Open letter thingy / Dear mods, about removing of polls

[Ezren]

Polls are still possible, just that users can't create them.

But you can't really trust most of the forum users for opinions - I'm pretty sure one third of Dangerous Discussion is just people who are hunting for ways to complain and mention that they don't play the game anymore.

- - - Updated - - -

I think the OP is missing the point here.
Polls were never removed because of lack of control, they were removed because the results are always largely irrelevant.

It has been proven time and time again that polls are either heavily biased or only ever show the opinions of a percentage of a percentage of a percentage of people who the topic applies too.

Oh so they're shutting down the forums entirely then?

 

[Masagmarod]

Polls are still possible, just that users can't create them.

But you can't really trust most of the forum users for opinions - I'm pretty sure one third of Dangerous Discussion is just people who are hunting for ways to complain and mention that they don't play the game anymore.

Also calls to nerf EVERYTHING. I swear, i have to take a break from there because its just too ridiculous.

 

[TERMINATRIXXX]

Wow...I actually find meself agreeing with you...never saw that comin ^

I feel dirty now ^

You only agree this time because you fall in love with me? Get on your knees! :x

 

[Ezren]

Also calls to nerf EVERYTHING. I swear, i have to take a break from there because its just too ridiculous.

It's just a big mastubatory circle. Somebody posts "X is stupid, nerf" and then there's a bunch of people who jump into the thread and agree and rep each other and talk about how right they are. No accountability or anything, just a big echo chamber.

The number of clickbait titles and inflammatory rubbish just screams of people looking for agreement, looking to have their toxic opinions and attitude justified.

 

[mostly newish]

no polls thanks - most of them thus far have been pointless, and serve no purpose , more click bait imho .

 

[verminstar]

You only agree this time because you fall in love with me? Get on your knees! :x

Thats usually my line but thats cool, Im flexable

Thought ye would have found a husband by now...on this forum? Ye can practically smell the raging testosterone [haha]

Only one girl in my life and thats my noob of a daughter Im afraid...Im happily a single dad really not seeking a new nag...Im more into short term deals with no strings. Ive been married twice before so I know exactly what Im avoiding and why ^

 

[Kenneth McGrew]

It's just a big mastubatory circle. Somebody posts "X is stupid, nerf" and then there's a bunch of people who jump into the thread and agree and rep each other and talk about how right they are. No accountability or anything, just a big echo chamber.

The number of clickbait titles and inflammatory rubbish just screams of people looking for agreement, looking to have their toxic opinions and attitude justified.

You can stop mastubatory circles with this one simple weird trick, 1000's of people are doing it right now!

 

[Cupsuki]

Open letter? Oh no...

 

[mung0]

I think the OP is missing the point here.
Polls were never removed because of lack of control, they were removed because the results are always largely irrelevant.

It has been proven time and time again that polls are either heavily biased or only ever show the opinions of a percentage of a percentage of a percentage of people who the topic applies too.

I refrained from hazarding any guesses as to why polls were removed in the op. That's not what it's about at all. This is about the fact that polls continue to be paraded across the boards, but they're now worse quality than ever - hosted by third party sites with zero moderation and zero quality control. What little utility they could have served in the past, has been throw to the wolves.

To be fair, fd themselves actually kickstarted this whole 'let's poll it then' culture when they canvassed opinion on that most divisive of subjects.. Instant ship transfer.

The fact that after much ensuing spam, polls have simply been removed from the boards altogether without warning, could be construed as being a little disingenuous. But never mind that I'm sure the intentions are good but the removal is just making a bad situation worse. That's the point.

 

[Brett C]

Polls should return, although some were complete trash. Maybe before they go live, need mod approval?

vBulletin doesn't have support for this sort of thing.

I think we should have a poll on whether polls should be brought back. [where is it]

No.

Open letter? Oh no...

Oh yes.

(Sorry idk if there's a correct sub for addressing stuff to the mod team openly, if there is please feel free to move this there, I usually dwell in this sub so just putting it here for now)

Hi mod team!

Just a bit of feedback

You've probably noticed by now that removing polls from the boards hasn't done much to slow down poll spam at all - it's simply taken them over to third-party poll sites instead, where there's absolutely no quality control: no transparency, nothing to stop people spamming votes multiple times to bias results etc.

I'm sure the removal of polls was well intentioned, but from the perspective of a community 'end user', this outcome is most certainly a cure worse than the disease. It's effectively created a kind of shady poll 'black market'. Meanwhile the noisier subs (beta discussion for example) are still riddled with poor quality polls.. Just.. Even worse quality ones.

May I suggest re-inclusion of polls on the boards, but with clear guidelines & tighter control around subject matter / biased question writing / duplicate polls. Those who abuse, get the facility taken away.

Thanks for reading! & keep up the great work all

Mungo ø7

Polls won't be making a return at any time in the near future. Seeing a little more than a quarter of the frontpage of Dangerous Discussion being a poll, mostly useless or baseless polls at that, is what led to it being disabled. Such things came and went in waves, albeit smaller in quantity.

It's an on/off switch per-forum -> per-usergroup. There is no premoderation of polls.

Of course, admins and moderators can attach polls to threads. But all moderators have been instructed to not add any of such to any thread unless on official basis (Frontier Requested). Frontier staff can also generate polls as well, but asking them to add a poll to your thread is a no go - because they are not a moderator.

 

[Arry]

Firstly; I don't think the mods should have the power or the right, just to remove polls from the forums. Now I can see a big shadow coming down on me, as the personal ban hammer falls. It should be FD that makes it happen, if it happens at all.

Secondly: Where was the poll to ban the polls? I guess we must have a dictatorship of some kind here.

Thirdly: Yes agreed, 100% some polls were a waste of time and others just to promote a personal agenda. However: Such polls should be nipped in the bud; especially if they are a second or third on a subject and the originator did not like the results of the last ones.

Fourthly: Has there been an official word on the subject, or are we just dealing with speculation?

Fifthly: I would agree to suspending polls during beta testing, apart from FD own polls on the current beta, as a form of beta and development feedback. I say this, because the poll situation goes a little insane during betas in the past.

Lastly: Banning polls altogether in my opinion is a bad move, because they add fun and insight into the forums and offer feedback into the mind set of the players.

Edit:- Ok we do have official word on the subject. The why seems to stem from a lack of control, rather than the desire of the majority of users.

 

[Thepirateorc]

Firstly; I don't think the mods should have the power or the right, just to remove polls from the forums. Now I can see a big shadow coming down on me, as the personal ban hammer falls. It should be FD that makes it happen, if it happens at all.

Secondly: Where was the poll to ban the polls? I guess we must have a dictatorship of some kind here.

Thirdly: Yes agreed, 100% some polls were a waste of time and others just to promote a personal agenda. However: Such polls should be nipped in the bud; especially if they are a second or third on a subject and the originator did not like the results of the last ones.

Fourthly: Has there been an official word on the subject, or are we just dealing with speculation?

Fifthly: I would agree to suspending polls during beta testing, apart from FD own polls on the current beta, as a form of beta and development feedback. I say this, because the poll situation goes a little insane during betas in the past.

Lastly: Banning polls altogether in my opinion is a bad move, because they add fun and insight into the forums and offer feedback into the mind set of the players.

Edit:- Ok we do have official word on the subject. The why seems to stem from a lack of control, rather than the desire of the majority of users.

Firstly mods didnt remove them frontier did
Secondly I think if polls do return you need a mod to get one

 

[mung0]

vBulletin doesn't have support for this sort of thing.


No.


Oh yes.



Polls won't be making a return at any time in the near future. Seeing a little more than a quarter of the frontpage of Dangerous Discussion being a poll, mostly useless or baseless polls at that, is what led to it being disabled. Such things came and went in waves, albeit smaller in quantity.

It's an on/off switch per-forum -> per-usergroup. There is no premoderation of polls.

Of course, admins and moderators can attach polls to threads. But all moderators have been instructed to not add any of such to any thread unless on official basis (Frontier Requested). Frontier staff can also generate polls as well, but asking them to add a poll to your thread is a no go - because they are not a moderator.

Thanks for the response brett!

Fairy snuff. I guess hopefully the poll spam will become lessened over time then.. Though it certainly looks like the appetite hasn't gone away at this point.

I do rather suspect that the poll on instant ship transfer set the pace somewhat, it's been since then that I've noticed poll-itis taking hold. If you guys are leading by example by not posting more polls yourselves, then perhaps that's for the best.

 

[Arry]

Firstly mods didnt remove them frontier did
Secondly I think if polls do return you need a mod to get one

I would agree that we should make an official request to have a poll, from our perspective, there is no reason why we should not have to wait, for whomever, to approve or reject said polls. I cannot see any reason for any poll to be required up and running, 'right this minute'.

At the same time; Mr. Brett has said they are gone, so they are gone. Now we will see a flood of third party and out of FDs control, polls raising their ugly heads. Such is life, the actions of a few, have spoiled things for the many.

 

[Arius]

Any poll that does not contain the option 'Pizza' is a complete troll and the poster should be banned from the forum.

Do you agree?

○ Yes
○ No
● Pizza

 

[Ian Phillips]

Hi everyone. It should be noted that this is not the first time polls have been suspended on the forum. They were allowed back and you have all seen the results!

Here is Brett's last word on the subject.
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/332168-Forum-polls

 

[Bond00789lol]

Personally I thought most of the polls were funny. Added a bit of panache to the forums.

Sad to see them go.



Randy Marsh would fight for polls, just sayin.

 

[K M Butler]

Considering how many of the recent threads are essentially poll-type questions anyway, I'm put in mind of the Grinch watching all the Who's celebrating Christmas even without all the props and stuff. Barbara Streisand Effect, anyone?

 

[Iskariot]

(Sorry idk if there's a correct sub for addressing stuff to the mod team openly, if there is please feel free to move this there, I usually dwell in this sub so just putting it here for now)

Hi mod team!

Just a bit of feedback

You've probably noticed by now that removing polls from the boards hasn't done much to slow down poll spam at all - it's simply taken them over to third-party poll sites instead, where there's absolutely no quality control: no transparency, nothing to stop people spamming votes multiple times to bias results etc.

I'm sure the removal of polls was well intentioned, but from the perspective of a community 'end user', this outcome is most certainly a cure worse than the disease. It's effectively created a kind of shady poll 'black market'. Meanwhile the noisier subs (beta discussion for example) are still riddled with poor quality polls.. Just.. Even worse quality ones.

May I suggest re-inclusion of polls on the boards, but with clear guidelines & tighter control around subject matter / biased question writing / duplicate polls. Those who abuse, get the facility taken away.

Thanks for reading! & keep up the great work all

Mungo ø7

I want polls about polls about polls.
And perhaps some polls about that too.

 

[Andovar]

I'd still vote for bacon.