Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Regret to Inform...

Rejection Email from BGG
Your User Submission Declined.

Such harsh words!

I am a frequent visitor to BoardGameGeek to satisfy all types of boardgaming queries.  With few entries for the DTP game, Montcalm & Wolfe for which I am journaling a campaign game, I figured an account of a gaming session would be of interest to the community.  Wrong!

As seen from the terse reply, the reasons for rejection were due to three factors.  Those factors were:
  • 40% Poor Structure
  • 20% Irrelevant
  • 40% Spam
I wonder what data analytics' algorithm settled on those criteria and percentages for rejection?  How could a game replay of the game, itself, be Irrelevant?  Does any entry containing a link qualify as Spam?  As for Poor Structure, well, I guess debating a topic as subjective as structure is pointless.  Sigh...

25 comments:

  1. BGG can be inconsistent. Try it under General. Or add a few photos, with an ‘if you want to know more...’ link.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the suggestions. For a knowledge based site, adding freely to that KB should have low barriers to entry.

      Delete
  2. That's annoying! When I was an active member at BGG they had a moderation system, where reviews, reports etc were looked at by moderators (who could be any member who felt like doing some moderating - there were no special qualifications) before being accepted or rejected. There were criteria for rejection (irrelevant, blurry photo, spam, etc.), so I imagine you've run into a couple of zealous non-wargame moderators who don't understand what you are doing, have flagged it, and others, seeing it flagged, have gone with the flow.

    It happened to me a few times, usually for wargames, and usually for games when I was using figures rather than the original bits (Commands & Colors with miniatures, for example). Non-wargamers seem to be a bit suspicious of wargamers, and board wargamers seem to be particularly suspicious of miniatures gamers, for some reason. I'd make a cosmetic change or too (and possibly an introduction in italics explaining why you are posting a hybrid game) and then send it back in. You'll find some understanding mods at some point!

    Cheers, and good luck,
    Aaron

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aaron, I appreciate your suggestions, support, and background on your own, similar experiences with BBG.

      Delete
  3. My experience with BGG suggests what they really mean here:

    > Poor Structure = You didn't write it they way they would write it.
    > Irrelevant = They were not interested in the subject.
    > Spam = What they prefer for lunch.

    Screw 'em--your followers appreciate what you do!

    Best regards,

    Chris

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are lucky, at least all of your failings actually add up to 100%, my own failings have somehow managed to hit the 120% mark! which is somehow more remarkable than even my school report.

    I am guessing the single reason for the 'kiss it' reply is that you were likely giving a link to the outside world .... they don't seem to like that sir!

    ReplyDelete
  5. In a way it is encuraging though Jonathan because it proves that the brain is still superior to the machine!

    ReplyDelete
  6. It is irritating, but the whole idea of being given fail marks in this way is ridiculous, especially from a forum with the literary traditions and general silliness of the BGG. Even funnier if the scrutiny is carried out by a program.

    Perhaps you could try submitting your receipt from the supermarket, or an advertising flyer from a cellphone company, or your electricity bill? I'm sure they wouldn't be accepted, but if we can get more info on how the scoring works we could concoct a totally meaningless article which meets all the pass criteria.

    Now I think about it, BGG is already full of them, so that would be pointless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well said, Tony! As I read the rejection from BGG, the thought of your Donkey Awards entered my mind.

      Delete
  7. Pretty silly of them. I wonder how many great ideas pass them by like yours when they leave it up to a machine to decide.

    Christopher

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. If a site thrives on relevant content, one ought not block submissions containing relevant content. I guess mine did not pass muster.

      Delete
  8. I had a similar experience. After fuming for a few days I just posted to the relevant thread with a link to my article (it was about War Between The States). That worked.

    The submissions process (I'm guessing) is for something more formal and arcane.

    Boardgamegeek site is a very valuable resource, it is a pity they have this rejection process.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No fuming here. Surprised and puzzled, yes.

      It is a pity especially when an obscure game has little information or support on BGG.

      Delete
  9. I would of thought it a great resource. ☹️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If not a great resource, at least useful.

      Thanks for the comment, Stew!

      Delete
  10. This page gives a bit more info on how they do the modding: https://www.boardgamegeek.com/geekmod

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the link, Aaron! Seems the process of group moderation ought to be a useful screening tool until it isn't!

      Delete
  11. I cannot imagine why a site wouldn't want what was clearly relevant content. (20% Irrelevant?)
    40% Poor structure? Bah!
    40% Spam... because, I suppose you provide links to the two blogs involved rather than an endless post to the site.

    100% I wouldn't waste another moment's effort on them.

    ReplyDelete