the last time Jim, NO we cannot merge with an ice cream store just so you can get a discount!
elizabethv
11/30/2016 3:00:10 AM User Rank Platinum
Liz 7
We will be merging with "Lonic enterprises." our new name will be Tel-colonic, wait, that doesn't sound right....
elizabethv
11/30/2016 3:00:37 AM User Rank Platinum
Liz 8
And apparently Mike, you didn't get the memo that Wacky Tie Wednesday is next Wednesday.
elizabethv
11/30/2016 3:01:18 AM User Rank Platinum
Liz 9
Speaking of mergers, I would like to remind everyone that there is to be no hazing of the new guy. It took the fire department 3 hours to "un-merge" him from the flag pole this morning.
elizabethv
11/30/2016 3:10:09 AM User Rank Platinum
Liz 10
"I thought I heard something about a wall of telco trucks?"
"No that was taco trucks." "Are you sure?" "Pretty sure, yeah. I don't even know what a telco truck is." "Can we at least get a taco truck then?"  ms.akkineni
11/30/2016 8:43:00 AM User Rank Platinum
1. Due Diligence
Fellows..help me recall, is the due diligence all done?
ms.akkineni
11/30/2016 9:01:24 AM User Rank Platinum
3. Finally
Finally we came to a conclusion that we are merging as we figuered out merger is a better option than acquisition...
ms.akkineni
11/30/2016 9:15:20 AM User Rank Platinum
4. Speech
Excuse me please, I didn't get a chnace to proof read my speech.....
ms.akkineni
11/30/2016 9:17:36 AM User Rank Platinum
5. Jobs
The first thing in our agenda is to consolidate our teams and cut all redundant jobs.
ms.akkineni
11/30/2016 9:40:01 AM User Rank Platinum
6. News
The bad news is - there will be job cuts due to this merger deal. And the good news none of us three would be loosing our jobs...:)
ms.akkineni
11/30/2016 10:19:23 AM User Rank Platinum
7. Excited
We are excited to announce this merger. We made sure that this yields into positive results for the companies while we are still evaluating the consumer impact.
ms.akkineni
11/30/2016 10:47:29 AM User Rank Platinum
8. Same page
Looks like we are not on same page. We will resume this announcemnet later.
ms.akkineni
11/30/2016 12:53:27 PM User Rank Platinum
9. Exit Strategy
One cool thing about this merger is, besides mergerer transition plan we are also working on exit transition plan if things end up not too well with the whole deal.
 dlr5288
11/30/2016 6:40:39 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: 9. Exit Strategy
That's such a good idea! You always have to think of a back up plan or plan B. If things don't work out the way they're suppose to, an exit plan is a great idea!
ms.akkineni
11/30/2016 12:59:15 PM User Rank Platinum
10. Merger
We are merging the companies, brands and all physical assets...but still not sure about employees.
ms.akkineni
11/30/2016 1:01:41 PM User Rank Platinum
11. Customer
Our merger's slogan is - CUSTOMER IS KING. Unfortunately we are yet to get to the details around how this can help customers.
ms.akkineni
11/30/2016 1:09:36 PM User Rank Platinum
12. Conflict
I am glad to announce that we all now are better at conflict handling...
ms.akkineni
11/30/2016 1:10:40 PM User Rank Platinum
13. Opinion
I know that it is just my opinion, but i also know that you all agree with that....
Joe Stanganelli
11/30/2016 6:29:18 PM User Rank Author
f
"No, you don't get the choice of paying 10% or $200."
srufolo1
11/30/2016 6:43:52 PM User Rank Platinum
Caption Contest
Do you think we need Lily Tomlin's permission to name the merged entity "One Ringy-Dingy?"
srufolo1
11/30/2016 7:11:57 PM User Rank Platinum
Caption Contest
It has come to my attention that meeting this way makes us look reactionary. We should have had a virtual meeting.
srufolo1
11/30/2016 7:21:32 PM User Rank Platinum
Caption Contest
Is there such a thing as being too big and powerful?
srufolo1
11/30/2016 7:24:30 PM User Rank Platinum
Caption Contest
Let's not get our wires crossed. We are working toward a Universal goal.
Joe Stanganelli
11/30/2016 8:15:56 PM User Rank Author
g
"So, wait, you're saying my phone and my camera can be the same thing?"
Joe Stanganelli
11/30/2016 8:17:02 PM User Rank Author
h
"Sorry, guys, but your brief looks pretty phoned in."
srufolo1
11/30/2016 9:28:27 PM User Rank Platinum
Caption Contest
We will create the biggest Tower of Babel known to humankind.
srufolo1
11/30/2016 9:33:13 PM User Rank Platinum
Caption Contest
And when I say we are not messing around with connectivity, we've partnered with Sir Richard Branson, who will be testing out our signals in space!
srufolo1
11/30/2016 9:41:09 PM User Rank Platinum
Caption Contest
Hello, it's me! We've thought about this for a long, long time.
mhhf1ve
11/30/2016 9:53:49 PM User Rank Platinum
Caption entry #1
"it's at times like this, when I'm trapped in an endless hearing about this merger, that I really wish I'd listened to what my mother told me when I was young."
"Why, what did she tell you?" "I don't know, I didn't listen."  Mike Robuck
12/2/2016 2:16:01 PM User Rank Author
Vote!
Voting is open for the caption contest. You have until Dec. 17 to submit your votes. In case of a 10-way tie, random.org Have a great weekend.
 batye
12/2/2016 5:08:57 PM User Rank Platinum
ok
ok you will hear me now, but I forgot what I wanna say :)
Itsmeshawn22
12/7/2016 6:57:23 PM User Rank Platinum
Year-End Caption Contest: Voting Begins
This is interesting since it's my first voting and I find it useful and knowledge. My vote- Liz 9
 dcawrey
12/7/2016 8:34:12 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: Year-End Caption Contest: Voting Begins
"Man look, I hear you... it's funny to me too, I mean it's strange... it's strange to me too, but we're talking about practice man, we're not even talking about the game... the actual game, when it matters... We're talking about practice ..."
vnewman
12/27/2016 12:16:01 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: Year-End Caption Contest: Voting Begins
@dcawrey - I love the throwback Allen Iverson quote! I'll never forget that interview. I believe he said the word "practice" 22 times in 2 minutes.
JohnBarnes
12/7/2016 10:03:35 PM User Rank Platinum
My vote ...
Goes to afwriter, for "I don't see what the consumer has to do with this."
Splendiferous, afwriter! mpouraryan
12/16/2016 5:00:17 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: My vote ...
I am just numb especially als I also was seeing the reports of the Sky/21st Century Fox Merger...but I am also with @afwriter and wish him much success!!
Quite a year folks..and that's putting it imildly...  Michelle
12/8/2016 2:23:59 PM User Rank Platinum
Vote: afwriter
I vote for afwriter's caption for this one!
"I don't see what the consumer has to do with this." srufolo1
12/10/2016 9:05:02 AM User Rank Platinum
Caption Contest Vote
Captions are supposed to be short. Based on that premise, I liked many of Joe Stanganelli's captions. MY VOTE:
Joe Stanganelli 8 "If you'd like to oppose an injunction, press 1. If you'd like to amend a proposal, press 2..." Steve Stanganelli
12/13/2016 7:56:02 PM User Rank Steel
LOL Re: Caption Contest Vote
LOL. I agree with you srufolo. I gotta go with la mia famiglia on this one.
My vote is for Joe Stanganelli's "If you'd like to oppose an injunction, press 1. If you'd like to amend a proposal, press 2..." srufolo1
12/13/2016 8:47:50 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: LOL Re: Caption Contest Vote
@Steve Stanganelli Are you Joe's brother. I liked that caption right away. I thought it was clever and I hope Joe wins!
Mike Robuck
12/14/2016 11:01:39 AM User Rank Author
Re: LOL Re: Caption Contest Vote
Hmmm, the Stanganelli voting bloc could be a factor here. Voting ends Saturday. Someone will be getting a nice Xmas present from TT. Thanks everyone.
mhhf1ve
12/15/2016 2:49:09 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: LOL Re: Caption Contest Vote
hmm. pretty low voter turnout here. so calling in favors to vote up favorites seems to be a winning strategy. Is every election in 2016 going to be disappointing? :(
elizabethv
12/16/2016 2:34:58 AM User Rank Platinum
Re: LOL Re: Caption Contest Vote
@mhhf1ve - Lol, the whole year has been fairly disappointing (aside from my pregnancy, I feel really bad if I don't make that exception) so no one should be surprised if all the elections turn out the same way.
mpouraryan
12/16/2016 5:01:06 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: LOL Re: Caption Contest Vote
Let's remember that we have to keep hope alive--and stay optimistic. Otherwise we won't be here now would we?
elizabethv
12/16/2016 2:32:15 AM User Rank Platinum
Wow that was a lot to read....
After careful consideration and reviewing all of my options, I pick Joe's very first post. That I don't remember anymore.....
I checked: One
"Clarification: Will the proposed merger be 'huge' or 'yuge'?" Mike Robuck
12/19/2016 1:02:31 PM User Rank Author
Winner
The winner for the last caption contest of the year, and a $200 Amazon Gift Card is faryl for: "I'd like to be the top hat please; who wants the sports car? The thimble?"
Thanks to everyone that posted captions this year and for voting. Going forward, maybe we should limit the voting to people who have 30 or more posts? I hate to exclude newcomers, but we do have some people that only seem to post when we have voting in these contests. Thoughts? Joe Stanganelli
12/19/2016 1:25:30 PM User Rank Author
Re: Winner
@Mike: I can roll with that or something similar to that -- particularly considering the final votes came from accounts created on the final voting day.
Perhaps a compromise to avoid turning off newcomers (and lurkers, for that matter) and still welcome them would be to instead have a cutoff period as to how old your account is. To be eligible for voting, your account must be, say, two or three months old. But then you still have the other problems inherent to voting in an online community. I think it's better to have no community voting, period. In addition to the problems of making sure enough people vote (against their interests, at that) among a finite collection of users, we've seen tit-for-tat voting, and we've also seen ill feelings harbored over votes. I've seen even worse with similar contests at other, unrelated websites where user voting is a factor. I'd rather see a panel of judges, accordingly. Obviously, that then makes *your* job harder, insofar as then you have to help judge the entries (unless you farm it out, of course). But it also strikes me as helping to avoid the problems of voting. If voting is a non-negotiable, then I think the best compromise solution is to go back to having a judge or judges nominate a shortlist of, say, 5-8 captions -- which people can then vote on. Some thoughts. My two cents. Take them with as many grains of salt as you need to swallow. mhhf1ve
12/19/2016 4:37:19 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: Winner
I've run a few online contest/challenge projects before, and I'd say for simplicity -- farm out the judging to Mechanical Turk for a few bucks. It's not exactly a perfect system, but it works fairly well if you're going to need to regularly judge things that only humans can interpret. The wisdom of a (mechanical turk) crowd seems to be decent, and since mturkers are generally anonymous, the results are usually pretty fair/honest unless you have some bias in the way you design your mturk HIT.
cheers! (and congrats to faryl!) Joe Stanganelli
12/21/2016 1:12:51 PM User Rank Author
Re: Winner
@mhh: I'm aware of/familiar with the AMZN Mechanical Turks but have not participated in or contracted with the program. (Some critiques I've seen here (link) and here (link)).
That said, because of the grueling workload of an active participant -- who typically gets paid pennies per pop ($0.02 to $0.10) -- I tend to think you may, for some especially topical cartoons, face a certain barrier in finding enough participants who are familiar enough with the subject matter of the vertical, replete with background and subtleties. (We are a rather niche community, after all, are we not?) Or, to put it another way, I humbly posit that you get what you pay for. But you seem to be much more familiar with it? What has your experience been? Would you say that my gut reaction is too ignorant/cynical? I'd like to learn more. mhhf1ve
12/19/2016 5:46:44 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: Winner
BTW, does this mean there will be more caption contests for 2017? Looking forward to some more thought-provoking cartoons!
(and I'll volunteer to set up an mturk judging HIT, if we going to do a bunch more of these...) elizabethv
12/20/2016 9:13:52 AM User Rank Platinum
Re: Winner
Yeah, I would agree to some kind of requirement for voting purposes. It just seems to make sense that if you aren't really actively involved in the community (yet) swaying a decision on it seems a little out of the ordinary. Though it would be nice to get more people voting too. What about a similar requirement that if you put in an entry you also have to vote?
Mike Robuck
12/20/2016 10:25:24 AM User Rank Author
Re: Winner
Good suggestions. Mike, can you ping me via email on how much that would cost? I guess I was a bit naive on this whole thing. I figured people would just vote for the captions that made them laugh the most. Hopefully we can still do the contests next year. Thanks again.
 dmendyk
12/20/2016 11:40:31 AM User Rank Platinum
Re: Winner
And we're told elections can't be hacked. Put this one up with Boaty McBoatface as Exhibits A and B.
Ariella
12/20/2016 2:03:42 PM User Rank Author
Re: Winner
@Mike I wonder if it's possible to get the voting done by having people who are active members of the community rank the captions on a system of 1 -5 or 1-10, and the one with the highest number at the end of a couple of weeks wins.
Mike Robuck
12/21/2016 9:35:01 AM User Rank Author
Re: Winner
@Ariella, I think someone mentioned using the "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" as a way to determine the caption winners. Ideally we would come up with something that doesn't cost a lot, or take up a bunch of time.
Ariella
12/21/2016 9:53:51 AM User Rank Author
Re: Winner
@Mike I know the thumbs up and down are already in place, but I'd think you coul probably swap out a stars ranking for the captions to allow more gradations and a range of numbers to be added up rather than a single positive or negative for each vote.
Joe Stanganelli
12/21/2016 12:52:26 PM User Rank Author
Re: Winner
@Ariella: Relatedly, the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest recently started inviting people to "assess"/vote on captions before the three finalists, asking them to weigh whether a caption is "funny" or "not funny". I am given to believe that this taken into some degree of consideration in selecting the finalists, although I am not sure what that degree is, exactly.
Ariella
12/21/2016 3:27:59 PM User Rank Author
Re: Winner
@Joe interesting, I wonder if they will be transparent about the extent of the impact.
Joe Stanganelli
12/21/2016 12:50:48 PM User Rank Author
Re: Winner
@Mike: In theory, the thumbs up/thumbs down mechanism is a great way to do this.
In theory. In practice: I am aware of a site that has a mechanism and uses users' upvotes/downvotes on its own contests. Inevitably, trolls et alia thumb everything down. In my experience, it is very rare to see an entry older than a day or two that ranks above a 33%. Not that that would necessarily happen here -- but it is a risk that one opens oneself up to. Joe Stanganelli
12/21/2016 1:02:25 PM User Rank Author
Re: Winner
@Mike: Granted, I'm a contributor to this very issue, but it's worth considering that she sheer *volume* of entries makes asking community members to vote fairly, judiciously, and equitably on what may be close to 100 entries inherently problematic, in my estimation.
For this reason, I reiterate my suggestion of a judge or judging panel that at least unilaterally decides a shortlist for voting -- if not decides the winners outright. (What about tossing the artist -- since it is his work, after all -- a couple extra bucks to have to read all the entries (anonymized, if that is deemed helpful) and create a shortlist? (J. Klossner did this on at least one occasion, yes?) Then you as the judge, or a judging panel, or the voters would have a MUCH easier and more realistic task at hand. elizabethv
12/27/2016 3:24:15 AM User Rank Platinum
Re: Winner
I do agree with Joe that it was a lot easier with a short list. I'm mostly on here at night when I'm just about completely undistracted (my smartphone with Facebook is always staring at me) so reading through the over 100 entries wasn't unmanageable, but still was a lot. And really, they all kind of run together. But if we didn't divvy this responsibility out to someone else, what about a few rounds of voting (again ideally with more voters) where in the first round we would vote for our top 10? 20? then from that list pull out the top 5? 10? that would leave us to vote from. Just a thought.
I do like the idea of the thumbs up/down button, but I'm not sure how it works en masse, I don't think I've really seen it used much, though I have used it before on the caption contests. dcawrey
12/23/2016 1:03:21 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: Winner
Is there a poll somewhere? I think doing this from the comments thread makes it hard to read. Would be good to get a list of finalized candidates (maybe 5-10) and then vote in an online poll.
Joe Stanganelli
12/24/2016 7:07:19 PM User Rank Author
Re: Winner
@dcawrey: Voting on voting. How meta! ;)
Perhaps John's point is on target -- and this we have all contributed to complicating this too far. ms.akkineni
12/31/2016 5:42:59 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: Winner
Completely agree. I am coming back to the forum this week after a hectic year end schedule at work and bingo ..154 messages and still going. Wow...
Joe Stanganelli
12/21/2016 12:55:36 PM User Rank Author
Re: Winner
> What about a similar requirement that if you put in an entry you also have to vote?
This could go either way. It could result in better results. Or it could result in 9-way ties among subpar entries as people "waste" their required vote. (Disclaimer, incidentally: I stand by every vote I've made as a vote for a caption that genuinely made me laugh. As a lawyer, I'm just naturally inclined to see perverse incentives and risks that exist in proposals.) JohnBarnes
12/21/2016 10:17:27 PM User Rank Platinum
I'm thinking of C. Northcote Parkinson ...
Specifically, "The volume of discussion of an agenda item is inversely proportional to its importance." Every month the caption contest gets more posts than anything else -- even if you take out the entries themselves!
Of course Parkinson explained it in his wonderful semi-economic rational-choice way: people like to participate. If the question is buying a nuclear reactor, there are only a few people in the room who have anything to say, and everyone else is afraid of looking foolish. If the question is building a bicycle shed at the edge of the parking lot, many more people know something they can put in, and there's less to fear in having one's ignorance exposed. And, as I recall, Parkinson observed that if the subject is buying a coffee machine for the break room, the meeting may never end ... (All this from my lazy memory) mpouraryan
12/23/2016 11:53:51 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: I'm thinking of C. Northcote Parkinson ...
You always never cease to amaze @JohnBarnes even on such light moments. Congrats to all those who were brave and creative enough to enter--it is always fun to be able to see it all in action!!
mpouraryan
12/23/2016 11:56:13 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: I'm thinking of C. Northcote Parkinson ...
..I just hope that this admonition of his is something we would never have to deal with, "...The chief product of an automated society is a widespread and deepening sense of boredom...." :) :) :)
Joe Stanganelli
12/24/2016 7:08:45 PM User Rank Author
Re: I'm thinking of C. Northcote Parkinson ...
@John: On a related note, Scott Adams observed that one of the earliest decisions for American voters was on the national bird -- whether to make it the eagle or the turkey...and that you could be the most uneducated and dullest person in the world and still have all the wits necessary to have an informed opinion on the subject.
mpouraryan
12/28/2016 2:53:08 PM User Rank Platinum
Re: I'm thinking of C. Northcote Parkinson ...
The admonition to "stay hungry & stay foolish" is ever so true now as I saw this--and as I also will never forget Socrates Admonition: "All I know is I know nothing". As long as these two admonitions are embraced, I would suggest that we can live life in a much more meaningful way--right? Or maybe I am too naive (as I sometimes admit I am)...
:) PS--154 comments & Counting..that may be record for our deliberations :) :) |
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