The meta-poll discussion - English - Ryzom Community Forum

#1 Added by Marelli(arispotle) 1 decade ago Report | Quote [en]

Let's talk about polls. They were added to our forums not too long ago and are used frequently for idea threads. And I wonder just how useful or useless they are.

Before polls were here, people had to make a reply to a thread to give their opinion about the topic. Adding a poll to a thread allows people to give their opinion without making a reply.

But is this purely an addition to the thread, or does it also take away from it?

On the one hand, a poll allows people who are too shy or too lazy to make a reply to still add their opinion, so that you can potentially collect more opinions on your idea.

On the other hand, a poll might discourage replies, as people who otherwise would've replied with their opinion now simply vote in the poll. Readers may think the opinions in the replies are now totally irrelevant, and it's only the poll results that give a good picture of people's opinions because there are always many more people who voted than people who replied. So the thread becomes secondary to the poll.

#2 Added by Marelli(arispotle) 1 decade ago Report | Quote [en]

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There are obvious downsides to this, as poll votes don't give the complete input that replies do. Worse, they are anynomous, so you never know how many people voted seriously, or rigged the vote with alts.

These are concerns I constantly consider again when I make a thread. I always wonder whether I should add a poll or not.

Thus, a meta-poll to help me (and hopefully others) make that decision in the future.

I see it cut off my poll question, since it didn't have a character limit I assumed it'd fit... well, the full question was this:
If there is a poll on a thread (assume it is a serious poll and includes an option close enough to your opinion) do you use that to add your opinion if you otherwise would not have? Does it mean you are less likely to make a reply that you otherwise might have? I realise it depends on the thread, so please pick the option that *most often* applies to you:

#3 Added by Suboxide 1 decade ago Report | Quote [en]

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If i find the topic worth it i'll post in it i never vote since well for the reasons you posted before it's anynomous and is just for show. The way ryzom works it's way to easy to rigg the votes. Direct input and discussions are way better and alot more fun to read :p

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#4 Added by Gorran 1 decade ago Report | Quote [en]

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I don't see polls as just for show. I vote the choice that closest matches my opinion and, if need be, I add a note to clarify what I think.

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Eldest, Order of the White Lotus

#5 Added by Arfur 1 decade ago Report | Quote [en]

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I think polls are a good way of canvassing opinion, but both the question and the answer choices need to be carefully thought out. If the question is misleading or ambiguous, or if the answer choices don't make a full range of choices available, the poll is useless.

Bottom line, thread replies are preferable to a poll which is why I usually write something in addition to voting in the polls (and I love polls).

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It's bad luck to be superstitious . . .

Palta e decata, nan nec ilne matala.

When one goes on a journey it is not the scenery that changes, but the traveller

#6 Added by Suboxide 1 decade ago Report | Quote [en]

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hmm and pls no polls like those above here with such long sentences i really don't like those if you do a poll atleast do it short and fast.
I'm not a psychologist but I don't think long polls or polls with long sentences in it are good either.

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#7 Added by Erizon(arispotle) 1 decade ago Report | Quote [en]

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Unfortunately, this poll doesn't contain an answer that matches my response to the question. This, however, does match what I would have chosen, if it had been available (except for the fact that silly polls are fun too):

Gorran

I don't see polls as just for show. I vote the choice that closest matches my opinion and, if need be, I add a note to clarify what I think.

#8 Added by Loryen 1 decade ago Report | Quote [en]

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Erizon

Unfortunately, this poll doesn't contain an answer that matches my response to the question. This, however, does match what I would have chosen, if it had been available (except for the fact that silly polls are fun too):

Gorran
I don't see polls as just for show. I vote the choice that closest matches my opinion and, if need be, I add a note to clarify what I think.

I almost agree with the above. Although I only vote in the poll if the choice actually matches...it can't just be close. If there are no matches, as illustrated here, I add a comment.

#9 Added by Monje 1 decade ago Report | Quote [en]

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You made a poll to discussed about polls ...

you made your point ..

and yes is useless..

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Am the Lizard King......... I can do Anything
Temporary Insanity Complaint Department Officer
Bring your own Tissues

#10 Added by Jarnys 1 decade ago Report | Quote [en]

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Sometimes I'm only sending the vote on threads where I wouldn't have given my opinion otherwise.
Sometimes I only vote instead of the posting.
Sometimes I do both - mostly to clarify my opinion or say something about a response in the thread.
Sometimes I post without voting - but only if I don't want to state my opinion in regards of the poll but want to respond to an other posting.

Thus I voted "other" above as none really fit what I'm doing because it always depends on the topic.

Last edited by Jarnys (1 decade ago)

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#11 Added by Garla(arispotle) 1 decade ago Report | Quote [en]

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I vote, but generally only post if I feel it needs to be explained. or if I want to bump it over another, more annoying thread

#12 Added by Bitttymacod 1 decade ago Report | Quote [en]

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I rarely find that the polls have an option that expresses my opinion (this one came close, but still no cigar).

I generally click on the nearest answer, then post to explain what my _real_ answer is. That option was not in this poll either, so I'm doing that now. *grin*

All of this presumes that I actually see the thread. This is generally unlikely since I don't often go through the Forums.

With respect,

-- Bittty

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Remembering Tyneetryk
Phaedreas Tears - 15 years old and first(*) of true neutral guilds in Atys.
(*) This statement is contested, but we are certainly the longest lasting.
<clowns | me & you | jokers>

#13 Added by Beeficus 1 decade ago Report | Quote [en]

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Arfur

I think polls are a good way of canvassing opinion, but both the question and the answer choices need to be carefully thought out. If the question is misleading or ambiguous, or if the answer choices don't make a full range of choices available, the poll is useless.

Bottom line, thread replies are preferable to a poll which is why I usually write something in addition to voting in the polls (and I love polls).

I agree with this. With the above in mind, I think a poll on a controversial topic is good, for those people who would like to have their say counted but do not wish to get dragged into debates or arguments that may result from posting.

With regards to "vote rigging" (im guessing this would be using alts to vote multiple times) I guess we would just have to have faith in the player base that they actually care about seeing the real results more than just being right.

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#14 Added by Nonea 1 decade ago Report | Quote [en]

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Speaking about suggestion threads:

When a poll option matches my opinion fairly well and I care about the topic, I choose it. It doesn't have to be exact. If I don't like any of the options, I'll choose Other, unless the poll/topic/responses are silly, in which case I'll choose "Yubos" if available.

If I have something to say on a topic that I don't think has been said well or if it has and I feel strongly about the topic, I'll post to say it.

Polls don't draw me or chase me away, but what bothers me are "+1" "-1" "+10" etc with no explaination. The +/- actually bugs me even with explaination.