03-12-2004 23:01									#151
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Well OK Im done then.

For the record claiming that I knowingly did this to alienate people is a tad much.

This is a contest that basically has no meaning and no reward.

Im sorry you dont see the irony and the humor in trying to rig a contest like that and then screwing up the actual rigging.

This was meant to be funny, if you didn't take it that way my apologizes.

	03-12-2004 23:01									#152
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The humour lies solely in his screwing it up.

Winners never cheat, and cheaters never win.

And knowing is half the battle.

	04-12-2004 00:27									#153
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quote: Originally posted by Unspeakable Horror January 17th (my birthday!)

Damn you!

Feb 29 if that's still free.

	04-12-2004 00:37									#154
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quote: Originally posted by Last Conformist Damn you! Feb 29 if that's still free.

Heh, I'm VERY sure it's free.

	04-12-2004 00:53									#155
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quote: Originally posted by conmcb25 This is a contest that basically has no meaning and no reward.

Actually it is a game, like civ. And like as in Civ there is no reward except you can win this game and have fun.

quote: Originally posted by Last Conformist Damn you! Feb 29 if that's still free.

Yes indeed it is free, but as I took another day the chances can't be too high.

-Martin

	04-12-2004 01:47									#156
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quote: Originally posted by Last Conformist Damn you! Feb 29 if that's still free.

Is that a guess for 2008?

	04-12-2004 01:50									#157
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quote: Originally posted by Sparrowhawk * Sparrowhawk doesn't want to think he "spoiled the fun" ......I prefer to think I....uncovered the mystery

You can be the top DrSpike post stats challenge investigator in all future cases.

	04-12-2004 01:51									#158
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quote: Originally posted by PLATO I am absolutely certain that Jan 2 would have been the date. Now, of course, the likely victim has probably seen this thread and blown my chance to become the only 2nd time champion. I am still confident that the date has possibilities, but I feel unjustly stripped of a sure win. I demand compensation.

Feel free to take it up with Con.

	04-12-2004 01:55									#159
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quote: Originally posted by Bloody Monk DrSpike, If this instance of the question is allowed to stand as valid then the DrSpike contest is moot. And that would not be a good thing.

I am open to the suggestion that Ming removes this thread and we go back to the last guesses.

What do the DrSpike post stats challenge participants think? Try not to vote for a new round just because your guess has already passed.

	04-12-2004 01:59									#160
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quote: Originally posted by conmcb25 Well OK Im done then. For the record claiming that I knowingly did this to alienate people is a tad much. This is a contest that basically has no meaning and no reward. Im sorry you dont see the irony and the humor in trying to rig a contest like that and then screwing up the actual rigging. This was meant to be funny, if you didn't take it that way my apologizes.

I think it is hilarious what happened. But that's just the outcome, after you failed. The intent was IMO not funny, and I can empathise with Plato and company.

It's still funny though.

	04-12-2004 03:16									#161
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I think the results were hilarious and that some people are taking this a little too seriously. Either that or they're trolling.

Con seemed to think that Ming would blow his cover in the beginning anyway, so I doubt he planned on really 'winning'.

Some early guessers will lose automatically if we revert to the old set of guesses, so it's better IMO to keep the new ones.

The whole thing is supposed to be fun. Con did add some fun (at his expense, I might add), so I don't see any reason to punish him or his kid. But we can make it a poll.

	04-12-2004 03:46									#162
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quote: Originally posted by DrSpike I am open to the suggestion that Ming removes this thread and we go back to the last guesses. What do the DrSpike post stats challenge participants think? Try not to vote for a new round just because your guess has already passed.

The last guesses wouldn't really work, this thread has 'contaminated' the competition. I'd say just keep the guesses of this thread. Whether you count Jonny as a genuine winner or don't have any winner at all for this round is an open decision. On the one hand the result was not a genuine one, on the other hand Jonny didn't win at the expense of anyone else. You could go either way.

	04-12-2004 03:57									#163
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quote: Originally posted by Locutus The last guesses wouldn't really work, this thread has 'contaminated' the competition. I'd say just keep the guesses of this thread. Whether you count Jonny as a genuine winner or don't have any winner at all for this round is an open decision. On the one hand the result was not a genuine one, on the other hand Jonny didn't win at the expense of anyone else. You could go either way.

I think the new guesses should stand. We are after all guessing how long from thread to thread. This does qualify as a thread where the issue was discussed.

The Jonny issue is tough. Hard to strip someone who innocently won. He did get the date right that the question came up so I say give him the win.

Since the passion seems so high on the issue of cheating, perhaps Mark, Dan, or Ming might want to provide guidance on this issue. I know that the contest isn't an "official" site event, but still some guidance seems needed.

DrSpike, I have no issue with you! My earlier post was simply to point out that the natural order of things had been unfairly upset. Perhaps a genuine attempt at humour, but...

	04-12-2004 04:04									#164
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Feb 8th

	04-12-2004 04:15									#165
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Jonny won fair and square. Taking his win would not be right. But the treacherous act of the "con-hort" was wrong and, if condoned, will encourage more cheats and make this frivolous contest even more pointless.

That the contest is frivolous and pointless is what makes it so much fun. To cheat to win such an endeavor is such bad form that it raises the status of golf cheats.

"Being to serious," maybe so. I say hang the bast*rd.

Bloody Monk

	04-12-2004 04:36									#166
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Let Jonny have his win, and give a point to con for providing us with a hilarious thread. Way to go con

	04-12-2004 04:38									#167
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Once can be let go. Only if something like it happens again do I think we need to take action.

	04-12-2004 04:42									#168
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quote: Originally posted by Theben Once can be let go. Only if something like it happens again do I think we need to take action.

Well I can't imagine it, but what if someone tops this? I agree though when it comes to ordinary cheating.

	04-12-2004 04:53									#169
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quote: Originally posted by Theben Once can be let go. Only if something like it happens again do I think we need to take action.

Do you REALLY think I would try this again? This was meant to be a joke and provide some side entertainment, look at my avatar, if I would have really wanted to "cheat" I would have covered my tracks and planned this a heck of a lot better. And I ceretainly would not have posted that hint to Ming and I certainly would not have had my kid do the post. There is at least a dozen people at this site I could have found to post for me if really cheating was my intent. Give me a break! PLEEEEEEEEEASE!

I have busted 4 cheaters over the past two years or so in CIV2 PBEMs before they basically died here at Apoly.

And there are tons of people in the CIV 3 forums who want to PBEM with me because Im reliable and dont cheat (and Im dam good at trash talking )

So for those of you who are taking this too seriously I truely feel sorry for you.

	04-12-2004 05:33									#170
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Of course they aren´t, they are tryieng to get +1 Shame on you!

I say leave as it is, it was fun after all

quote: Damn you! Feb 29 if that's still free.

Is your birthday too?

	04-12-2004 05:43									#171
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quote: Originally posted by PLATO DrSpike, I have no issue with you! My earlier post was simply to point out that the natural order of things had been unfairly upset. Perhaps a genuine attempt at humour, but...

Eh? I said I empathised with your and Monk's arguments.

	04-12-2004 05:45									#172
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quote: Originally posted by DrSpike Eh? I said I empathised with your and Monk's arguments.

quote: Feel free to take it up with Con.

Just making sure.

	04-12-2004 06:27									#173
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Jonny's win counts. He didn't cheat.

Con cheated but not outrageously so. If he had won there would be issues.

He's right that he could have got an anonymous poster to ask the question.

Give him a break........in one kneecap.



Now close the thread, I have spoken.

ACK!

	04-12-2004 07:34									#174
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List updated to Drogue.

	04-12-2004 12:20									#175
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We should have a game betting on when someone else will pull a conmcb25. I'll got with July 24

	04-12-2004 16:14									#176
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

@ Smiley.

	04-12-2004 16:27									#177
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Jan 26th.

	04-12-2004 16:29									#178
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I've thought a little more.

1) I disagree that just returning to the old guesses is unfair on those whose guesses have passed, because those guesses were too early for a true post stats thread.

However:

2) I agree that this thread has contaminated the competition so that it's hard to go back to the old guesses.

3) I agree that it would be hard on Jonny to go back to the original list.

That seems to suggest sticking with the current thread. I don't see any support for wiping it from history. I guess it's just too amusing.

4) I agree with Monk that overlooking cheating sets a bad precedent, and have to disagree with those that say once doesn't matter.

Yes it's just a silly game (I don't think anyone believes otherwise) but it is fun and those who cheat are just ruining the game for others.

So, we stick with the current thread. Scaeva cannot guess this round, a light punishment as he was 'influenced'. Con cannot guess indefinitely. Whilst I believe he had no intention of 'winning' I still actively want to discourage fixing.

	04-12-2004 16:34									#179
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Mar 16

	04-12-2004 17:36									#180
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Oy vey, that's a bit much. I can understand punishment as a deterrent, but indefinitely? It's not like he started a barroom brawl here.

Even scaeva's is a bit much, since he likely had no clue what he was doing and just did what his dad told him. I can't see any lighter punishment than that, unfortunately, so I guess it'll have to do.

I can agree with banning con, but not indefinitely. Maybe for 3 rounds.