Why is that?

[Bill Salot]

There have been 90 visits to my October 7, 2012, announcement stating that Problem Composing Contest #7 was underway. Presumably most of those who read the announcement looked at the problems diagrammed on the Cover page or used the link to see the diagrams and banter on the Contest page.

But only a very small fraction of the 90 visitors took time to click on the solutions and vote for the one they deem best. Why is that?

I suspect most folks need to setup the pieces on the board in order to follow the solutions, and sometimes they may not wish to take the time to do it. If you were one of the non-voters, please let me know if this was the reason. I hope you did not feel a mistaken obligation to solve the problems! That would really be time-consuming.

Would we get more voter participation if we were to automate the trunk lines of the solutions, similar to Jim Loy's game of the week?

I think partial automation might work because our much needed voters would be better able to make an easier judgment without having to set up the positions.

If that would make a difference, I will try to make it happen in future contests. I have no idea how to automate diagrams, so I will need help to get started. I hope Jason will come through again.

In the meantime, let it be known that a couple of our composers are a little discouraged by the descending level of interest at the polls. If any past visitors will return to vote, I can almost guarantee most of them will see practical or entertaining ideas that they have never seen before. A little more support will be much appreciated.