I mean opinion poll (not opion poll) I was in a hurray.
Looking at the up coming National election in November 2016 mostly between the Democrat’s and the Republicans.
I would like to suggest a sticky in the elections forum of who is for who and whom is against whom without the usual banter between the two parties.
In other words if you are positive about one candidate have everyone say so in one thread.
for example: “Yea Hillary Clinton for President”
Just those forum members for Hillary Clinton would be able to post there
for example for the nay sayers: “Nay Hillary Clinton for President”
Would just be for the forum members that are against Hillary for president.
The poll would not have to be included, but I for one would like to see the numbers a poll would generate.
Other candidates have yet to announce, but a sticky for all of them till the narrow choice is just the two nominated in July 2016 Republican or Democrat.
Since mods read threads … a mod should start the sticky and then kick anyone out for abusing the simple rules of being for or against.
What about people that change their minds? As the next year and a half unfolds, I may change my mind on who I would vote for a few times.
Locking in a vote now isn’t part of the democratic process.
Besides, how would you enforce only allowing people that voted a certain way with posting privileges in particular threads? Pretty sure that’s not an option under vBulletin, besides being a waste of admins time trying to enforce it.
Even if it were possible, I’m not seeing the benefit of a thread where the only people allowed to post are ones who think like you. If you want an echo chamber, grab a duck and head for East Lansing High School.
In my opinion there is or should be a cardinal rule in forum administration: Stickies are to be kept to an absolute minimum. One sticky, “Read this before posting”, often highly motivated. Two stickies, “Oh, this is also important”, OK. Third sticky, “I know you won’t read this one, and probably won’t bother looking at the other two either because now we’re advertising too much information you’re not interested in.” Fourth sticky, “Also, this is convenient.” Fifth sticky: “[etcetera]”
Anyways, we all have our reasons for yet another sticky, but as a reader and administrator of forums I sometimes get the need to yell: No more stickies please!
A poll every week would be an improvement … showing the past weeks results to see if the numbers are going up or down. If SDMB are the great barometer that I think they are we could measure our responses to the national ones quoted on the news.
As for the two threads of Yea! or Nay! I still think of it like the scales they use for weighing anything with the results of who is for and who is against being weighed.
You could go so far as making any thread that starts with (Yea) is for others to express their (Yea) opinion and the same with the word (Nay) if you started the thread with that word you only wanted those that agree to post.
SDMB would still have threads all over the place about Hillary for example, but in one thread would be all of the Nay’s and in the other one the Yea’s.
Straight Dope is just that straight dope … this makes it easier to decide than the constant bickering.
How about a political reference symbol for those that want to show which side they are on? You could turn it on or turn it off yourself?
Interesting idea but modding that would take some time. Also, this board is mostly about the “Usual banter.” I can’t see how such a proposal either fights ignorance or generates good wisecracks.
Personally, I’m a huge supporter of Ted Cruz. I think he would deserve such a thread. But then the Jed Bush supporters would want a thread of their own too.
Doing something fun in elections would be nice, but I think we need to return to the drawing board.
I understand the men and women here like to banter back and forth.
All the candidates still seem to have their own threads that birds of a feather are drawn to … so let it be.
but what about that one suggestion where we have a poll (no posting your reasons for likes of dislikes) just cast a ballot for your favorite leader of the pack.
but a poll that last 19 months wouldn’t be up to date unless you do it every week.
Take it down every week and start a new one with the results of last week showing.
Now you not only have an up to date poll that can include people who change their minds and see if any of the candidates are going up or down.
or just sticky the poll without being able to post in it and then let the old one go floating on down to where the other threads go.
Is that easier? One vote per registered member or guest?
It’s an interesting idea, but I don’t think it would show what you are hoping for. The board skews heavily left so it would not be representative of the general population. And on both the left and right, it skews toward people with firm convictions, so you wouldn’t see much variation over time. It also has its fair share of people who will delight in mucking up the results.
Still, I assume there’s nothing to stop you from starting such a poll each week. People will participate if they find it interesting. If the mods feel it’s too spammy, they’ll let you know.
