Use a (more or less) random number generator:
https://www.calculatorsoup.com...number-generator.php

To use:
A. Make a numbered list of the entrants as they post.
1. Jones
2. Smith
3. Johnson
4. Williams

On the random number generator form:
B. Range Min: 1; Max: the number of entrants. In my example, 4.
C. Generate 1 list items
D. Repeats, sort, copy can all be ignored.
E. Calculate
F. The resulting number is the number of your chosen one.

For my list of four entrants the calculator picked 3., Johnson.

If you’re using a MS Word document for the numbered list, after someone is picked you can use its search function to ensure that that person didn’t post more than once.

Or you could use my method:
I’ll choose the first entrant whom I recognize as having made useful contributions to the forum.

I don't think you'd need to check if anyone entered more than once, I doubt that would happen in the great Sigforum.

Well, sometimes even the best of us might forget.

I use the excel RANDBETWEEN function.

I'm a bit old school.
I've used this in the past. Percentile dice.
In your case of four entrants, I would divide them into quarters and Jones would win.

But, for something Karma'd by Q, I might need the to read the dice as is.

24= Jones.

Easy to de-dupe a list.
You can use notepad++ which makes it easy or do so in notepad.

Though, when I was a major Dino, I’d use Atomic list manager, but I had a significant amount of email addresses to sort.

For sweep stakes, I had a random number generator… you can add numbers or just use the total number of lines, enter that… then use the go to line function to identify the winner

You guys sure know how to over complicate something. Ask the wife to pick a number between 1-how many entries there are. It’s a karma not the Manhattan Project.

Somebody enters more than once pick another number.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
You guys sure know how to over complicate something. Ask the wife to pick a number between 1-how many entries there are. It’s a karma not the Manhattan Project.

Somebody enters more than once pick another number.

This…

It’s possible to get a randomized result with nothing more than a coin to flip, but somewhat more involved.

But as to the “excessively complicated” observations, are you sure you didn’t intend to post in the other karma picking brouhaha thread and mistook this one for that?

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
You guys sure know how to over complicate something. Ask the wife to pick a number between 1-how many entries there are. It’s a karma not the Manhattan Project.

Somebody enters more than once pick another number.

I asked your wife but she went on and on about something else. 30 minutes later...
That's why I stick to the dice.

Side Note: I'm sure you're blessed w/ a lovely, smart lady. My post is for humor.

Well I did chuckle so you win. Lol.