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November is rapidly turning into December, but we still have one more event to get through before we look ahead to 2017 . . . Winter Bash!

The year is rapidly coming to a close, which means even though we typically hate it, it’s time to have some fun...with hats! That’s right - it’s time for Winter Bash 2016!!

Overview

Most of you remember previous years’ events, but here is a quick little reminder. Winter Bash is an annual event that can run on any Stack Exchange site that chooses to participate. Users have fun by earning “hats” for their gravatars by completing certain tasks (very similar to badges). We track everyone’s progress using hats in a leaderboard that looks similar to this:

Winter Bash 2016 Leaderboard

As always, we’re coming up with new hat designs for this year’s fun!

The Details

The event will run from 19 December 2016 up to and including 08 January 2017. Users will be able to see all the hats they’ve earned on http://winterbash2016.stackexchange.com. That site will also have a landing page, explaining the rules and other details of the event.

Individual users who don’t want to participate, don’t want to see hats, and/or are generally anti-hat will have an “I hate hats” option available. And just like last time, at the end of the event, all hats will go back into storage.

The only visual change to the Stack Exchange sites themselves will be the presence of the hats and the “I hate hats” button in the footer.

Worldbuilding participated in Winter Bash 2014 and Winter Bash 2015, and both seemed to be rousing successes.

Shall we take the plunge and turn Worldbuilding Stack Exchange into a Planet of Hats?1

1 Warning: TVTropes link!

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    $\begingroup$ Elaborate puns in answers are welcomed but by no means mandatory. $\endgroup$
    – HDE 226868 Mod
    Commented Nov 30, 2016 at 15:56
  • $\begingroup$ Whats the deal with the hats... $\endgroup$
    – kingledion
    Commented Dec 1, 2016 at 6:17
  • $\begingroup$ im just here to say: yay for hats! $\endgroup$
    – Jimmery
    Commented Dec 1, 2016 at 15:07
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    $\begingroup$ Thanks @HDE226868 you should have forewarned me about that TV-Tropes link. I've been stuck there for about 19 days since I saw that link. $\endgroup$
    – Möoz
    Commented Dec 1, 2016 at 22:08
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    $\begingroup$ @Mooz In that case, you must be a time traveller. Care to share your secrets? $\endgroup$
    – Rand al'Thor
    Commented Dec 8, 2016 at 12:13
  • $\begingroup$ @randal'thor - be careful what you ask for; revealing the secret would probably mean more TV Tropes links.... :-p $\endgroup$
    – Simba
    Commented Dec 12, 2016 at 15:20

5 Answers 5

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Yes!

Full speed ahead to Planet of the Hats!

Everyone loves hats - they promote lots more activity on the site during a time when there would usually be less activity.

There is no need to ruin the fun of everyone just because of a few weird outlying anti-hats who would hammer on the "I hate hats" button the moment they can. When they do this,the are warped out of hat land - ruining the fun only for themselves - instead of for everyone.

Did I mention I like hats?

enter image description here

enter image description here

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  • $\begingroup$ It's almost here! Counting every second $\endgroup$
    – user22613
    Commented Dec 17, 2016 at 20:05
  • $\begingroup$ and the excitement is through the roof! $\endgroup$
    – X-27 is done with the network
    Commented Dec 17, 2016 at 23:53
  • $\begingroup$ Yeah, now only 49703 seconds left! $\endgroup$
    – user22613
    Commented Dec 18, 2016 at 10:11
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I would be for hats. Like X-27, I find that the hats do lead people towards more interesting questions and answers than they usually would. It's a fun tool to help encourage people to leave their comfort zone.

The only concern I might have would be if the hats lead people to create poor quality questions or answers for the sole purpose of getting a hat in the "gotta catch 'em all" mindset. In my opinion, this has not happened to a significant degree in past years, so I see no particular reason to avoid hats this year.

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    $\begingroup$ While true that the real hat fanatics might sometimes go a bit overkill (but only a very very little bit) trying to get hats, they generally are higher rep users who know better than to create garbage purely to farm hats. $\endgroup$
    – X-27 is done with the network
    Commented Dec 1, 2016 at 1:59
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I would agree with X-27 if the button were not “I hate hats”. Hate is a strong concept and one of the precepts I try to live by is “do not hate”.

We need a button for

  • I mildly dislike hats
  • I’m not sufficiently interested to put up with it
  • Don’t mess with my custom skins
  • I like them, but I don’t want to take on anither distraction right now
  • etc.

And all of that can be replaced with a purely functional label that does not get into motives at all, namely:

  • I choose not to participate at this time.
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    $\begingroup$ This should be a feature request instead of an answer to this question because it doesn't address the OP's post. $\endgroup$
    – kettlecrab
    Commented Dec 1, 2016 at 6:45
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    $\begingroup$ There is a question on the main meta for this already. Read the first answer to understand that it has nothing to do with hate. Post your own answer or upvote other answers if the solution isn't sufficient to meet your needs. meta.stackexchange.com/questions/270833/… $\endgroup$
    – Adam Davis
    Commented Dec 6, 2016 at 1:55
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I don't have a clue about this hats thing, but I'm in :)

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    $\begingroup$ That's the spirit $\endgroup$
    – Vincent
    Commented Dec 10, 2016 at 15:26
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No, no hats.

Note: not necessarily my personal opinion.

Just to play devil's advocate, who doesn't want hats and why?

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    $\begingroup$ Can I downvote my own post plz? $\endgroup$
    – AAM111
    Commented Dec 18, 2016 at 3:20
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    $\begingroup$ Nope, but I can downvote for you if you wish. :) $\endgroup$
    – user22613
    Commented Dec 18, 2016 at 10:10
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    $\begingroup$ I see why, and that "I hate hats" check box is very good option, useful? I almost hit this one, but I found one hat from 28 hats I like, and it is a good one)) The point is I upvote your answer, dark side is stronger! $\endgroup$
    – MolbOrg
    Commented Dec 19, 2016 at 1:11

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