Want Polls?

Muhammad · Nov 2, 2000

I would like some feedback on an idea I have...

What if we were to allow registered users to create and vote on polls in a forum just for polls? Of course, we'd keep an eye on the polls so nothing too wild got posting, but this way we could constantly get numbers on subjects, and the subjects you want to vote on. Each username could vote once, and once only, and only registered users would be allowed to vote. Basically anything could be voted on... all in one 'poll forum'.

Any comments? Want to 'vote' on it? /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

glennmac · Nov 2, 2000

Some random, unformed thoughts:

1. I think we might go wild and silly on it at first and then it would peter out. That's not, however, a reason not to try it.

2. It would only hold interest if the subjects were ... dare I say it, controversial. Polls on uncontroversial subjects would be predictable.

3. Registered users only? Hmmm. Is that the way your current polls work. I think only registered useres should be able to create them, because you shouldn't be able to hide behind anonymity then. But why limit responders to registered users. Voting should be anonymous, so who cares about registration on the voting level. Dont know. Actually, I dont understand the purpose of registration, or rather, why some services are limited to registered members.

Glenn

Muhammad · Nov 2, 2000

<font color=blue>But why limit responders to registered users.</font color=blue>

Could possibly have a listing of which users voted for which choice... not sure yet, though. That would be one reason, though... also so that you know that each vote is for one person. I suppose public voting would be ok also.

<font color=blue>Actually, I dont understand the purpose of registration, or rather, why some services are limited to registered members.</font color=blue>

Because those features aren't really possible (technically) without registering.

chuckp · Nov 2, 2000

Muhammad;
I'm for it!!!!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Chuck

chuckp · Nov 2, 2000

One other thing, to prevent people from getting upset over some topics, I suggest that we have a rule that Religion and Politics must not be included in the topics. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Chuck

Muhammad · Nov 2, 2000

Yeah, maybe tractor and related polls, only?

Or another possibility would be for the polls to be on an approve only basis.

bpence · Nov 2, 2000

Maybe this is a bit conservative, but I'm for some type of control or approval process before initiating the polls. There are lots of mindless clutter polls on the web (not that anyone here ever deals in mindless clutter....I'm told I do only daily). If the Administrative Staff were the filter, we'd see some pretty good topics. We could submit topics through Muhammad and he and the staff could select a monthly or even multiple monthly polls. Maybe even use the Star/Platinum members as a review committee. Give some extra benefit / involvement to those folks that have been around since this forum came to life. Relevance to the spirit of TBN could be maintained. Me thinks.

Bob Pence

Harv · Nov 2, 2000

Muhammad -

I think it's a worthy idea.

I like numbers and statistics. It would be nice to at least see which way the wind is blowing on a number of issues.

Before anyone jumps down my throat -- I realize that numbers can be deceiving or even misleading, but I would take them as simply one indicator to be used in weighing a an important topic.

scruffy · Nov 2, 2000

Muhammad, just a thought here, would a 'cookie' be of any value in vote limitation? You already insert cookie for the registered users, could this be modified to indicate a vote has already been submitted for a particular poll?
A preferance on my part would be a forum for suggestions of a poll to be submitted, and you select the polls actually run.

Bird · Nov 2, 2000

Muhammad, I'd be in favor of such polls, and agree that they should be limited to members. And of course, it'd suit me just fine if the names of who voted which way was listed. I guess a "secret ballot" has it's place, but I think our members are usually not bashful about expressing their opinions and having their identity known. One of the things I like about this forum is that we can disagree sometimes without being disagreeable.

Bird

richh · Nov 2, 2000

Good idea! lets go.

TWINKLE_TOES · Nov 2, 2000

Yep, I'm ready for the second one, I think we just had the first. Polls Win.

I did like Bird's idea about blowing away the anonymity part.

One of the fun parts of this board for me has been trying to associate personality/character/whatever to a name.

WVBill · Nov 3, 2000

Personally, I like the "polling" method of creating a thread like "What do you think of..." rather than just a pole where you vote yes or no.

I think that the DISCUSSION on this board is much more valuable than just the end result "100 were for and 75 were against..."

The discussion that has taken place on this board regarding TiltMeters, for example is invaluable.

I'm not against the polling idea, I just question whether it's worth Muhammad's valuable time to set up and administer.

Bill

Muhammad · Nov 3, 2000

Ok, thanks for the feedback... a few more questions, though...

We could do this in one fo a few ways:

1) A forum just for polls. All registered users could post polls. Only registered users could vote. No approval or anything like that, just removal if they cause any trouble/aren't appropriate.

2) A forum like the one above, but all polls must be approved before they are posted.

3) A poll forum in which only admins and selected star/higher level members could post in. Based on the most popular topics, we'd post polls to this forum as often as the topics worth voting on came up, but if there were 5-10 'poll posters' then there probably would be plenty of topics come up. The forum would be read-only for regular users. The polls would work the same - only registered users could vote.

On the technical side, we can easily restrict users to voting only once, but only registered users can be tracked that simply. So if we were to open the voting to all visitors, registered or not, then the tracking might not be as reliable, like any regular poll.

Right now I’m leaning toward #3 with only registered users having the option to vote.

scruffy · Nov 3, 2000

Muhammad, another suggestion, change that 'DEALS OF THE WEEK' To 'POLL OF THE WEEK' or month or whatever!

glennmac · Nov 3, 2000

I think there has to be some sort of control or filter because something inappropriate will get posted. But that adds a work burden on the administrator.

Voting must be anonymous. That's what a poll is. I have always strongly suspected there are numerous people who read threads on this board who are reluctant to post their opinion because they fear it is "politically incorrect", that they will appear to be out of the group mainstream, or that they will draw hostile fire. These people would feel free to vote their contrarian views if they could be assured of voting anonymity.

There will have to be more sophistication allowed than just yes/no polls. For example, I wouldn't pay for a tiltmeter on a tractor unless it had certain features and was in a certain price range, but a yes/no poll does not allow me to express those qualifications.

Regardless of format, I doubt that I would participate much because I like discussion.

TWINKLE_TOES · Nov 3, 2000

Glenn,
Let's see if I got this right:

"Voting must be anomous"

"There will have to be more sophistication.."

But, I won't play!!

scruffy · Nov 3, 2000

Glenn, you definately aren't afraid to voice your opinion! The polls I've seen have been essentially beat to death by discussion on this board, so why not have a poll to equate a simple aye/nay vote to the previous aforementioned discussion? It just supplies a visual referance to how many members fall on each side of the fence. Sorta taking a tally of the ayes, nays, and Mug-Wumps. (non-voters fall in the last category)

scruffy · Nov 4, 2000

Maybe I should explain a 'Mug-Wump', it is a political phrase used in early American History, to describe an individual who couldn't make up their mind, and had their 'Mug' hangin on one side of the fence, and their 'Wump' hangin' on the other side of the fence.
No offence intended for any parties, anywhere.

ERNIEB · Nov 4, 2000

I guess I'm a mug-whump about this poll thing. I don't understand the concern over nonregistered users, and who is allowed to do the posting. Somewhere I saw a comment by Muhammad that indicated only a very small number of posts had to be edited because of content.
I like the discussion. I'd rather not like to see the subject limited. A roll call type vote might be OK.
ErnieB