Welcome to the Deskthority Awards 2016!

[Chyros]

I dunno how this works precisely but it appears to be possible to vote multiple times. I don't know if it counts multiple times or it if adjusts your vote but if you vote the same thing multiple times it just keeps telling you that your vote has been cast. Just wanted to check whether that's alright =o .

[Laser]

It's written in *some* (or all?) of the nomination vote threads, to the end of the 1st post - you can change your vote until the current round ends, and you can usually select a maximum of 5 votes per nomination category.

[ohaimark]

It's no different than in previous years. Each time you vote it overrides your previous votes.

[Chyros]

OK thanks.

[ohaimark]

There's only one day left to vote. Do so soon or forever hold your peace!

[ohaimark]

A few poll end times are a little weird. We'll have them back on track shortly.

[ohaimark]

They're back on track. Get your last minute votes in!

[Halvar]

Brilliant writing once again for the final votes this year! Had a lot of fun reading it.

[DanielT]

This year, casting my vote was the hardest thing to do, at some point I have felt that some nominations were pure trolling while others just hype driven.
But that has nothing to do with the amazing organization and hard work put into this year's DTA!

[ohaimark]

All awards are hype driven, to an extent. The only way to avoid that would be waiting an additional year before running the vote.

Call for nominees in 2016, vote in 2017! That would let all the hype die down. It would also be much less fun and much more work.

[m8max]

Awesome sponsors, with awesome prizes, will be looking forward to the results!

[kami_sama]

First post on DT, semi-active /r/MK user. These awards are cool as hell. First time mechanical keyboard user, and I love the community around them (even with problems, like the Ping award indicates.

Even if I don't make the cut here, if I have the Reddit requirements, I should be good, right?

[ohaimark]

Yep. 100+ post karma and you're set.

[dlightningd]

long time r/MK lurker, first time here. These awards are awesome, and best of luck to all the remaining participants.

Thank you so much for the contest prizes this year : )

[Khers]

This year, casting my vote was the hardest thing to do, at some point I have felt that some nominations were pure trolling while others just hype driven.
But that has nothing to do with the amazing organization and hard work put into this year's DTA!

Tell me about it.

With a significant risk of sounding like an old fart, I have, for the first time in a DTA, found some categories difficult to vote in not because it's difficult to assess which is the best option, but rather which is the least crap.

I guess I'm just getting old and grumpy and out of touch with the keyboard community.

The organisation's been top notch though .

[scottc]

With a significant risk of sounding like an old fart, I have, for the first time in a DTA, found some categories difficult to vote in not because it's difficult to assess which is the best option, but rather which is the least crap.

I guess I'm just getting old and grumpy and out of touch with the keyboard community.

I'm with you guys, I feel exactly the same...

[ohaimark]

Updates on top contenders were provided last year. I think I'll revive that for this round of voting.

[kiwi99]

so as long as my username here matches my GH one I am fine for post count? I have a DT account, just can't seem to recover it or login, visited here a long time ago when I first joined the hobby,

[ohaimark]

Username match doesn't get you anything. We will, however, have you PM us on GH if you win anything.

If you have made 15 posts there, you qualify.

[ohaimark]

I want to thank all of the redditors and GH members who voted this year before the awards end.

You've all been polite, inquisitive, and a pleasure to host.

We have people at DT who are opposed to complete community inclusion in the awards. While I understand their viewpoint, I don't like how they went about voicing their concerns. I congratulate you on rising above the negative atmosphere. I didn't need to defuse any flame wars, shitposting battles, or other internet foibles. Keep it up!

[Kurplop]

Likewise, as a follower of all the keyboard forums but primarily a GH contributor, I'd like to thank DT for their gesture of goodwill in extending an invitation to us. I think this can only help the keyboard community. I'm sure it has attracted more viewers to DT and has given many enthusiasts another resource that they may have been unaware of before.

ohalmark— You've done a great job on the awards this year. Don't be at all discouraged (I don't think you are); it's nearly impossible to give everybody exactly what they want.

[seebart]

Good to know Kurplop. It's "DT" not "DA" BTW.

[kbdfr]

[…] We typically require a minimum of 10 posts on DT to win a prize from our sponsors. We're altering that requirement for active /r/MK users as follows:

1. You must have a minimum of 100 post karma on reddit to win a prize.
2. We'll select a random voter from the awards.
[…]

I do agree that "opening the community" might be a great goal (although there are reasons why different places exist).
Offering a prize or an advantage to people for participating in the forum could be a nice incentive
(I, and others, have done that repeatedly for becoming a DT club member).
Instead, they can win a prize, and a tantalizing one, for just voting in a contest, und unsurprisingly they vote for what they know best.

What do you think how many would have participated without the prospect of winning such a prize?
And how many do you think will at all visit DT again after the DTAs?

Spoiler:

I have to honour my reputation as the "grumpy chocolate bar"

[Kurplop]

Good to know Kurplop. It's "DT" not "DA" BTW.

Sorry. Thanks for the correction. Mistakes come with waking up at 2:30 in the morning.

[PollandAkuma]

What do you think how many would have participated without the prospect of winning such a prize?
And how many do you think will at all visit DT again after the DTAs?

Spoiler:

I have to honour my reputation as the "grumpy chocolate bar"

I went from Reddit>GH>DT (came here before this awards thing to post about meetup)

I'm not leaving here anytime soon, but the layout of the forums does confuse me a lot more than GH...

[scottc]

I've been here for quite a while and the only page I look at is the Spy: spy.php

Good to know Kurplop. It's "DT" not "DA" BTW.

Sorry. Thanks for the correction. Mistakes come with waking up at 2:30 in the morning.

I have an honest question. Berserkfan used to call DT "DeskAuthority" and DA a LOT too. I just thought he was being an obvious troll. Do people on GH just happen to mistake the name a lot?!

[pr0ximity]

I've very glad to see that the large majority of DT seems to be open to the rest if the community. There's a lot of incredible work and conversations that happen here that I think much wider audiences can appreciate. The DT Awards are a great way for people to get a summarized look into the best as well as the public appreciation for those activities that happens yearly.

I think ohaimark has done an outstanding job this year.

[seebart]

I've been here for quite a while and the only page I look at is the Spy: spy.php

Good to know Kurplop. It's "DT" not "DA" BTW.

Sorry. Thanks for the correction. Mistakes come with waking up at 2:30 in the morning.

I have an honest question. Berserkfan used to call DT "DeskAuthority" and DA a LOT too. I just thought he was being an obvious troll. Do people on GH just happen to mistake the name a lot?!

There is absolutely no reason for that, I don't call GH GbeeBUM or something.

[Kurplop]

I do agree that "opening the community" might be a great goal (although there are reasons why different places exist).

Instead, they can win a prize, and a tantalizing one, for just voting in a contest, und unsurprisingly they vote for what they know best.

What do you think how many would have participated without the prospect of winning such a prize?
And how many do you think will at all visit DT again after the DTAs?

Your perspective offers a lot of important insights. I sense a concern that the essential nature of DT could change if the doors are opened to the full range of keyboard interests such as artisan caps, etcetera. While I fear that possibility, I don't think it's likely. Deskthority has an almost immutable image as a serious keyboard community with an emphasis on vintage boards and an incomparable knowledge base.

I think the risk of skewed results are great, given the preferences of people in the other communities and that could be the greatest tragedy.

No doubt there will be some that are only voting for the chance to win something but I suspect most are not. It's human nature to want to be heard. To have their opinions voiced and recorded; even if anonymously.

How many will return to DT? Probably a lot. Deskthority has a lot to offer to the keyboarding community and I think a lot will find their niche here.

[kbdfr]

Once again, I'm not opposed at all to opening the community,
but I hold it that the very concrete prospect of winning valuable prizes (there are numerous prizes and just a few hundred candidates, after all) attracted a lot of people only interested in precisely that, thus overshooting the target by far.
(Honestly, if /r/MK was doing the same with such attractive prizes, even I would probably register there in order to vote, despite the fact I can hardly read there because of the posting structure )

The ridiculous result might be a former DT member banned for good reasons winning an award called "The Deskthority".

Be prepared for more grumpy chocolate bar posts if this does happen