Format of my future quizzes

[ken48]

I've have been so disheartened to see that the quiz I've worked hard to produce (and now in its 13th year) has had 66 questions answered on AnswerBank, 26 of them from a single 'serial' quiz entrant, who seems to be keener to tick off the number of quizzes entered rather than have any sense of achievement over the number of questions worked out.

The answer: next year I'm going to lift 100 clues from other people's quizzes, issue a list of answers with the quiz questions, and turn the whole thing into a handwriting competition - the neatest entry wins - no mental activity required on anyone's part!!

See:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puz zles/Question694643.html

[BigDave44]

Can you tell us the answer to the squirrel problem Ken?

Seriously, it is a problem and to be quite honest I can't see a solution as far as these traditional quizzes are concerned. More and more seem to be going for pictorial questions, and, as long as the quiz is not published on the web, they are much harder to describe on this site.

I added a few more comments here:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puz zles/Question695044.html

[bridgenut]

Can see your point about not being a quiz - rather a lottery with all answers being put on here . Only a suggestion which I think has been made before and that is to put a finish the sentence off tie breaker.

[QuizmasterG]

Ken48 - I am sorry you are disheartened that your quizzes are being hijacked by the "lazy" quizzers.

Unless you specifically ask that no questions are posted on AB there will be no way round that problem - and even then the "couldn't care less" brigade will still scatter answers all over the place.

Please keep compiling quizzes, I am sure the vast majority of entrants with scruples enjoy them immensely.

p.s.
I am sure there are people who have an answer to the "squirrel question" but do not want to see their hard work stolen from under their noses - maybe they are the real clever ones!

[smouse]

Well I know someone has it cos that is how it was discovered the number of letters given was a mistake - good luck to them they deserve to win

[BigDave44]

I have an idea what it is - I hope someone will tell us when the answers are published.

[oddboddy]

I agree with the above setter I am fed up with this happening too There was a similar thread yesterday and one person commented setters dont care so long as we sell quizzes. Thats not so, theres a lot of setters like myself and the above that care but cant see a solution. We know when we mark that we may be awarding prizes to someone who has cribbed all the answers but theres no way of telling and they paid their entry fee. Doesnt mean we dont care but then a quiz setter replied with the very opposite opinion seemingly that the more answers on here the better for the charity. Not a view I agree with at all but people are entitled to their differing opinion. I guess my son summed it up when he said if kids at school just copied everyones answers they'd be accused of cheating.
Ken i'll buy your next quiz with pleasure but if its down to handwriting I dont think im in with a chance with my scrawl.

[ken48]

Actually Oddboddy - you're in with a chance. I consider that the scruffier the entry form the more work has gone into it - crossings out, scribbles in the margin, a multiplicity of different inks, etc all show real activity.

[x-ray]

I am very saddened to see this become such an issue.
I feel sorry for Ken, but like others have said, cannot see a solution to the problem
I have been guilty, both in asking questions, and more frequently, answering them. But this is the nature of this site - "Quizzes and Puzzles".
The previous post yesterday about "demoralised" illustrates the problems that we all face, but what is the answer ?
I enjoy reading all the posts, and must confess to finding some of the answers.
I cannot see how any rules could be applied when these will only be disregarded anyway.
Good luck to all who win these quizzes - I have yet to join their ranks - but will continue to carry on as I have done and hope that none of this is taken too seriously, it's only a game after all.

[Mctavish]

ken 48Can you tell me where I can get a copy of your quizz please or am I too late for this one ?
Thanks in anticipation

[oddboddy]

Great because mine usually have shopping lists, tea stains on them and are well chewed where the pugs run off with them to get my attention lol
BTW If you know my quiz site I am hoping to add a new section in the not too distant future which may just help those that want to do quizzes without all the answers going up. Be interesting to see how many actually do and who doesnt LOL
I hope you seriously dont give up on your quiz setting, I struggle and throw it in the air and swear at it a few times but I usually get down to just a couple and I do enjoy it

[ken48]

Sorry Mctavish - I don't particularly want to identify myself. I am aware that some ABers do not share my views. The quiz closes any day now anyway.

By the way, I'm NOT responsible for the squirrel problem quiz

[Stockethill]

ken 48 I would never win one of your quizzes. My returned entries are always very clean and tidy as I photocopy quizzes when I receive them and all the scoring out, blobs of coffee etc. are on the copied one.

[Mctavish]

Thanks ken48 for replying can understand your point.

[x-ray]

Hi, ken,
Hope your quiz is one of the ones I've sent in.
Please keep compiling them, you'd be surprised how much enjoyment you give to us.
We all wan't to know the answer to the squirrel problem, and I do know that you didn't set this one.
Good luck

[Tallulah!]

But I don't know what your quiz is ken48 and I don't ask for answers ever to then send in an entry. You could check my profile to see that I only asked twice for Quizmail answers but I didn't send in as I still wasn't sure enough to waste �14 when the prize money could work out at �1.
Perhaps if everyone who wanted to complained to the setters of the 'hard' quizzes and newspaper crosswords and also to the AB editor on his email address something might happen.
I've belonged to AB only to 'police' for GFQ and the now defunct Quizmail which are businesses and not charities.
I found the site by accident while researching answers.
There were detective freddie and fred all al askung away!
Good Luck Ken.

[ken48]

Thanks for the support, folks. I'd got a bit fed up and forgot that the vast majority of quizzers are intelligent and caring people who love the challenges set by compilers. I fully expected to open a can of worms and have replies telling me to 'take the money' and shut up, but that hasn't happened.

I have already started next year's quiz (it takes me most of the year- and a lazy fortnight on a greek beach) to put the final version together. Perhaps I won't bin it after all.

[oddboddy]

Tallulah I know the quiz you refer to as I took the cheaper version at �4 and I won �13 on last months quiz. The setter said the prize money would be higher if more entered. I am having a go at the big one this time but theres not many all correct entries to share the prize. My win was on only 37 out of 40 answers correct and only 2 of us shared the �25 so its worth having a go.

[QuizmasterG]

I'm like Stockethill.

I am lucky enough to have copy facilities and usually take copies to pass around (hopefully to generate more cash!)

The copied sheet looks like it has been blown around a wet city street for a while with all the scribbles, marks, spills etc. so cleanliness should not be a judgement factor.

I am pleased some debate has happened re this recurring problem of posting questions on AB but if contrary people keep answering, the lazy people will keep asking!

Good quizzing everyone.

[ken48]

Don't get me wrong - I was only joking - I have never discriminated against a clean copy (when you have a pile to mark they come as a relief!!)

Perhaps my point should be that some evidence of 'working out' should be present?

[QuizmasterG]

Back to our schooldays ken48? - (only joking)

The lazy ones would get around that by asking for the answer - and how it was arrived at!

Idle people always have a way of avoiding any effort - there are quite a few around where I live. I think it is becoming second nature to some and I don't think the AB will be any different