I wouldn’t mind redoing this with a blind poll and a transparent poll.
I voted after looking, and voted in a category that needed a vote.
However, when things are unimportant sometimes it is necessary to try to mess things up to illustrate a point. ( i.e., lighten up, this isn’t important. ) I find the reactions to our inability to do this experiment much more interesting than either a) doing it right, or b) being unable to do it right. People get invested in an outcome simply because they decided to care. Turn on a sports game where you have no feelings towards either team. You honestly don’t care which team prevails. However, almost all of us will soon pick a team and start rooting for them. By the end of the game, we’re genuinely happy or frustrated with the outcome. 30 minutes later, we have completely moved on.
Some people wanted this poll to work out. Others apparently find it amusing that it won’t.
Or our thoughts were, “many people will pick 50% and I’ll bet li’l ole 5% needs a few votes.” Click.
To the degree that any voted as you supposed, to intentionally make achieving the inconsequential goal that others had set out to accomplish unachievable because doing so amused them, specifically because others had decided to see if they could … yes it is an interesting result and informs some about the nature of some on this board, and likely in other groups as well.
Is it fair to state the behavior you describe as follows: “some people think that if others think something matters, even slightly, that they personally do not think matters, then a correct behavior is to screw with it, and thereby impose their view on the group as a whole”? If not how would you describe it?
The question in the OP basically was “can we do this?” The answer “no” is just as acceptable as the answer “yes.”
Look, I’ve checked back many times, each time hoping just a little bit that the numbers would match up, or at least close the gap so that it might be possible. I’m on board with effort.
To answer your question, I do think it is acceptable to screw with things a bit, in a “question authority” kind of way when the stakes are zero and you’re not really hurting anyone in the slightest. I didn’t have the urge in this case, but I don’t condemn those who did. If the OP made clear that this was a significant effort that he or she felt strongly about and was enlisting our community to assist, then sabotaging would be more of a dickish move.
If the answer is no then it is interesting to understand why the answer is no. Why does a group of mostly moderately intelligent people fail at such a simple game?
Do you think that people do better when the stakes are more than just a cooperation game?
Would a group of less intelligent people do better, do you think?
I can say with absolute certainty that with a more defined OP, we would have done better.
[QUOTE=Procrustus]
{snip} People get invested in an outcome simply because they decided to care. {snip}
Some people wanted this poll to work out. Others apparently find it amusing that it won’t.
[/QUOTE]
I agree, in principle, with the first statement. However, IMO, no no one cares about the outcome of this poll. Else, someone would have commented on this:
I was willing to vote whichever way would contribute to getting the percentages to match the options. In the nearly three days since I posted the above, not a single participant has suggested which way I should vote. My feelings aren’t hurt. I just can’t take seriously others’ complaints about voters who are skewing the results because they did not read, or understand or follow the guidelines in the OP.
I’ve decided not to vote because I do not want to skew whatever results participants are now seeking. Peace out!
The only advice that would have mattered is “Don’t vote for 5%”. Which had already been mentioned several times by then.
Well to fix this now we’d have to have have the following additional votes
5% - Leave Alone at 30
10% - 20 more votes to bring it to 60
15% - 28 more votes to bring it to 90
20% - 38 more votes to bring it to 120
50% - 92 more votes to bring it to 300
I think I have that right. Calling all dopers; we need 178 of you to come in here and do EXACTLY what I say! 
Okay, but if you start asking for my bank info, I’m out.
Now needed:
5% - Leave alone at 31
10% - 21 more votes to bring it to 62
15% - 30 more votes to bring it to 93
20% - 41 more votes to bring it to 124
50% - 97 more votes to bring it to 310