# Polling in ATMB - an experiment

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polling-in-atmb-an-experiment/813249>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [April 28, 2018, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polling-in-atmb-an-experiment/813249 "2018-04-28T02:47:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2018, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polling-in-atmb-an-experiment/813249/1 "2018-04-28T02:47:12Z")

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In the recent zombie thread, it was noted that there is no place to poll users regarding potential rule changes. Polls for opinions belong in IMHO, but discussions about the message board belong in ATMB. The current rules only allow test polls in ATMB. This seems kinda silly to me, since you can informally poll people for their opinions about rules in ATMB, you just can’t actually make a formal poll.

So, let’s try an experiment. For now, polling in ATMB will be allowed, provided that it is directly related to the SDMB rules.

Important Note: THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL RULE CHANGE. This is just an experiment. If it works well and is useful, then it might become a permanent rule change at some point in the future. If it somehow becomes problematic, then we will simply discontinue the experiment.

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**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polling-in-atmb-an-experiment/813249/2 "2018-04-30T04:26:32Z")

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Question: are experimental ATMB polls required to be pubic? Or is it just coincidence that both of them are?

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polling-in-atmb-an-experiment/813249/3 "2018-04-30T06:09:47Z")

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There is no requirement that they be public.

Both of the existing polls would have probably done better if they were not public. Many people don’t like participating in public polls.

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**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polling-in-atmb-an-experiment/813249/4 "2018-04-30T07:20:18Z")

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I put a poll in ATMB about 18 months ago: [This one about IPA](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=800880). I didn’t know it was against the rules, and no mod intervened to stop it.