How ties are broken by the site

Months ago we had a forum discussion as to how ties in the weekly contest should be broken, but at the time we never discussed how the site breaks ties. The vote was overwhelming to let the site break ties, not a mod or any other means.

Recently I was asked how ties are broken by the site; here is the answer I gave in PM:

"I've heard one thing, but my own observation disputes it.

"What I have heard (and what I believe is wishful thinking) is that there is a formula that takes into consideration for each poem in the tie the number of nominations, number of visits, number of comments and number & value of votes (not of the judges but the members' votes) and comes up with the winner that way.

"What I believe is that it is totally random among the tied poems.

"In fact I'm willing to put it out there for discussion if you'd like. If there's a better way we should find it."

As I said in the PM, I THINK IT IS PURELY RANDOM, that there is no algorithm or any other formula involved.

I actually assumed that it was a random choice.

(Though, without some sort of algorithm, how could it be completely random?)

Maybe we could get Big J to break it down for us.

I'll take a look at the code and see what I can find...

Do you have access to codes that the current mods don't?

^ good question ;)

I think he did, at least at one point, but maybe it was just that the rest of us didn't know what to look for in the code.

*Edit - Joe would be able to view code, but not alter it.

All I can do is "control-U" and scan for stuff, but I wouldn't even know what page to look at. Where do you start, Joe?

I have examined the source code for the contest page & the results page & confirmed what I suspected: there is no coding on those pages that would indicate how it is done.

So..you're saying it's totally random Larry? and...while I'd love to believe it...simply..I just can't....there has to be something else?

Wondering why Joe never answered here?

I'm wondering if any coding about choosing a winner would even BE on a page that we can see. We see where contest noms and wins are displayed, but how do we know that's where the calculations are taking place? Is there "behind the scenes" stuff that we wouldn't have access to?

Exactly

I think it's something that needs to be somewhere near the top of Janis'to-do list if he ever comes back :) I mean...to ask him how it works exactly.

Sorry I've never commented back, I've been really busy. When I get the chance I'll take a look. And yes to confirm what Sibs and Larry said, there is no coding on the main source pages. This site is coded using .php which a majority of the code is on the back end not visible to anyone unless you have direct access.

And do you have that access?

^^^

Didn't I ask this question further up here and...is Joe avoiding it now?

I use to, I'm going to see if I can still access it.

Err...I do hope you can find the time to do this soon Joe in your busy schedule...I also want to know why you seem to have more 'super powers'than the current mods? Or are you bluffing?...Come on...I want to hear from you???

I'm not claiming that I have anymore powers than any of the current mods. I'm merely stating that when I was a mod I had the ability to view the code amongst other things. I'll see if I still can access it or not. Not saying I can, not saying I can't.

Well, someone is sure being coy...

What did you find out, and is it something we can do?

"Not saying I can, not saying I can't."

Unfortunately you're not really saying anything... so whats the deal?

I no longer can access the code. Must have been removed when I demoted myself as mod. Sorry for the long wait for my answer, I've been really busy at work. Well nonetheless, if there is anything I can do to help you mods just let me know.

Sure! Could you let one of us know in a PM how you used to access the code? Maybe one of us can do it now. Thanks for the offer of help.