Can we restrict availability of polls?

MarkyMarkD

I'm fed up to the back teeth of seeing polls posted by (almost always) newbie members.

Polls are very rarely the right way to get a sensible answer to a question which is of use to other users.

Look at this one: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1238079

The responses are sensible but nobody's answered the poll - because it shouldn't have been a poll.

I would propose that polls cannot be set up by newbies. Indeed, I'd pretty much ban polls for everyone apart from board guides/admins because they are generally stupid.

What do others think?

robpw2

why not limit people right to free speech as well, stop newbies posting - i mean they only post the same questions as everyone else before hand .

most newbies dont start polls and i hardly ever see polls on here so if it aint broke lets not fix it
btw that post didnt have a poll

peter999

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

I'm fed up to the back teeth of seeing polls posted by (almost always) newbie members.

Polls are very rarely the right way to get a sensible answer to a question which is of use to other users.

Look at this one: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1238079

The responses are sensible but nobody's answered the poll - because it shouldn't have been a poll.

I would propose that polls cannot be set up by newbies. Indeed, I'd pretty much ban polls for everyone apart from board guides/admins because they are generally stupid.

What do others think?

Why, there aren't that many polls ??

Let people choose, let people make their own mistakes.
Polls are often used in fun questions.

You can get a good response which gives a good idea of what people think.

peter999

MarkyMarkD

There aren't THAT many polls, but there are too many.

The results are meaningless.

People post polls like "should I have to pay this fee". Well, obviously they are going to get a positive result simply because of the sort of people who (a) read poll type threads and (b) vote in them. People who think about what they are doing and have a more rational view don't tend to vote because they know the polls are a waste of time.

@rob's comment - I don't want to stop newbies posting threads and I wouldn't suggest that. It's just that polls are hugely more mis-used than correctly used. I think they should be a privilege reserved for those who know what they are doing. Or that polls should be moderated before they are publicly viewable.

James240

should we have a poll to decide whether or not to have polls? :think: :rotfl:

MarkyMarkD

LOL. Preferably not.

Jennifer_Jane

I love polls! Just ignore them, perhaps, if you're not interested?

peter999

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

LOL. Preferably not.

Go on add a poll.

This is a perfect example of where a Poll is suitable, straighforward question & answers without any grey areas.

Put it to the test.

peter999

lesley1960

What difference does it make if someone adds a poll to their thread or not?

MarkyMarkD

Polls are stupid, that's why.

This is a discussion forum.

Value is derived by people reading, and discussing, others' views. No value is derived by seeing that 10 people have voted for one of a number of (normally poorly defined, incomplete and not mutually exclusive) alternatives.

Honestly, show me a single poll on MSE posted by someone who has posted less than 100 times (for example) that is not completely pointless, and I might revise my opinion.

peter999

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

Polls are stupid, that's why.

This is a discussion forum.

Value is derived by people reading, and discussing, others' views. No value is derived by seeing that 10 people have voted for one of a number of (normally poorly defined, incomplete and not mutually exclusive) alternatives.

Honestly, show me a single poll on MSE posted by someone who has posted less than 100 times (for example) that is not completely pointless, and I might revise my opinion.

Come on, you know you want to.

Polls are useful, as people don't have to post, they can just quickly answer the question. Discussion can be interpreted in infinite ways, a good well written poll can quickly & simply get to the crux of the matter, measuring the opinion of a large number of people in a clear way.

It's democratic & inclusive.

We want a poll.

peter999