Picking a winner from the comments

We ran a small holiday giveaway, just a simple comment-to-enter thing. I remember watching the notifications trickle in, feeling that quiet buzz of people actually engaging without us having to push for it. It was nice, just letting it happen.

The quiet before the spin

I left the post up for a week, checking in now and then. It was interesting to see which comments were just entries and which felt like genuine little conversations starting. I didn't want to jump in and steer anything, you know?There's a different kind of pressure when you're picking a winner yourself. You start overthinking it, wondering if someone 'deserves' it more. I wanted to take that weight off, for me and for everyone who entered. A random pick felt like the only fair way.

Letting the wheel decide

I copied all the usernames into the wheel tool. It was a long list, which was a good surprise. Hitting the spin button was a moment of genuine relief. The decision was out of my hands.It spun for what felt like ages, the colors blurring. When it finally slowed, it landed on a name I'd seen pop up a few times in the thread. Someone who had actually replied to others. It felt oddly satisfying, like the randomness had a hint of karma.

A moment of trust

Announcing the winner publicly was the final step. I made sure to screenshot the wheel result. It wasn't about showmanship, but transparency. I wanted the person who won to feel good about it, and the people who didn't to know it was fair.

The quiet after

A few people congratulated the winner in the comments. That was the best part, honestly. It wasn't just a transaction; it felt like a tiny community moment. We didn't make a big song and dance about the promotion, and that seemed to make the result feel more authentic.