Polls

[Dominic]

Why are polls disabled in most forums?

Looks to me like they're OK in the Beer Tent, but not in places like Pipe Bands and Drumming...

for instance, there is an active poll about drum sticks, but it's in the beer tent. it may get more votes in the appropriate section (drumming).

Is there a valid reason why polls are only alowed in certain forums and not others?

Just wondering....

thanks,

Dominic

[Rakish Paddy]

Yes, it was my intention to start the drum stick poll in the drumming forum, but didn't have that option. I was wondering the same thing myself.
Not that it really matters...

[Bob]

It was my choice - And I realize it can be a bit inconvenient at times.

I've turned Polling on for only two forums, simply because of past experiences with polls..

I know of some discussion forums that have had very big problems with polling, and there are many people with very strong feelings (against) them. I have even been told of discussion forums that actually collapsed because everyone was trying to gather information from polls, and the discussions just died. I don't think that would happen here, and I like the idea of having polling, but I don't want to have it run out of control - as in polls everywhere, all the time So, when I first turned on polling, we tried one, then two forums, and it seems that most of the time it is not too inconvenient.. Every few months or so someone asks, but as it seems to be a somewhat uncommon issue / question / concern.. I've not worried about it..

:shrug:

[CalumII]

I agree with you that polls are for some reason capable of being a trigger for instability; OTOH, there is a good case for polls being useful in every forum. The drummer's sticks is just one example; I could think of a couple of polls I'd be interested to run in the Piobaireachd forum, and I'm sure others have their pet ideas.

Is it possible to make polls subject to moderator approval? That would seem to be the most obvious solution - it would also stop some of the more poorly thought out polls that we see from time to time.

Cheers,
Calum

[Dominic]

Bob,

thanks for the explanation. I can see where you're coming from.

Calum seemed to have a good compromise. They'd have to email the questions to you and you approve it (or whoever/moderator).

The only reason it's more than a little inconvenient is that RP's drumstick poll may have gotten more views/votes in the appropriate [drumming] forum. most folks in the beer tent, etc. are pipers...it would be just as bad (ok, worse) if there was a piping poll in the drumming forum...not the appropriate forum. the beer tent is great for general forums...

anyway...sorry to question...no big deal either way, and I understand the motivation behind it. posters can still ask the questions outright in the forum of their choice and hope for some good responses.

thanks again for keeping this forum together...it's a great thing. we really apprectiate it.

dominic

[Bob]

Oops - I had meant to reply to Calum too ...

It seems that just every now and then polls become interesting.. most of the time it seems interest is quite low.. I am always open to trying new things, and trying to improve - nothing here exists that we won't change if it will help and make things better or more interesting..

Regarding polls :D not too long ago, in an attempt to try something close to what Calum suggests - I created a Polling Place Forum - the idea was we could gather ideas, questions, etc. - do a little planning, and then when set, we could create a poll - basically it was trying to avoid the very common situation of more ideas coming right after the poll was created.. Well, the Polling Place went away, because (I think) there was just not enough interest..

And Dominic - never a problem to question or suggest - really.. I would be interested in other's views too - Right now polling is open in just the Beer Tent and in this Forum.. Maybe we should have a poll (? really :D ).. and see what people think..