pick5string - Posted - 07/27/2015:  18:29:49

Polls are kind of a cool option to have on a website forum.  I think people would use them.

Fathand - Posted - 07/27/2015:  18:40:36

There is already a Like button.

pick5string - Posted - 07/27/2015:  18:43:09

Most polls will allow multiple choices, and the voter can choose either one answer or more than one answer, depending on how the OP set it up.  I like polls better than the like button.

Bill Rogers - Posted - 07/28/2015:  00:04:07

The Hangout has tried to avoid encouraging negative comments about musical postings.  That's why there's only a "like" button on the videos and sound clips.  Seems to me a poll would raise that issue again.  Things can get divisive enough without courting more.

JoeDownes - Posted - 07/28/2015:  01:17:58

Give it a try, mods and admins. I doubt that polls would cause any more trouble and they are a fun part of the other forum that I visit.

carlb - Posted - 07/28/2015:  06:09:05

I thought poll type questions have already been done as forum topics. I don't see the need for a poll button.

Tradewinds Ted - Posted - 07/28/2015:  08:20:37

I regularly visit two other website forums that allow polls.



One music related forum (different instrument) seems to use it primarily to decide between several choices for the "tune of the month" and that works very well. Some people still offer comments about why they would prefer to work on one tune or another, or maybe offer some background information on the various tunes, but it sure is helpful to simply look at the poll results rather than count up how many people post a response for each, discounting the extra responses from people who make more than one comment, and trying to decipher where that vote goes when someone is wordy or indecisive in their reply.



In the other forum, polls are used much more freely. Sometimes it is useful, but sometimes it gets a bit ridiculous, with dozens of questions, and dozens of choices in each. Another problem is when the choices offered don't adequately allow for reasonable responses, as then they draw a lot of critical comments, and the poll results aren't worth much. Something like "Do you practice a) 2-4 hours a day? b) 4+ hours a day? or c) never?"



I don't think that polls would really draw out more negative comments. Sure, a poll can be mean-spirited, and question or the options offered can be worded in an inflammatory manner, but that is always true in text as well, so the same rules would still apply.



I think that a poll option would occasionally be useful, but really it is the comments that are more valuable, as they may offer more insight into WHY people prefer what they do.

 

Edited by - Tradewinds Ted on 07/28/2015 08:21:26

steve davis - Posted - 07/28/2015:  09:11:16

What is being polled?

pick5string - Posted - 07/28/2015:  09:27:32

quote:

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Originally posted by Bill Rogers

 

The Hangout has tried to avoid encouraging negative comments about musical postings.  That's why there's only a "like" button on the videos and sound clips.  Seems to me a poll would raise that issue again.  Things can get divisive enough without courting more.

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I can see your point Bill.

minstrelmike - Posted - 07/28/2015:  10:24:39

I don't see what sort of information polling gives you. If you want to know what is popular, just look at the awards shows on television.

If you want to know who the most popular, well-known banjo players of all time are, they are Kermit the Frog, that kid from Deliverance, Steve Martin, Buddy Wachter and then Earl somebody or other. The Mumfords might be in the mix now.

Learning what is popular thru surveys of self-selected respondents is worse than a waste of time because it doesn't tell you stuff you wish and act as if it could tell you.

Popularity isn't the same as competence or effectiveness. The most popular banjo methodology is the most popular one. It isn't necessarily the most effective one (or the world would be full of competent banjoists) and even if it were, it may not be the most effective one for you.

What question do you think a poll would actually answer?

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 08/03/2015:  15:48:52

I think having some sort of multiple choice opinion poll using a self selected group (eg: those who choose to bother with it) Is of little or no use. We get people's full opinions around here and mostly in a well articulated manner.

Besides, does any bluegrass player here care what I (a strictly Old Time guy) think of some bluegrass group I've heard once - Doing one tune - In the middle of a TV Variety Show?

Do they even still have variety shows on TV.

I don't think so - I think TV is all "Reality" and "America's Top Singing Chef" right now.

Where is Ed Sullivan when you need him?

Edited by - oldwoodchuckb on 08/03/2015 15:50:36

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 08/03/2015:  16:16:37

quote:

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Originally posted by oldwoodchuckb

 

Where is Ed Sullivan when you need him?

 

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Pick one answer to the question:

1. Dead

2. Frozen

3. Living under a secret identity

4. All of the above

5. None of the above

There! A poll!

minstrelmike - Posted - 08/03/2015:  17:29:15

quote:

---

Originally posted by oldwoodchuckb

...We get people's full opinions around here and mostly in a well articulated manner... 

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Think of on-line forums as polls on steroids.

Big muscular hunks of opinion all crashing against each other like turds in a flushing toilet.

(I hope that isn't too articulate).

Jim Pankey - Posted - 08/03/2015:  17:33:46

A poll option would be fun, and likely helpful.

At first I imagine polls for finger pick brands, clawhammer fingers, strings, straps, practice hours, number of instruments owned, etc etc. I then imagine as time goes on other folks (even mods and Eric) would think up other great uses for polls - like maybe voting on shirts or hats or whatever.  

Oh, sure, we've done a lot of that sort of stuff and someone always has to keep a running tally.  A poll would do that automatically, and present it in a easy to read format.

...but what would I know, I'm just a banjo player.

Edited by - Jim Pankey on 08/03/2015 17:36:26

steve davis - Posted - 08/04/2015:  06:28:01

I think it might hurt individuality and quirkiness.

Jim Pankey - Posted - 08/04/2015:  10:13:33

A poll doesn't prevent members from expressing their opinion, nor does it oppress their quirkiness or individuality.  What it does is meet a particular need in a neat and tidy way, then allows for discussion of the collected data in the thread where the poll was established.

Heaven forbid we change something around here for fear of changing something around here.

That said, it's not a request to change what's already here, it's a request for an added feature.  Kinda like the feature to add photos to a post, or bold type, or links; those were all added at some point.  A poll is nothing more than a feature.  No one would be forced to use it.

Edited by - Jim Pankey on 08/04/2015 10:19:02

Jim Pankey - Posted - 08/04/2015:  11:34:45

steve davis - Posted - 08/05/2015:  10:42:27

We already have discussions on collected data.

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 09/04/2015:  03:24:31

quote:

---

Originally posted by steve davis

 

What is being polled?

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Well... In the days of Vlad The Impaler, being polled was usually a 'once in a lifetime' experience.

dat - Posted - 09/12/2015:  09:51:31

quote:

---

Originally posted by Doug Knecht

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bill Rogers

 

The Hangout has tried to avoid encouraging negative comments about musical postings.  That's why there's only a "like" button on the videos and sound clips.  Seems to me a poll would raise that issue again.  Things can get divisive enough without courting more.

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I can see your point Bill.

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I think on most polls, the original poster has the option on wether or not to put the poll and what options,  unless someone posts a music clip and adds a poll     like . do you like this,   yes, no , I hate it, I love it, it was ok, etc, there shouldn't be any negative posts unless the poster asks straight out for them.      well as far as the poll, some folks are gonna comment either way, but with a poll, the poster is asking for opinions