# Does the SDMB want polling without commentary? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 6, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763 "2011-08-06T19:39:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/21 "2011-08-07T16:19:32Z")
Fair enough. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/22 "2011-08-07T17:11:07Z")
I’ve started more than my share of polls. There’ve been times when all I wanted was the results rather than the commentary. But so what? In those cases, I just look at the poll results and ignore the posts. Seems simple to me. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/23 "2011-08-07T21:05:54Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Fucking ridiculous that the moderator-clan spent 24-hours deliberating (aka circle-jerking) to arrive at, what is basically, the worst possible conclusion possible. It’s especially hilarious whenever someone calls \*\*Czarcasm \*\* and is unable to defend himself, one of his cronies steps up to his defense. Complaint is allowed. Criticism is allowed. Insults are not, and not in that meter especially, not in ATMB. Any further action in this direction will result in this thread being closed and more moderator action. Red Barchetta, your disagreement with Czarcasm is understood … you’re damn near stalking now. My understanding is that you have already been counseled on this subject. Failure to heed moderator instructions is an offense with consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/24 "2011-08-07T22:10:08Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Red Barchetta, your disagreement with Czarcasm is understood … you’re damn near stalking now. My understanding is that you have already been counseled on this subject. Failure to heed moderator instructions is an offense with consequences. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t it seems. It’s hard to remain tactful when “insulting” seems to be one of the only reliable ways to which to actually get your attention. As for “stalking,” it’s hard to challenge in the appropriate threads when you keep \*\*locking \*\* the discussions in question. Every post I’ve made sense the IMHO thread have been relegated to ATMB. **Czarcasm** has ignored \*repeated \* attempts to answers my questions, and you seem to be following suit with[two questions addressed directly to you](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14111928&postcount=47) having been left unresolved. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who would appreciate if you could explain these inconsistencies. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/25 "2011-08-07T22:58:43Z")
The announcement has been made. The situation is resolved, if not to your satisfaction. There’s really nothing else to say at this point and to rehash the situation further is not useful. Not every moderator decision is met with total approval. We do our best but sometimes we’re just going to have to agree to disagree. You can criticize what we do but you should not be rude and insulting while you’re at it. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/26 "2011-08-07T23:14:31Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > The announcement has been made. The situation is resolved, if not to your satisfaction. I wasn’t questioning the resolution, I was asking for an explanation. > [@TubaDiva](#): > > There’s really nothing else to say at this point and to rehash the situation further is not useful. Not useful for the mods, perhaps, as it calls into question the legitimacy of the action. I’m rather sure I’m not the only one who would find such clarifications to be of importance. > [@TubaDiva](#): > > Not every moderator decision is met with total approval. We do our best but sometimes we’re just going to have to agree to disagree. And that’s fine. That doesn’t mean you have to ignore requests to make sense of your actions. If you consider this a hijack, I’ll be happy to open a new thread. I just want to know the reasoning behind your actions, because as is, they’ve been very dubiously defined drawing a transparent line between what is breaking a rule and not. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/27 "2011-08-07T23:21:33Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Not every moderator decision is met with total approval. We do our best but sometimes we’re just going to have to agree to disagree. Except this fight was met with total disapproval and I’m honestly shaking my head at how TPTB have just decided to let a single mod change established board policy on a whim. And then said mod is allowed to punish people who were following the previously well-established rules that apparently didn’t apply. I think the posters who were warned (or even just given a mod talking to) in the original thread deserve an apology. As does Red Barchetta for your attitude in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/28 "2011-08-07T23:35:49Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > **Czarcasm** has ignored \*repeated \* attempts to answers my questions, and you seem to be following suit with[two questions addressed directly to you](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14111928&postcount=47) having been left unresolved. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who would appreciate if you could explain these inconsistencies. > [@TubaDiva](#): > > The announcement has been made. The situation is resolved, if not to your satisfaction. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/29 "2011-08-07T23:50:29Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > The announcement has been made. The situation is resolved, if not to your satisfaction. Great. So going forward, this is now established board policy? A new rule? We can expect similar moderation going forward? Because, if so, I’m looking forward to seeing what IMHO turns into under the new Czarcasm “No Discussion Dammit!” and the “OP Controls the thread and the mod is obligated to enforce the OP’s demands” rules. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/30 "2011-08-08T02:08:24Z")
Why don’t you just allow polls in Great Debates? That way, instead of what amounts to disallowing polls + discussions about weighty subjects (because Czarcasm doesn’t want them in his forum, and they don’t really belong there anyway), they can go in GD where they belong? Seriously, having polls with no discussion allowed is pretty much the worst idea I’ve ever heard for a message board. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/31 "2011-08-08T02:44:42Z")
The “reasoning” has been that Polls kill discussion and reduce things to black and white issues. So if we had polls in GD, there’d never be conversation. That’s why Czarcasm has to stomp on any hint of discussion in a IMHO–because polls kill…oh…wait. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/32 "2011-08-08T03:13:32Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Great. So going forward, this is now established board policy? A new rule? We can expect similar moderation going forward? [Keeping heated discussions out of polls had been established policy before the Poll feature was even implemented.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=242777) ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/33 "2011-08-08T03:15:52Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > [Keeping heated discussions out of polls had been established policy before the Poll feature was even implemented.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=242777) It was stupid then and its stupid now. Also, look at the mod enforcing the “no discussions” rule. Christ, somebody explain to me why Czarcasm is even allowed to be a mod? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/34 "2011-08-08T04:26:08Z")
What is construed as “heated”? _Any_ disagreement? _Any response_ to anyone else’s opinion on a subject which is seen as having the _potential_ for becoming heated? I’m not trying to argue with anyone here, I’m trying to understand what’s going on and the thinking behind it. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/35 "2011-08-08T04:27:10Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > I’m not trying to argue with anyone here, I’m trying to understand what’s going on and the thinking behind it. Good luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/36 "2011-08-08T05:24:55Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > \ > But the first question, seems to me, is: does the SDMB _want_ polling without commentary? I don’t; it seems to completely miss the point of having a public discussion. > [@TubaDiva](#): > > The announcement has been made. The situation is resolved, if not to your satisfaction.\ Are you talking about the question about polling without commentary? What decision has been made? I looked, but I couldn’t find an announcement in ATMB. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/37 "2011-08-08T14:41:05Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > The “reasoning” has been that Polls kill discussion and reduce things to black and white issues. So if we had polls in GD, there’d never be conversation. That’s why Czarcasm has to stomp on any hint of discussion in a IMHO–because polls kill…oh…wait. > > :rolleyes: Powers that be, are you at all starting to see how crazy and nonsensical this is? The solution is as simple as can be. 1. Allow polls in GD 2. Enforce the rules in IMHO that weighty topics don’t belong there. If for some reason heated debate breaks out in a poll thread there, move the thread to GD and let the fighting commence. 3. Conversely, if someone starts a poll in GD and fighting DOESN’T commence, kick it over to whatever forum seems appropriate, or let it fall off the page and die a dignified death. Ta-da. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/38 "2011-08-08T17:40:51Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > \ > > Are you talking about the question about polling without commentary? What decision has been made? I looked, but I couldn’t find an announcement in ATMB. Ah, I see the announcement was made in the thread that is still locked and has now fallen off the front page (way to shout it from the rooftops). ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/39 "2011-08-08T19:33:38Z")
I’m not clear whether there has been any decision about policy going forward, or only the narrow one to uphold the moderating in a couple threads. If there _is_ a general policy decision, I’d be interested in seeing the thinking behind that laid out–one mod’s writing of the “majority opinion,” as it were. If there is _not_, which I would find understandable given the time elapsed, it might be nice to know whether a policy is under discussion, or if further similar circumstances will be administered ad hoc. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763/40 "2011-08-08T19:49:26Z")
Wait, just found this… > [@Why was this thread closed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/2): > > > [@Why was this thread closed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-this-thread-closed/591906/1): > > > > Precedent has been set. Czarcasm has decreed, and apparently the mod loop agrees, that the OP controls his thread in IMHO. > > There’s been no such decree. That hasn’t been the rule in the past, and it won’t be in the future, either. The OP has some input in the direction of the thread and we frequently moderate to keep threads on topic as the situation dictates. Is this about it? In effect, entirely situational, and up to individual mods? And **Tuba** ’s remark about “polls and not posts” should be taken as… _not_ indicative of any thinking in the mod loop? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-sdmb-want-polling-without-commentary/591763.md?page=3)