The BeoWorld Awards..

This is where we thank the people who spend their valuable time helping us, entertaining us, and generally making a visit to BeoWorld fun, informative and rewarding.  These people could decide to spend time (and in some cases money) on themselves or their families, but no - their acts of selflessness are given for either some, many, or indeed all to benefit from.

Once a year, we have the chance to simply cut and paste something already pre-typed - where all one has to do is fill in the member name and send their votes and thanks to an email address already provided.  Simple, easy - and a great way to say a little 'thank you' to the people who spend their time and energy making your lives and experiences with your Bang & Olufsen products a little better in some way, shape or form.

We currently have just under 16,000 members, so you'd obviously think that if one in say a hundred members voted it's be a bit of a nightmare to collate. Well, you'd be absolutely spot on there!!   1,600 votes - all with four different nominees for the categories.. that's some counting I can tell you.

This year though, we've not had 1,600 votes.  Not even 800, which would be 1 in 200 people voting (which is pretty much what you'd expect - at least)...   We've had four.   No, you didn't misread that.  Read it again.

Frankly, for all everyone gets from this site, wether it be advice on repairs, cheap repairs in person, bargains, opinions or expert advice on how to work your B&O or purchase new B&O - you'd think that clicking on an email address, cutting and pasting a small part of a post, filling in four words, then pressing 'send' wouldn't be too much trouble. It seems it is.

I'm quite lost for words how dismayed I am.  You could counter (and I'm sure some will) that "it's the moderators who always win" - but Peter was always exempt (if you read the rules) - and if Martin (Dillen) wins anything, he thoroughly deserves it for all the help and support he gives freely throughout the year.  It's about recognition and thanks, for all someone has done to help YOU.  

Don't even dare tell me that in a whole year only FOUR people have been helped by this site in one way or another..  

Needless to say, the 'BeoWorld Awards' are not happening this year.   If you can't be bothered, neither can I.  

I'm thoroughly disappointed.

Lee

Bummer, Lee.  And I did read the rules, and you allowed us to vote for Peter this year.  And I did...for most valuable contributor.

And Martin, of course, for most helpful member.

And I bought a pair of Form 1's from Lifestyle this past week, in a small attempt to support the site beyond the membership fee.

So thanks, Peter, Lee, Martin, Mika, Jeff, Soren, Olly, Eugene, and everyone else who helped with the M70s, the BM4000, and the BG4002 this past year.

A shame, but I know who deserves the award this and every other year - and that is Lee. The amount of time and effort he ploughs into this site is incredible. I count myself very lucky to number him as one of my best friends. I did suggest that the BeoWorld 2012 trip should be limited to those who voted ...

Shame on me, had the intention to vote but forgotten it totally. Still no excuse

I apologise, I too meant to vote but kept putting it off! Sorry all!

As a previous recipient of "honourable" mentions etc. I feel crap! Of course I knew it was taking place but kept putting it off, unable to decide in a couple of categories and now the closing date has been and gone!

I always thought of myself as supporting the site but have let it and myself down in this instance - I can't apologise enough, especially to those who are really helpful and valuable on the "real" forums - they definitely deserve the small amount of cap doffing and thanks that this ceremony brings!

Leslie:

Shame on me, had the intention to vote but forgotten it totally. Still no excuse

I did vote, and I put the mail about voting with flags and stars and important, 1st in my inbox, if not I would have forgotten it.

But since the vote was opened I was thinking about it (I voted June 11) to and from, it is so difficault to pick between so many interesting, helpfull, funny and wonderful people, I took it down to the ones with whoom I correspond the most, and even so it was a hard decision.

Another problem is that the forum is so interesting that when you get into it you forget everything else, interesting threads or the ones where you can help, or where you can give/find funny answers. Goes like this, sign in, thinking oh I have to vote, but there is Rich with a BG down, or Martin with a very old interesting item, you just have to check first. And happy forgetting your good intention.

I understand Lee's frustration, I just retired as webmaster for another site (very small one) for more or less the same reason.

For next year I suggest that a reminder, in the vote month, is put up in the thread head, just like the "do we have your E-mail Address".

And all Lee's good work is forgotten because the forum (also because of Lee) is so friggin interesting and good made.

So to all you old and new members out there, NEXT YEAR IS VOTE YEAR.

Oh dear!   I am so sorry too. I have been so wrapped up in my new and very happy relationship, I very seldom visit Beoworld.

I had planned on emailing on my return from Durham, but completely forgot. Sorry Lee.

I have to be honest... I hope there is more to it than this!

I did not even know about the Awards at all for about ~4-5 days after it was "posted."

Somebody mentioned it in the other parallel on the test server. I crossed over to these forums and poked around but could not find anything at all on the topic.

This coincided roughly within a few days of the launch of the new look as I recall.

Several more days passed and I then made an effort to root around and vote... and I actually found an article in the Main site under News.

Frankly, it even took me a bit of a struggle to remember to find it that way again for reference here... and I am on this site nearly every day!

Was there an original thread? Was it locked -driving it down the pages? -was it not ever "pinned?"

On that note, one's personalization of the "Discussions" page may have prevented them from seeing it?

I sure didn't... and never would have if someone had not mentioned it on the test server!

Hope that helps in some small way!

burantek:

I have to be honest... I hope there is more to it than this!

 

I did not even know about the Awards at all for about ~4-5 days after it was "posted."

Somebody mentioned it in the other parallel on the test server. I crossed over to these forums and poked around but could not find anything at all on the topic.

This coincided roughly within a few days of the launch of the new look as I recall.

Several more days passed and I then made an effort to root around and vote... and I actually found an article in the Main site under News.

Frankly, it even took me a bit of a struggle to remember to find it that way again for reference here... and I am on this site nearly every day!

Was there an original thread? Was it locked -driving it down the pages? -was it not ever "pinned?"

On that note, one's personalization of the "Discussions" page may have prevented them from seeing it?

I sure didn't... and never would have if someone had not mentioned it on the test server!

 

Hope that helps in some small way!

I thought it was pinned to the top of the General Forum.

Søren Mexico:

Leslie:

Shame on me, had the intention to vote but forgotten it totally. Still no excuse

I did vote, and I put the mail about voting with flags and stars and important, 1st in my inbox, if not I would have forgotten it.

But since the vote was opened I was thinking about it (I voted June 11) to and from, it is so difficault to pick between so many interesting, helpfull, funny and wonderful people, I took it down to the ones with whoom I correspond the most, and even so it was a hard decision.

Another problem is that the forum is so interesting that when you get into it you forget everything else, interesting threads or the ones where you can help, or where you can give/find funny answers. Goes like this, sign in, thinking oh I have to vote, but there is Rich with a BG down, or Martin with a very old interesting item, you just have to check first. And happy forgetting your good intention.

I understand Lee's frustration, I just retired as webmaster for another site (very small one) for more or less the same reason.

For next year I suggest that a reminder, in the vote month, is put up in the thread head, just like the "do we have your E-mail Address".

And all Lee's good work is forgotten because the forum (also because of Lee) is so friggin interesting and good made.

So to all you old and new members out there, NEXT YEAR IS VOTE YEAR.

 

Oh Søren, you did vote on me Thanks

@Lee, can we start over again?

It was pinned to the very top of the General Forum for all to see, right from the initial posting up until this afternoon.  Nowhere can more visible without leaving it open and 'bumping' it three to four times a day - which would be monotonous to say the least. It was viewed 404 times.

In contrast, the wonderful Struer Trip was on the forum for half that time, unpinned - and has had 1300+ views plus a wave of excitement. If i was cynical, I'd be making a barbed comment on that.

Lee

We are all people with good and "bad" habits Lee. What can I say more?

Puncher:

I thought it was pinned to the top of the General Forum.

I am a user w/ a personalized "Discussions" page...

I go right from the attached page -to-> Active Topics

I never saw it -but managed to vote.

Perhaps I am just reaching for straws. I'll shut up.

9 LEE:

It was pinned to the very top of the General Forum for all to see, right from the initial posting up until this afternoon.  Nowhere can more visible without leaving it open and 'bumping' it three to four times a day - which would be monotonous to say the least. It was viewed 404 times.

In contrast, the wonderful Struer Trip was on the forum for half that time, unpinned - and has had 1300+ views plus a wave of excitement. If i was cynical, I'd be making a barbed comment on that.

Lee

I can appreciate how miffed you are - I would be too!

Who'd have thought everyone was as witless as me!

I am ashamed as i try to give as much as i get from this site,  I think we should have another vote??  I will participate this time

I saw it, thought I'd vote a little later, and then managed to forget.

Graham

Without wanting to detract from Lee's disappointment, most of those statistics quoted are out by a factor of 10.

There's an avatar on the parallel universe saying 'Vote for Me'. Guess the accompanying image put voters off! 

Either that or all the votes are buried in the system under the name AGASIN ADFAM

Graham

vikinger:

I saw it, thought I'd vote a little later, and then managed to forget.

Graham

Same here, sorry !!!

9 LEE:

The BeoWorld Awards..

We currently have just under 16,000 members, so you'd obviously think that if one in say a hundred members voted it's be a bit of a nightmare to collate. Well, you'd be absolutely spot on there!!   1,600 votes - all with four different nominees for the categories.. that's some counting I can tell you.

This year though, we've not had 1,600 votes.  Not even 800, which would be 1 in 200 people voting (which is pretty much what you'd expect - at least)...   We've had four.   No, you didn't misread that.  Read it again.

Lee

"16 000 members - Not even 800, which would be 1 in 200 people voting..." ....Am I missing something...?

Jandyt:

Oh dear!   I am so sorry too. I have been so wrapped up in my new and very happy relationship, I very seldom visit Beoworld.

I had planned on emailing on my return from Durham, but completely forgot.  Sorry Lee.

Congratulation to your new relationship, Andy. So you will need two places on the next Struer-trip...Time for another photo thread...??

Stefan

Sorry Lee, nobody is logged on much more than me and I didn't spot it!!

9 LEE:

It was pinned to the very top of the General Forum for all to see, right from the initial posting up until this afternoon.  Nowhere can more visible without leaving it open and 'bumping' it three to four times a day - which would be monotonous to say the least. It was viewed 404 times.

In contrast, the wonderful Struer Trip was on the forum for half that time, unpinned - and has had 1300+ views plus a wave of excitement. If i was cynical, I'd be making a barbed comment on that.

Lee

If I saw it I missed it :-(

I don't use the Forum structures

Like others I use the technique of Active Topics

I have a bookmark (http://forum.beoworld.org/forums/TopicsActive.aspx) that I hit at least 4 yes FOUR times a day

If people were not posting the thread then it just falls off my Active Topics ... unlike the Stuer trip that keeps bubbling to the top

I am surprised to hear there were so few voters. The reason I didn't was because basically I didn't feel that I knew the other members well enough. I'm not sure if other members opted out for the same reason?

it's a nice idea for people's hard work to be recognised. but maybe Beoworld isn't big enough for an Awards Ceremony?

I use several forums, both larger and smaller than Beoworld, where enthusiasts work very hard keeping the sites up and running - as well as helping people out both online and in real life - None have yearly awards and no one seems to be too worried about it. 

I think comparing the lack of votes to interest in the Struer trip is rather puerile if I am honest. That thread was bound to be popular, and it is clear that people just are not that into voting. 

Llewelyn, thanks for your comments,

I disagree it was peurile, but I'm not going to argue about it.  I was merely highlighting that when it comes to taking, people will put in a lot more effort than giving - which i find disappointing.

The idea of the awards were borne from the fact that I truly appreciate it when someone does something for me - especially for free.  I took my Mac in for repair to a local Mac specialist yesterday. It's ancient and years out of warranty. This morning I got a call to say he'd simply reset something which is a rare but known fault - and it's back working perfectly.  It took him minutes to fix, so there'd be no charge.

I took him in a pack of beers and slapped them on the counter as i picked up my Mac - and he was utterly astonished.  "Are you sure?..  Nobody's ever done that before.." he said, smiling broadly and putting the beers under the counter.  

It's something I do without thinking.  If someone helps me, i thank them somehow - wether it be a beer or a thank you email.  I was simply transferring my ethos to the BeoWorld Forums - all in the form of a free email.   I'm sure other forums don't have awards.. but my train of thought is that I want BeoWorld to be different from all the other forums.  I put my heart and soul into this place, so forgive me wanting to make it special.

As for not knowing the other members well enough..  you don't need to know the person - you read the forums, so you can make a judgement from that.. surely?

That's all i have to say.  I'm not hopping mad, cursing everyone..  I'll just have to learn to care a bit less.  

Lee

I agree completely - the awards a way of saying thank you to those members who put a large amount of effort in for no financial reward. We try to make sure thatr the deserving get brought to the fore - one reason Lee and I exclude ourselves each year is so that those of us who are less in your face are recognised.

I think we have probably done this topic - as lee has said, it is not a case of being angry - it is more of disappointment that we have clearly not communicated the ethos of the site well enough to make this something that people are eager to do.

I'm disappointed in myself on this one. I hardly want to show my face!

I was eager about it the day you posted it Lee, but I was stressed about finals at the time and soon after transferring schools (still in progress).

I am sorry Lee.