Quizmail (and other monthly quizzes)

[alunrw]

Hello

I was wondering if theres any way that people coule politely be requested to refrain from providing actual answers for these, all is fair in love and war, but theres a lot of people enjoy looking these up themselves and spend a great deal of time and effort is so doing - it's then slightly annoying when the outright answer is posted.
Clues/hints/pointers whatever you wish to call them are fine, but when someone posts just the answer its slightly frustrating to the others partaking.
Just a polite request?

Thank you

[Mitch480]

I happened on this site today quite by accident.  I have been submitting prize crosswords for 20 years or more, and I can say I am truly shocked at the ease with which answers to clues are given away.  People are requesting solutions to the simplest of clues.  They all have access to the internet where they could find the solutions for themselves, but they are either too stupid to use a search engine, or are just lazy parasites who use other peoples knowledge to cheat. Shame on those of you who encourage them by providing the answers!!!

[fordward]

Now Now chaps and chapesses its the quizemailers who dont say its quizemail that are the baddies not the punters who answer the questions

[THECORBYLOON]

Mitch480 to call folk "too stupid to use a search engine or lazy parasites who use other peoples knowledge to cheat." is out of order.

Why is it wrong to use the Internet to gain nswers? Paul Daniels doesn't complain about folk using video recorders to work out how magic tricks are performed, he says he uses his skill to alter his techniques. Maybe question setters should do the same when phrasing the questions. 

If someone asks a question, it is because he or she does not know the answer and it doesn't bother me why it's being asked.    

[shaneystar]

Well said CBL.This is a blatant criticism of the people that use AB and also our beloved ABED .
I have been doing crosswords for a lot longer than twenty years..and quizzes.This site is a godsend for a lot people who get enjoyment out of this harmless pursuit. We are not "lazy parasites" .We are like minded folk who enjoy a bit of friendly rivalry on a puzzle website.I have come across some very nice people on here and have learned a lot by sharing crossword answers and so forth.if I can provide someone with an answer i am quite happy to do so .It's harmless fun and I am quite shocked at your uncalled for remarks Mitch480 on a forum that you have only just come across.

[LindaBon]

I'm sorry but i don't know what Quizmail is and if you don't want answers why ask the questions?

[jno]

sharing knowledge isn't something to be ashamed of, Mitch. As to whether it's ethical or just lazy for people to ask... well, as TCL says, quizmasters will just have to find ways of keeping ahead of the game. I read a quiz a few years ago where the compiler went to a lot of trouble setting up fake websites giving the wrong answers, just to trick the idle. Maybe that's the way to go?

[mldr79]

Mitch has clearly gone a bit far there. Whilst 'some' don't use search engines correctly and are quick to ask for help, this is a minority and something this post is trying to prevent. Clearly Mitch has only just joined this site (green font) to complain and any of his abuse should not be associated with Quizmailers.

Some will call this an unneccessary 'policing' of Quizmail, I like to think of it more as self-regulation or self-preservation. If answers are given are so blatently, there will only be two outcomes that I see. 1) Quizmail prices will go up as more people will enter and get top marks, meaning more prize money needed, funded by us OR 2) Quizmail STOPS, as it will become finacially unstable to run. Granted I gone over the top and thiese are Worst Case Scenerios but by asking for hints and not answers, and being honest when posting a quizmail question, it surely better for all?

So can people please read what has been written above and stopping posting things like, "if you don't want answers why ask the questions? " because thats the whole point of this post. We don't ask for answers, we ask for clues and for honesty amongst Quizmailers.

[LindaBon]

I'm really sorry but I still actually don't know what quizmail is.

I presume we won't see Mitch's name on the site ever again as he won't be asking any questions or helping those of us who don't know all the answers or can't find them. I myself get a bit annoyed that people ask the same questions over and over but can't see the point in getting so het up about it all!

Please can someone let me know what Quizmail is!!

[jno]

mldr I don't know anything about quizmail but as far as I can see from AB, the problem is that people do post questions direct from it, in hopes of getting a full answer, and that's what upsets other contestants. I can understand why they're upset - but I don't see that this should stop me answering questions when I can; that's what I'm on AB for. I'm not on quizmail, on the other hand, and there is not the slightest reason why I should pay any attention whatever to its rules.

[LindaBon]

Ok have just done a search and found out about quizmail.

[mldr79]

Argh! Can people please read all other posts before adding their own else we'll just keep going over the same bit again and again.

What Quizmail is was summarised in post 17

The main purpose of this post was to either ask for a 'hints' sections to be added to the others OR to ask for some honesty from quizmailers and their questions. This is for the reasons ouitlined above and is only a suggestion.

People that don't do quizmail, if you see a quizmail question, we ask that a hint be given and not the answer. So please don't anyone put "Why ask a question if you don't want an answer", as we normally DON'T ask the question, only for a HINT.

Equally non-quizmaillers, if you answer a 'non-labelled' quizmail question, you are then not 'attacked' but the person that didn't admit to it being a quizmail question is, just as has been said above many times.

In answer to Jno, yes some do people ask for direct answers, we are asking that they do not for the survival of the quiz - as mentioned above. If a direct answer is asked, then its not the fault of the answerer for giving it and i've not known an answerer to be ambused.

All this is merely a suggestion and at the end of the day its down to people's on choices. Thank you.

[AB Editor]

Hi all,

What a heated debate! Just like the ole days....

At the moment, the Quiz & Puzzles section is a one-stop catch-all for all crossword to mail in puzzler related questions and queries. As it is designed in the same Q&A format as the other categories, users must take it upon themselves to point out (as the Arts&Literature folks do when posting a Question that contains a spoiler) where the Question/Clue comes from (i.e. "Quizmail") in the header. Also, all Quiz&Puzzle Questions should only be posted in that category.

In regards to answering a Question - straight out - rather than providing further clues, this is entirely up to the Answer-er. This is the AnswerBank after all, and if you ask a Question, be prepared to get an Answer. If you had initially asked for a HINT and got a straight answer in return, unfortunately, there is nothing, technically, that we can do about that.

Happy puzzling,

AB ED

[SuperPigeon]

Sorry. This website is called the answerbank so this is where people come to recieve answers. they dont want to beat about the bush like a treasure map finding clues about what a male squirrel is called or how many teeth a fully grown marmoset has! Soz but when an answer is posted its good to have an answer to your question and then others can look and learn more. Its just what questions need answers!!!

[forgetfultel]

I can see both points here, but why would someone who merely wants a "hint", click on the question? Someone is bound to give the answer. I would hope that if a post merely asks for a hint, then the answer would not be given. This should satisfy everyone. What I find most annoying is the endless list of unanswered "questions", which are not actually asking anything. Some say just "Thanks" etc, shouldn't this be said in the thread, after all, that's the bit that goes into the answer-er's profile!