Mystery Pic #417

[Ken]

Congratulations! You have guessed correctly in the Mystery Pic game (Round 416). We have given you a Snicklebeast Poems and 4167 NP!

Answer to the last one was Nimmo Out To Lunch Shop Blog.

[pattypus]

Now I get the clue, "Ribbit ribbit, Ka-ching."

The Nimmo is the frog... Heh. I didn't get it.

[Cranberry]

Yup, "ribbit" for frog, and "ka-ching!" for the shop part (money, cash register, etc.). A lot more people had trouble with it than I thought (more on the neoboards than here). Shop blogs are usually one of the first things checked -- I know I almost always check them first -- so I thought people would get it even without my hint. Not a bad payout, though!

[Runevalkyrie]

Just observing, but these threads seem to be really losing its purpose and it was quite obvious this last round. It really didn't seem like anyone was really helping out, someone just posted a (cryptic) clue and then for the most part left everyone scratching their heads.

Also, it was posted that only a select few would be getting the correct answer, makes that now known fact unfair towards those who aren't "regulars". I don't mind the answer being mentioned by other soucres, but "rubbing it in" and making it quite obvious that isn't the way to go


I'm very fortunate that I got it, but I'm really disappointed.

[stampsyne]

To anybody who is disheartened:

When I mail others, I traditionally send the clue everybody else gets. 'The regulars' to me are people I talk to on a regular basis. Nice to get the heads up if I am not that vigilant and missed it. PPT is not an elitist club and I love to see new members searching hard.

Not everybody can stick around after dropping a clue, but I try to whenever I am the clue dropper. Even if it is just to give a slightly different clue in a PM to those who had trouble in the first for need a confirmation. If you need help, there is usually somebody around with a note in thier message saying "PM me for help, or confirms" and I, for one, hope PPT does not lose the helpfulness in lue of greediness.

*feels guilty that she didn't come back and check on the thread*

[Jasujo]

A problem I've noticed as well is when there is something mentioned like "I've PM'd the regulars" or "Regulars will be working in neomails" or something. If you have a group of people you are working with, fine, but do not flaunt that you are sending them hints and such. It makes the other members feel left out. I do not see why such has to be announced at all. I have gotten more than one complaint about this and I'd rather it just stopped now. Either work with everyone or make your own guild/board/whatever because that's just not cool.

[Cranberry]

Also, it was posted that only a select few would be getting the correct answer, makes that now known fact unfair towards those who aren't "regulars". I don't mind the answer being mentioned by other soucres, but "rubbing it in" and making it quite obvious that isn't the way to go.

All I said was "no PMs here this time -- usuals, I neomailed you," which meant that the "regulars" should check their neomail instead of waiting for a PPT PM from me. (Some people don't search for the MP on Neopets itself, but on other sites/in databases/in saved directories/whatever, so I wanted to give them a heads up to make sure they visited Neopets and got my mail.) It did not mean that people couldn't PM me for confirmations. I also did not say, anywhere, that I was giving out the exact answer to the regulars.

I often send the regulars the same clue I post on the boards, if I get it first, or just PM them to let them know the MP is out and that we should all start searching. But I also help random PPTers who can't get it and who send me a PM -- I helped a couple people this round. I'd rather help PPTers with additional hints through PM than post easier hints on this thread, because if you check how many times it gets viewed every MP, it's obvious we have a ton of lurkers. I'll refrain from mentioning the PMing, though, if you've been getting complaints.

However, I don't see the problem with people sharing answers among a small group (whether I'm in that group myself or not), especially if they also post a clue here. No one forces the "experts" (as bijonfifi likes to call them) to post here; they share clues and help others out just to be nice. So if they want to help out their good friends/fellow "experts" before sharing with every PPTer and lurker who wants a piece of the reward, I don't see why that's so wrong.

I also disagree that my clue was too cryptic -- it seemed like most people had no problem figuring it out. (There aren't that many things that have to do with frogs and money/shops.) It's hard to find the balance -- if it's too hard, people complain that we're being mean and not giving them a chance to get it, and if it's too easy, people complain that the lurkers who don't search will get it, the payout will be low, etc.

I will admit that when I solve it first I am sometimes tempted to just keep it to myself and avoid all... well, all this, but I've been helped out many times by this thread when others solved it first, and I want to give something back if I can. I'm not trying to be elitist or step on anyone's toes, so I'm sorry if people have been getting that impression.

Last edited by Cranberry on Wed Jun 29, 2005 7:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Jasujo]

That is all good, but I do not think you understood what I had posted. First of all, I never once mentioned your name and, although, you had the most recent post concerning this, you are definitely not the only one.

The problem is when people announce that they are sending clues to people in their "group" or "regulars" or whatever. As I said in my previous post:

If you have a group of people you are working with, fine, but do not flaunt that you are sending them hints and such. It makes the other members feel left out. I do not see why such has to be announced at all. I have gotten more than one complaint about this and I'd rather it just stopped now.

I never said you were sending answers or that there was anything wrong with sending hints. The fact that you did send people hints does not have to be annouced, though. If you want to work through neomail, do not say:

(No PMs here this time -- usuals, I neomailed you.)

You can tell people if they want help to neomail you, but do not say "usuals, I neomailed you" because that leaves people out. Also, if you had neomailed your usual group of friends, wouldn't they know? No reason to tell everyone you've done so. I do not know who your "usuals" are, but I know several that I would consider in that catagory that do not receive messages from you or other people who post such messages.

I would appreciate from now on if someone messages people regularly, that is fine, but you do not need to post about it. PMing for hints and confirmations is alright, but if you have a regular group, keep it to yourself so no one feels left out. This is the last I want to hear about this. If you have any other comments, I suggest you take them to PM.

Thank you very much.

[Ken]

Umm...New mp is up!

[Jasujo]

Hmm, very interesting. It looks like it shouldn't be too hard, but it probably will be.

(And now that I've just jinxed it, you can all slap me with fish. lol)

[Medusa]

Here's the image resized:

[The Wonder Weezel]

hi guys. im helping this time around.

so far, im thinking jazzmosis something... doesnt it look alot like this?



it obviously isnt that.... but looks like it.

[Medusa]

I could not find anything in the Neopedia.

[The Wonder Weezel]

you know something else it somewhat looks like? A kougras snout... theres the nose... and the the mouth with a whiter looking snout area.... i dunno, just an idea...

[Medusa]

I thought it originally looked like some sort of ball.

Checked the items with "grey" in the name, no luck. Not any of the grey pets either.