# Polls about board users? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 19, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116 "2009-11-19T03:26:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/1 "2009-11-19T03:26:58Z")
Is it allowable to have polls voting on how users are regarded, or is that “don’t even go there” territory? ---
**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:** [November 19, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/2 "2009-11-19T03:32:48Z")
Not sure I understand what you mean here. We certain appreciate everyone who is a member of the Straight Dope community, couldn’t have a community without users. We’re grateful for 'em. Surely that’s not what you mean. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/3 "2009-11-19T03:36:41Z")
I think he’s taking about something more like: Is Oakminster a nice guy? A. Yes, he rocks. B. No, he’s an asshole. C. Fool of a Took\*, you forgot \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \*Stolen from **Skald the Rhymer** who got it from some fantasy novel about a ring ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/4 "2009-11-19T03:39:41Z")
Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/5 "2009-11-19T03:47:52Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I think he’s taking about something more like: > > Is Oakminster a nice guy? > > A. Yes, he rocks. > B. No, he’s an asshole. > C. Fool of a Took\*, you forgot \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ B! Jus’ Joke! (As we used to say in Hawaii) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/6 "2009-11-19T03:49:29Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > B! > Jus’ Joke! (As we used to say in Hawaii) 😃 Somebody had to do it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/7 "2009-11-19T13:01:17Z")
I’m also confused, but I assume that you mean a poll of the type that **Oakminster** mentions? I can’t see how that’s anything but a personal insult, which would not be permitted in any of the forums that allow polls. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/8 "2009-11-19T13:15:11Z")
Or were you thinking of a poll where each of the vote options was a different poster? (Who’s your favorite mod: twicks, Dex, gfactor, tomndebb…) That, too, seems like an invitation to stir up bad feelings for no good reason. **Lumpy** – could you come back and spell out a little more clearly what you have in mind? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/9 "2009-11-19T17:47:29Z")
What **Oakminster** said. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/10 "2009-11-19T20:13:21Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > What **Oakminster** said. In that case, I think we’d need to handle each request on a situation-by-situation analysis. My gut feeling is that such a poll would involve personal insult and so not be allowed; however, I don’t want to make a blanket ruling. For instance, a poll such as: > [@](#): > > \*\*I think **Oakminster** is: > (a) an outstanding poster > (b) a truly wonderful human being > (c) extraordinarily intelligent. OK, so there’s no personal insult involved. Does that mean we’d allow it? I suppose; we’d need to discuss it. I don’t know that it accomplishes much, though. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/11 "2009-11-20T02:13:31Z")
Sorry to get into the technical details, but the question is interesting to me. Devil’s advocate: In the case of the hypothetical **Oakminister** poll, the OP is NOT making an insult. There’s only an insult to **Oak** IF someone picks the negative option. Why assume that anyone will vote for that option? Would there be a difference if the voters’ picks were public vs. not? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/12 "2009-11-20T02:17:05Z")
If you’re assuming no one will vote for one of the options, why include it? And no, I don’t see any substantial difference between a public and a private vote in such a poll. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/13 "2009-11-20T02:31:25Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > If you’re assuming no one will vote for one of the options, why include it? If you start a poll with “pro” options, and no “con” options, you’re not really learning anything with the results. People that believe “con” can’t/won’t participate. For example: Do you think kittens are: 1. OMG SQUEE! 2. Cute widdle fuzzy-wuzzies 3. YAY for Kittens! All the available choices are really the same for practical intents and purposes. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/14 "2009-11-20T12:42:28Z")
That was pretty much my point, albeit from a different approach. I was saying (or trying to, anyway) that if you’re either not expecting a negative answer under your premises [your example], or if the mods have made it clear that we wouldn’t allow for a negative answer because it would be troublemaking [my example], why run the poll? ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/15 "2009-11-20T13:10:22Z")
If the poster himself or herself is the one who runs the poll, why wouldn’t it be the same as asking his real-life friends? Tell me truly: Is Sigmagirl: (a) Too judgmental? (b) Really funny, or is she just kidding herself? © Overly worried about what other people will think about her? (d) Practically perfect in every way? If you don’t have a friend handy to tell you you’ve told that damn story about the skateboard and the jello once too often, you turn to the Dope and ask. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/16 "2009-11-20T13:57:21Z")
Hmm. I dunno, **Sigmagirl** , I think the mods will have to discuss this one. Unlike the other examples, I can see arguments for this. We’ll get back to you. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/17 "2009-11-20T16:33:42Z")
I feel this is a very bad idea myself. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/18 "2009-11-20T18:02:57Z")
The only way I can see this working is to enable polling in the Pit. Regards, Shodan ---
**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:** [November 20, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/19 "2009-11-20T19:52:25Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The only way I can see this working is to enable polling in the Pit. > > Regards, > Shodan Not. A. Chance. BTW, not asking you specifically but everyone who thinks this is a good idea – why is it the majority of the creativity is devoted to ways of inflicting injury on other people? Y’all could probably find a cure for cancer with all the energy expended on finding cute ways to annoy and harass and insult others. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116/20 "2009-11-20T21:07:26Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Not. A. Chance. I hope I didn’t offend you - that was very far from my intent. I don’t see very many ways that a poll Pitting me (for instance) would be significantly worse than a normal Pitting. Maybe I am unusual in that way. I imagine a good many of the polls in the Pit (if you enabled such a feature - I have no opinion on whether that is a good idea or not) would be set up like: \*Poll about **Shodan** : Is he [list=A][li]A jerk [_]An asshole [_]A troll [_]All of the above[/list]_[/li]I don’t find that significantly more offensive than the usual run of Pittings. > [@](#): > > BTW, not asking you specifically but everyone who thinks this is a good idea – why is it the majority of the creativity is devoted to ways of inflicting injury on other people? Y’all could probably find a cure for cancer with all the energy expended on finding cute ways to annoy and harass and insult others. Well, that’s what the Pit is for. I would like to think I spend a significant amount of what creativity I might display on the SDMB on something other than insults. I feel like I have hit a sore spot, for which I apologize. It was just speculation. Regards, Shodan [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-about-board-users/518116.md?page=2)