Psyringe: Yes, agreed (on both accounts)
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Yes, that's actually the method I have chosen, and the one that I'd encourage others to choose if they care about scripters (one remaining problem is that some gifters don't know about the possibility when they post their codes, and are disappointed afterwards).
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A possibility, yes, but one that would significantly change the contest. In terms of Ninja giveaway, I doubt that people would want to change the "be the quickest" game into a "sit back and wait which robot gets lucky to catch the prize this time, while everyone not using scripts takes a lesson in futility" one.
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Well, what you perceive as "complaining" was actually an explanation of actions which were necessary to explore the problem, which piqued the curiosity of others. In general I agree though, "accept it or change it, but don't just bemoan things" is a very sensible maxim imho.
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Depends. If his superior skill takes the fun out of the competition, and frustrates others because the never have a chance to win anything, then I might ask him to accept playing with a handicap.
Sadly(for those who want it to be so.) it isn't possible, and imo there are much better/simpler ways to prevent scripters from nabbing codes if one wants to prevent them form doing so.
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Maybe you or someone else should make a FAQ for such and post it in the "Gifting for dummies" thread, or even have OP of this one add such tips/info to the OP post(Just a few ideas I was spitballing.)?
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Who said one had to use this option by itself? One could employ such preventative steps in their giveaways as you advocate and also allow scripters to try and snatch the codes from them anyways(While they also snatch or try to snatch any codes written in plain text, etc.), thus making it not so futile a thread after all.
BTW not saying we/you should do this or have to do this....just throwing more ideas out there and finding loopholes in/exceptions to your seemingly "worst case scenario" type predictions for this thread.
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I was speaking more in general, and not directing the complaining bit towards any one person. ;)
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How does one handicap someone's mind, anyways? Just thinking aloud here.