[NismoFrontier08]

I like the themed idea a lot!

What if we kept the structure the same but added a category kind of thing. (I know it's been mentioned but I'd like to tweak the idea). What if we still have the same TOTM structure but did one for 2wd and one for 4x4. So really TOTM would be shared. This way we get the sweet built 4x's and then others, like me, who have less built 2wd's won't be as scared to get it the running. Plus this would open up the categories to more than off road. For example with the addition of a 2wd category the simpler off road trucks would be in the running against street trucks.

 

[MobMechanic01]

I was just about to launch into a lengthy speech, but I'm going to pause for a moment after seeing shizzy's post...

This is the second time I've seen "Member of the Month" come up as a suggestion and I'm somewhat intrigued by the idea. Ever since I have started running this contest, I constantly get complaints about how TOTM is "always" the built 4WD trucks that go off road and that it isn't fair. There are a lot of members here who are valuable contributors to the forum, but they are never recognized for their efforts. Tweaking the contest would place the emphasis on the member as a whole and not just the vehicle that they drive.

Separating this contest out into different classes (4WD/lifted/off road and 2WD/street) has come up a bunch of times...but unless you guys could talk another moderator into doing it that's simply not happening. If you guys want to keep these "Thing of the Month" contests going in 2016, then I am happy to do it for you. But for personal reasons, there are going to be changes made to the contest that will cause me to need to spend less time on it, not more. The older I get, the more I'm learning not to stretch myself thin, and I'm not sure you guys realize how much time goes into these things. Sorry if that sounds selfish. The last thing I want to do is end up like the last moderator who got burned out doing these and virtually disappeared off the face of the earth.

But enough about me, let's keep going down the path of this "Member of the Month" idea. I'd really like to hear some other thoughts on this (for or against).

I understand, and I whole-heartedly agree... Different classes poses a whole new set of challenges, and a ton of work - I apologize for making that suggestion!
I get super busy at work, and I don't always have time to contribute to the forum as much as I'd like to, so I definitely understand. It should be a fun little contest, and equally as fun to host, not a time-consuming duty that pulls you away from other responsibilities.

I'm glad you moved this topic over to a new thread, where it could be looked into, and I'm also glad so many others voiced their opinions & suggestions, like Shizzy's suggestion, to turn it more into a "Featured Member of the Month" - I really think that's a GREAT idea!

 

[MobMechanic01]

I also like the themed idea, changing it up every month, randomizing the theme for each months TOTM, but figuring out something to hinge it on, might be the challenge there.

As far as MOTM, I like it! But what do you base that on?
Threads started?
Number of posts?
Likes on their posts?
Hard to measure the amount of helpful contributions...
I think a random MOTM might be the easiest, with a random group of 5-10 member's names drawn from a hat, each one maybe filling out a 5-question "about me" style interview form posted and maybe voted on, or if you don't like voting, how about if the finalist is just randomly selected, from another hat?
Seems like more work for the mods (sorry!), but what do you think?

It all gets a little overwhelming, and makes me respect the Mods that much more, for having the patience to deal with all this...

 

[bhowdy]

Maybe just require a minimum number of nominations to participate, then randomly display a different one each month (once you are displayed, you are removed until the others have cycled through)... Then it becomes more of a featured truck/member and less of a competition. Might also draw some of the lurkers out of the shadows as well...

I agree, not a bad idea at all. I also think that Glamisdude's idea has excellent merit.

I also really like the Member of the Month versus the TOTM. There are so many folks on here that help others over and over and over. And that includes the "Janitors" as well. MOTM would effectively eliminate the "Beauty Contest" for the truck of the month contest.

One last thought .... These forums would be no less outstanding if the TOTM or MOTM competition did not exist. Seems like the current TOTM is just something fun to do each month .... but only fun for those of us that do not have to set it up, beg for nominees, tabulate votes, post topic threads, etc. etc. etc.

Jennifer .... Relax kiddo, don't try to react to all this at once .... Sit back, prop your feet up and watch this sort itself out.

 

[JeniorNV]

Skimming back through this, I think it's interesting how many people have suggested rotating through members, drawing names out of a hat, or just letting us mods pick someone versus putting it to a vote like we have been.

Though this sounds like a virtuous idea, I think it will fail.

MOTM seems to be a popular idea with a heck of a lot of people. Why do you think it will fail?

 

[Zedbra]

MOTM seems to be a popular idea with a heck of a lot of people. Why do you think it will fail?

Perhaps if it was guided or had a theme, otherwise history has shown that the wheeling trucks will take home the hardware.

On that note, I like the theme idea. Maybe even have the next theme notified in advance, so that others might wish to get a killer photo for that theme. Example: on the beach, mall crawler shot, under a bridge, in the trees, on the rocks - whatever. You get the gist.

 

[Zedbra]

I edited the first post as well, so that new members will understand from the get-go what is happening here. Also added a picture to not mess up the Home page.

 

[JeniorNV]

Also added a picture to not mess up the Home page.

Whoops, did I mess up the home page? I suppose I could have placed this thread in a different section.

 

[Zedbra]

Whoops, did I mess up the home page? I suppose I could have placed this thread in a different section.

Yup. Any thread posted in this sub-forum will automatically post the first picture on the Home page. If there is no picture then it is a big white box - and who likes big white boxes?

 

[JeniorNV]

Yup. Any thread posted in this sub-forum will automatically post the first picture on the Home page. If there is no picture then it is a big white box - and who likes big white boxes?

I know that. I just wasn't thinking about that. 'Cause phone.

 

[Zedbra]

I know that. I just wasn't thinking about that. 'Cause phone.

I got your back, sista. **fistbump**

 

[PyroMedic]

Just an idea here... eliminate truck of the month since honestly I haven't seen much interest in it lately. However, make a showcase of the month where people just post up their builds with recent pics and current mods/ future mods. That way members can see everyones "awesome and new" builds all on the same page per month?

 

[Zedbra]

Just an idea here... eliminate truck of the month since honestly I haven't seen much interest in it lately. However, make a showcase of the month where people just post up their builds with recent pics and current mods/ future mods. That way members can see everyones "awesome and new" builds all on the same page per month?

Not a bad idea - perhaps ask people who may want a featured truck, though. Otherwise, people may ask questions to an inactive user.

 

[Lngrn36]

Can it be morphed in to truck of the month / member of the month thing? I feel like there are members who while they have not and maybe will not be building an epic trail rig.

This^, plus if you look at the past winners while they may have a nice rigs, the pic will win. Sometimes we're all guilty of wishing I was there, so we vote with our hearts desire to make that trip and not the rig itself.
I've seen some nice two wheel street rigs submitted, but after seeing the results you realize it's a waste of time to enter your truck unless it fits a certain look. So maybe you can have several categories and rotate them monthly. For example, December could be lowered month.
I will submit this rig again. This will make my point. There is no scenery and you have to look at it closely. This guy has more money and work in just his wheel clearance because he refused to do a low budget hack job on his truck, than some have in all their bolt on parts.
Just some thoughts.
Maxacceleration

 

[Lngrn36]

I was just about to launch into a lengthy speech, but I'm going to pause for a moment after seeing shizzy's post...

This is the second time I've seen "Member of the Month" come up as a suggestion and I'm somewhat intrigued by the idea. Ever since I have started running this contest, I constantly get complaints about how TOTM is "always" the built 4WD trucks that go off road and that it isn't fair. There are a lot of members here who are valuable contributors to the forum, but they are never recognized for their efforts. Tweaking the contest would place the emphasis on the member as a whole and not just the vehicle that they drive.

Separating this contest out into different classes (4WD/lifted/off road and 2WD/street) has come up a bunch of times...but unless you guys could talk another moderator into doing it that's simply not happening. If you guys want to keep these "Thing of the Month" contests going in 2016, then I am happy to do it for you. But for personal reasons, there are going to be changes made to the contest that will cause me to need to spend less time on it, not more. The older I get, the more I'm learning not to stretch myself thin, and I'm not sure you guys realize how much time goes into these things. Sorry if that sounds selfish. The last thing I want to do is end up like the last moderator who got burned out doing these and virtually disappeared off the face of the earth.

But enough about me, let's keep going down the path of this "Member of the Month" idea. I'd really like to hear some other thoughts on this (for or against).

Maybe if you could help us understand how different categories causes more work we could offer better ideas to ease your workload and have a nice contest. I know I like the truck of the month and have voted and nominated in the past.

 

[Florida_Fronty]

Lngrn36 has a good point in saying each month of the year could be a different catagory to eliminate overload. But what catagories? It would have to be twelve different catagories.
Jen, I think we should include a moderator of the month. MOM. LOL.

 

[Florida_Fronty]

It could be like, Performance Mod of the month January, Interior Mod of the Month February, Best exterior mod of the month March, Best wheel tire combo of the month April, Best Lift of the month May, Best Off road climb of the month video June, Member of the month, July, Moderator of the month, August, and to make it easier we could just use the "thank button" as our vote or is that too facebook?

 

[JeniorNV]

Maybe if you could help us understand how different categories causes more work we could offer better ideas to ease your workload and have a nice contest. I know I like the truck of the month and have voted and nominated in the past.

I didn't mean to sound like a whiner and now I'm afraid I may have come across that way.

to make it easier we could just use the "thank button" as our vote or is that too facebook?

Ooh, I kinda like this idea. It would kinda depend on whether we decide that people can vote for more than one truck (in which case it would work fine) or one and only one (in which case it wouldn't).

 

[2013Pro4X]

The thanks idea also allows easier voting from the autoguide app.

Here is another idea.

In December, have a nomination/vote thread for all of the ideas for different categories for 2016. Examples of categories could be member of the month, trip/photo of the month, lifted 4x of the month, non-lifted truck of the month, etc, snow truck pic of the month, and some others mentioned above.

Have everyone vote on the categories for the up coming year 2016, so we know in advance what is coming for the year. The top 12 or top 4 (if quarterly contest is used) categories are the ones that will be used.

The issue with the categories though, is they have to be generic enough to provide the opportunity for easy nominations.

 

[JeniorNV]

The thanks idea also allows easier voting from the autoguide app.

Indeed it does. I'm one of those weirdos who does 95% of my browsing from a smartphone, but I'm sure I'm not alone in that.