BOTM nominations?

[TECK]

I don't understand one thing:
How boards are selected?

Ok, after reading Kerry-Ann's entry, I'm a little puzzled.
BOTM is based on a simple nomination system. The five boards with the most nominations within the month are entered into a final poll. All licensed members are then able to vote for their favorite board amongst the five final modifications.
The 5 boards that have the most seconded nominations will be placed in the poll in alphabetical order.
In other words, if a board will be nominated by several members, it automatically enters the contest. Since the participation rate in this community is very small, is enough for me to post a thread to my forums and many users will vote for my board? Or do they have to be vBulletin licensed members? If they have to be, then yes, is fair.

Voting is up to the voters; no one can force or rally a vote, please visit all nominated and vote for the best board.
What "best" means in this context? Best design, best code modification? Is not clear at all.
Also, how come on every contest we always see the same type of board, with little graphics changed, but nothing original? There is nothing inovative about those boards, to be named Board of the Month.

Help me understand. Thanks.

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Nominations?

The 5 boards that have the most seconds will enter the voting. If more boards have the same amount of seconds then there are places free in the voting round, we will randomly select from these boards.

Vote rallying is not allowed at all with our contests. If you would ask members of your board to vote or to second your nominations, your nominations will be disqualified.

The "best" is something everyone has to decide for himself. But it does not include voting for someone because it is a friend.

[TECK]

Thanks Marco. You are not clear on the "best" part. In my book, "best" for me is the best modified board, not just few simple template changes. Ajax, new php code features, etc.
For others, "best" is considered the best graph design. Is up to the users to decide, right?

Thanks for explaining.

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Yes it is up to the voter to decide what he considers "best". We can only hope that the voters play it fair and look at each board and then decide which one is "best" (whatever that means for this user).

[Dean C]

The masses known nothing Floren. It's all about which board looks the prettiest. You should know that after all these years ;)!

[TECK]

Thanks guys for the good explanation. :)