The "Following"

Someone wrote that we (HotKarz) win all the time because we have a "big following" of people trading votes. Though most folks know better, I'd like to set that person straight.

First, we lose as often as we win when there are more than three cars in our class, so the idea that we win because of any "following" is just ridiculous. And no one from HotKarz "trades votes" - not me, and not my wife. We may vote for a friend here and there, but ONLY if we believe his or her vehicle is best in their class. We have often won at shows where we knew almost no one (Medomak, Madison, Canaan VT), and we have lost totally at shows where we know almost everyone. So it would appear our wins have little, if anything, to do with any "following".

This same person stated that they followed my wife at Gorham and saw her trading votes. Well, I have a newsflash for that person: as many of you may recall, I walked with my wife at Gorham during the voting, and from start to finish, she talked to no one during the voting, and it was I who chose most (not all) of the vehicles we voted for. If we voted for a friend, it was because he/she had the best vehicle in their class. When the writer says he or she watched as Robin traded votes, that simply was not even possible with me by her side the whole time. So, the person who wrote that BS is obviously not telling the truth (and I suspect I know why). And at Gorham, we only placed third, even though there were only 4 vehicles that belonged in the class. And in all these years, we have never once won a People's Choice or a Best of Show. So, if we were "buying or trading votes", it would seem we are not very good at it.

Yes, Robin goes from place to place, as do I, and talks with friends. But any idiot knows that does not constitute "trading votes". And if two people - any two people - want to vote for each others vehicle, as I stated earlier in another blog, that is not necessarily a problem, particularly if both parties believe the other's vehicle is best in their class.

When one person trades votes with a friend or relative, that is not such an issue because those votes likely get canceled out by two other parties doing the same thing for other vehicles, and most folks will do that every so often. It is human nature. If my brother-in-law has a car in the show, and if it is a decent car I would likely vote for him, if only to keep peace in the family. But I don't have any relatives at the shows, so even that is not an issue for me. And because we are well known, we cannot vote for friends, either, unless they have the best in their class, because we probably have more than one friend in each class.

But the issue, again, is not about voting for Uncle Harry. It is about block voting. A large "block vote" cannot be canceled out, and will end up unfairly skewing the results. THAT is the problem.

I think the person who wrote that BS about HotKarz "trading votes" is simply trying to move the conversation away from the issue that is at the forefront - BLOCK VOTING. When a group of people, belonging to a club, or a business, all agree to vote for the members in their group which sways results, THAT is the problem. It is very difficult to cancel out 10, 20 or more votes from a club.

Now this same clown who wrote that BS has written again (still anonymously, of course, because he/she is ashamed and does not want to own the BS he or she is spewing) and thinks a 2nd place award at Ossipee in a class with only 4 vehicles somehow means votes were traded. Wow! What a mathemetician! Of course, having a sharp car couldn't possibly have anything to do with getting placed.

Y'know, it is amazing how far people like that will stoop in order to try and justify their own bad behavior. If that person really BELIEVES the BS they are spreading, then how about identifying yourself, instead of taking potshots at my back from a dark alley? Anonymity is fine, unless you are going to make unfounded allegations. Then you need to identify yourself, or provide proof, or your allegations are simply nothing more than BS and your credibility is zero. Why are you afraid to let others kinow who you are? I know the answer to that - and so does everyone else.

As a side note on this topic, Steve Flynn wrote a little piece of tongue-in-cheek satire about it that some may find some humor in.

"I've been chewing on this one for the past few days and was thinking that maybe we could work this to our advantage. Since "block voting" may be the wave of the future, for those of us who don't participate in such passive/aggressive activities, an accommodation might be possible.

"This would involve configuring your website to allow the "block voters" to contact you before each show. The "block voters" could announce ahead of time that they would be actively (but surrepticiously) voting during the show. A check box next to each of the shows listed would work, and this could be marked for all to see. That way we would know that "block voting" rules would apply for those shows.

"Those car owner who do not participate in "block voting" could then avoid the show and spend time with family or friends. We might even organize a cruise-in that day that focuses on the appreciation that we have for our cars and the camaraderie of fellow car nuts. But without the trophies.

"I suspect this may be difficult to achieve, given what I fear is a lack of testicular fortitude on the part of the "block voters" to admit to such a scheme. However, I on the other hand, would welcome the transparency of this approach. It's efficient and we all get what we want in the end. So, let's try to work together and reach across the aisle and admit our differences and work towards a better car show in the future.

"If you choose to publish this Bill, please do not hesitate to use my name.

Steve "

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