Because there have been so many disputes regarding the legitimacy of posts and their content, I did some research on the official rules of the contest. Here is what I came up with; actual evidence that those bloggers who try to circumvent the rules of the contest will be disqualified and can actually be prosectued by Progressive U. Click to read more if you are interested in what the official rules say.
You too can find this information by clicking here.
1. "A read ("Read") is defined as a single load of a post by a web browser software client, as accounted for and tracked by ProgressiveU's content management system software." Meaning that those people we suspect of using a program that reloads the page after a certian amount of time continually, are not receiving actual points for those reads. Sure it may look like they are on the surface, but ProgressiveU does not count those uploads are reads point wise.
2. "The participant with the highest awarded point total as of that date and time will be awarded the $1000 scholarship, and the participants with the next three (3) highest point totals as of that date and time will be awarded $300 scholarships, provided winners meet and comply with all other rules outlined in these Official Rules." Therefore, anyone who breaks any of the rules is not elegible for the scholarship. Meaning those bloggers who do use software to achieve a higher number of reads are not elegible for the scholarship.
3. "DISQUALIFICATION: A participant’s entry may be disqualified at the sole discretion of Sponsor if an entrant (a) disrupts the Contest, circumvents the terms and conditions of these Official Contest Rules, or in any way tampers with the Contest, or (b) violates the Official Rules." I have enough faith in the sponsors that cheating by reading your own post several hundred times also falls under the category of DQ
4. "CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY A PERSON TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE, MANIPULATE WEB SITE STATISTICS BY MANUAL OR AUTOMATED MEANS, OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW." Pretty much this is the clause that says they can prosecute those who disrupt the contest. I doubt they would; those users will simply be DQ. But the idea of prosecuting scares me enough not to cheat!
So I hope everyone found this helpful and it encourages those who thought they had no hope to keep trying!
Sincerely, Your Friend Debatechick
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All this blogging thing shouldn't be made for those money. I'm not saying they are not useful, because I'd lie (all of us want to win, I'm sure). But blogging for progress itself is a reward, because here is a place where you can say exactly what you feel, what you think, and you know that others read and become aware of your ideas, and more, they make comments related to it. I think that itself is a great thing! Anyway, thank's for the 'update', Deb.chick!
Jo
But at the same time, you have to consider the fact that some people who are in college and who also have jobs wouldn't necessarily have the time to work dilligently at such a progessive system without financial incentive.
I love this site, I really do, but if threre was not the scholarship, I would have given up for awhile by now because of work and graduation- not to mention certain things on here that are starting to bug me. Sure I care about progress, but I do so many things for the community outside of this site that I would not feel guilty or non-progressive if I stopped using it.
In fact, I think I would be more progressive if I did, lol, because I would have more time to go out and do progressive things!
If anybody feel ya, man, I feel ya. Ya gotta play by da rules in order ta do it big.
Don't forget that you earn money posting comments, too!
The Sky is Falling, Recreate it for a Better Day
of course, I can make a post outlining al of that too, lol if you would all delight in that.
Well, I'd say that a well-outlined post on the rules on commments and the value of commenting would be worth at least fifty points. :)
The Sky is Falling, Recreate it for a Better Day
interesting, thanks for the info :)
Ditto.
Some people get attention from their blogs and some don't get any or very few. That's the nature of the beast. Come up with things that really capture attention and can stir the pot of conversation.
I was wondering, is the scholarship just a cash reward to be used for the purposes of school? So say I won and I need the 1,000 to pay for school fees or food I can use it for that? I can't just spend it on anything I want like a new t.v. If I did win I want to put the money towards the 8,000 my parents are expected to contribute to the tution, but they definately don't have 8,000 and any scholarships I win deduct my financial aid package.
Okay, that was really confusing. But this scholarship will not deduct from your financial aid package because it is an outside scholarship, not one from a school.
Secondly, yes, it is just a cash scholarship that you can technically use on whatever you want as long as provide proff that you are currently attending a University, or that you are a high school senior who has been accepted to a university in the fall.
Francesca Chambers
Alright, I know that I'm going to college, I just don't know where to go yet...am I still eligible for this scholarship?
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Sarcasm is my body's natural response to stupidity.
Buying used books is wrong, it's like buying used underwear, it just shouldn't be done.-Me
So long as you matriculate by Fall.. 2009, I think it is. Maybe December 2008. Check out the official rules (contained in the FAQ at the top of the page) for the exact date.
~C
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Really helpful post...i just found out about the scholarship but i think its a cool idea. thanks again