Post by Supremacy
In another tread, it was asked if the cheaters could just be banned. They're the ones ruining things for everyone else, as cheaters often do.
But it's not really that simple.
There's no way to actively determine if the same person is doing the same thing from a hundred different accounts. I'm not all that tech savvy compared to other hardcore 'net users, but I imagine you could find or make a program to just keep making accounts, until you've done it dozens of times.
And even if they could determine it? I don't think they should.
Bear with me, since this might come off as a bit more condescending than I intend.
One of the reasons that we like this site is because of the interaction between the developers/moderators and the public. I, myself, have never used Allkhazam, or Thottbot, but judging just from the responses I see in threads, this is a markedly superior community to those sites. One reason is that communal spirit. It's not about "God, you suck, you weren't able to beat Mograine or Quagmirran or Illidan", it's "You know what works for me? If you try....good luck!". There is a sense of humor, of general good-naturedness, and just a degree of sportsmanship here. People have no problem telling you something like "Oh, no, Crusader drops from these mobs", or things like that. Much as I hate cliches, the Wowhead community is a family, of sorts.
Ironically, one reason we're like that is because there aren't huge limitations on joining. You just need a free e-mail account, and welcome to the family. You're treated with fairness and given a chance. And you're given a chance, regardless of how long you've been here, to enjoy in our spoils.
But then when people start flagrantly taking advantage of that, it's...it's just not right. Don't ask "What do you mean by 'right', because", when you know damn well what I mean. I am not going to sit here and just assume that everyone who won is a cheater, because people deserve the benefit of the doubt. I didn't really have that much of a problem, for example, finding those
boots on Day 2. But the chances of everyone finding all five items in under 10 minutes?
No. That just cannot happen. Either everyone became
phenomenally lucky, or there is obviously some kind of foul play going on. Fact is, no one really knows the times or how many people submitted within five, ten, or thirty minutes save the Wowhead staff. But if the rumors going around are true, and five people finished within moments of the contest opening?
That's cheating, plain and simple.
Unfortunately, there's no way to weed out the good from the bad. So, while it's a bit painful, I do understand the decision to cancel the contest. This site doesn't need that sort of thing. People just coming in to the community, to the family, for the sole sake of exploiting the generosity of the staff, and screwing over everyone else?
No. That is fundamentally unacceptable, on a dozen levels.
It's wrong. Period.
In their position, I would've done the same thing. If things kept going, you would just punish the Wowhead honest community, and reward those who came here just to exploit it.
I imagine if they choose to have them, future contests will be handled with a bit more caution, with that "once bitten" mentality.
And that is a shame.
Under no circumstances should Wowhead have to hire
additional internet security consultants to make sure that people aren't cheating for the sake of a Beta-key and a pet. That undermines everything that I think this site stands for.
If you won legitimately, then congratulations. With a bit of devotion and a little luck, I can see how that's done.
If you cheated?
Shame on you.
Those are just my thoughts, anway.