Should there be a set of permanent guidelines for every contest?

-recommended photo size (to be kind to dial up folks)
-license posted in the submission thread to move the photos to an offsite gallery showcasing DU photos - or otherwise promoting the group (to protect the gallery host)
-all voting in the lounge (so folks without donor stars can vote)

but I'd rather not be stuck with an entire set of fixed rules - too many rules in my life already.

to use -- guidance or advice based on the experiences of others who have hosted. I tried to rely on and incorporate the "past practice" lessons learned when I hosted, but I would not want to see any future host bound by any set of permanent rules. If someone wins the right to host a contest, they also win the right to do it however they choose. If someone makes a complete mess of it, in some eyes, anyone who wishes can post a new thread to create an alternative contest format and bring it into the Lounge, if they want.

Perhaps what you are looking for is something that I think would be helpful, maybe a section in the Demopedia with a standard Copyright Disclaimer that could/should be cut and pasted into the Contest Submission thread, and a step-by-step description of how we have been doing contests, with the kinds of hints and recommendations I found helpful when hosting. This could be a "permanent" (but changing/evolving) resource for contest hosters who wished to build on past practice, but not a requirement.

Photography Contest Submission Guidelines or something like that. I agree, some basic ever-evolving "guidelines" rather than hard and fast "rules" is helpful but not binding. It allows for individual contest hosting styles while ensuring some kind consistent "product" for the contestants.

Now that the people have spoken, all 13 of them, I have no intentions of implimenting any sort of permanent guidelines.

I had brought up the issue in the first place because every month it gets mentioned. But its obvious the photo group prefers the format that we have in place, which is every host sets his or her own guidelines.

So forget I even brought it up in the first place. This poll is officially closed.

too many freaking rules already, we need CREATIVE OUTLET!

I agree, let's keep this creative and fun and not take ourselves too seriously. Life is too short (maybe shorter than we think with this bunch in power).