Sergio and I have come up with a fun game that we can hopefully play annually and make tradition: The U2Start Awards! The U2Start Awards are basically how they sound: An award series for the members of the message board here on the site! This is completely intended for good fun, and not to be taken personally, so please have a sense of humor about it!
Edit: on the 28th of April, we finally compiled and published the results. You can check them out here: The 1st Annual U2Start Awards- RESULTS THREAD! [/i]
The rules & regulations are as follows, and should give you a better idea of how the awards/voting will work.
-Each category leaves one boarder eligible. You may not vote for two people in one category.
-Boarders may be used for more than one category, but no more than three.
-Voting will be open from today (March 15th) thru one month from today- April 15th.
-Voting runoff will extend through April 16th. Since we are all in so many different timezones, people may hit this a day late, or we may receive them a day late based on what time it is for you. For that reason, no ballot received past midnight on April 16th in either Sergio's or my timezone will be accepted. Try to get your ballots in by April 15th!
-HAVE FUN with this! The only reward will be bragging rights (which I'm sure will be exercised by some of you
), so come out swinging- campaign for votes you want, throw others under the proverbial bus for ones you think they deserve- and be humorous about it! This is meant to be quite funny 
-Sergio has included a list of 75 U2start members for you to choose from, all hyperlinked to their profiles. They were pulled by account activity and sorted by join date, so do not be upset if you post regularly but are still towards the bottom. These 75 are eligible, but so is anyone else- if you know someone on the board who isn't on the list, feel free to use them- but they probably not likely to win (just being honest here). Everyone should be included in the voting, so we will not leave anyone out.
-Ballots are to be submitted to either myself or Sergio via PM. Do not publicize your ballot. The announcement of the awards will be quite the humor-fest in itself, and we want to surprise you with who wins
-When voting, please use only usernames. We have more than one Matt, more than one Steve, more than one Alex, etc. If you would like to say "Alex (RattleAndHum1988), feel free to do so- and you don't need to refrain from using names in discussion. It will just make sorting the ballots easier. Thank you!
Below is a list of the ballot, and includes brief descriptions of each category. A copy/paste "category only" style ballot is provided at the end of the post.
Prom King
Male board member who rules the forum, for you, in your own personal opinion
Prom Queen:
Female board member who rules the forum for you, in your own personal opinion.
Most Huggable:
Board member you find so optimistic and cuddly that you just want to give them a hug!
WTF Poster
Board member whose posts make you shake your head/facepalm the most
Most Consistent High-Quality Poster:
In relation to their post count, the board member whose posts are generally the most useful and meaningful.
Best use of sarcasm:
Self explanatory.
Worst acknowledeger of sarcasm:
Who just doesn't generally get it?
First to get eaten in a zombie invasion of the board:
If a herd of flesh eating zombies were invading the boards, who would get eaten first?
Best taste in music:
This will be a heater. Board member who posts in the song/album threads, or just based on general conversation, who has the best taste in music outside of U2.
Most questionable taste in music:
The "why the fuck do they listen to that?" award.
Underdog poster:
AKA most improved. Who has come around the most since your time here?
Prediction king/queen:
In the setlists and sports threads, who has the best crystal ball?
Most likely to get banned:
Self explanatory
Most likely to become a mod:
Self explanatory
Most absurd thread creator:
Which board member creates topics that make you want to bang your head against the table?
Threadjacker:
Webster's defines a "threadjacker" as such:
Threadjacker: n; one who sees opportunity to join/ruin a conversation on a particular ongoing thread and steers everyone in a completely opposite direction.
Funniest poster:
Who makes you laugh out loud?
Best Avatar:
Self explanatory. Obviously those with the standard default avatar are not eligible.
Best Thread:
The only category NOT for a board member- what is your all time favorite topic?
Username you just don't understand:
When you hit the forums and read the posts, whose username had you absolutely baffled???
That's all, folks. Here is the list of 75 boarders to choose from....and let the campaigning and voting begin
Remy
Coen
stefano1973
Asso
Risto
Yogi
drewhiggins
LikeASong
djrlewis
Stu
AidanFormigoni
JuJuman
colbourne25
Macphistfly
emiel
yeah
vanquish
MacStripey
sadb7788
EyesWithPrideB3
molang7
Alex
Genaro92U2
MWSAH
BelgianBono
germcevoy
easports43
RattleandHum1988
Alvin
Ali709
haytrain
loftarasa
wtshnnfb01
patou2
AllBecauseOfU2
U2Nick
WojBhoy
iTim
dieder
yuri31
stj0691
alexxthefool
pleasegone
wangmaster
u2spear
rubymoon
JRlovesU2
dylbagz
Nanazoca
Andrew_C
clover68
Doc32
RUMMY
alanofjones
U2Freak999
lestertriplett87
Thib6992
kris_smith87
bobplaysthedrums
PEDRO67
ahn1991
bartajax
blueroom
jofice
EDDMB
KieranU2
sonia_lastrega
farrock_bulsara
JulienLossless
alexandra_t
sing_a_new_song
Mr_Trek
fabian
ASortOfDesire
johnthedude
BALLOT
Prom King:
Prom Queen:
Most Huggable:
WTF Poster:
Most Consistent High-Quality Poster:
Best use of sarcasm:
Worst acknowledeger of sarcasm:
First to get eaten in a zombie invasion of the board:
Best taste in music:
Most questionable taste in music:
Underdog poster:
Prediction king/queen:
Most likely to get banned:
Most likely to become a mod:
Most absurd thread creator:
Threadjacker:
Funniest poster:
Best Avatar:
Best Thread:
Username you just don't understand:
Announcement
If you would not like to be considered for any awards, you have the right to feel that way as a member of this community. As stated in post #1, these "awards" are by no means meant to stir up any trouble or upset anybody.
If you would like out, please PM either Sergio or myself and we will discount any vote against you so as not to announce your name under any category at the final. Since all voting is to remain prviate, nobody will know who has opted out, and nobody who has opted out will ever be announced.
If you would like to take part in the awards, and no PM has been received by Sergio or myself, we will take that as acknowledgement that you are in this to have a laugh and enjoy the company of others. As per U2start terms, this cannot be achieved by putting anyone else down, "trolling", hazing, etc.
Thanks guys
I know a few, Kirsten, Nicole, Olof...