Okay people it is quite simple if you do not like polls don’t answer them. Do not even read the thread that has a poll in it.
I have to admit I like polls. Now I have never introduced a thread with a poll I don’t think but I have no issue with others and their polls.
If there is a thread I have no interest in I simply stay away from it. Good polls, bad polls who cares? As long as the originator and others find the poll of interest then that is all that matters. I just wish people would stop complaining over trivial matters just for a little bit.
As a statistician I rather enjoy polls - except when some (fill in the appropriate words) shows his lack of imagination and distaste for the interests of others and vents some childish comment.
If you don’t like something, don’t play dog in the manger and ruin it for the people who do.
If you expect everyone to share your opinion, you will be sorely disappointed.
It is always easier to tear down than to build up.
And finally, from Robert A. Heinlein:
“A “critic” is a man who creates nothing and thereby feels qualified to judge the work of creative men. There is logic in this; he is unbiased—he hates all creative people equally.”
I have no problem with well-thought out pertinent polls. I personally don’t usually even click on the polls, let alone answer them. People posting polls to see their names or to bump up their posting number gets annoying.
The main problem I have with numerous polls is that it bumps relevant and useful topics down the list and into oblivion.
Chuck - As a statitician you should really be the first to point out that, based on the number of responses polls here typically get, they do not represent anything like a statistically significant number/cross section of hobbyists to make them capable of demonstrating anything! In that sense, they can be nothing more than an odd amusement and not really worth posting if the poster is looking for a meaningful indicator or answer to some question. Remember the poll here from a couple of years ago that indicated Z was the most popular scale?[;)]
Personally I think SOME polls that people post here are just plain dumb and useless but then SOME are very informative. You can usually tell by the poster if its a well thought out poll or not. This is a free site, paid for by MR’s sponsors, so if they don’t have a problem with it then WE shouldn’t have a problem with it. I’ve noticed a few repeat polls lately that come from new members but hey, we were all new here at one time. I just skip over the garbage, its not a big deal to me anymore.
Although I have never posted a thread that was a poll, I enjoy a lot of them. I feel if a person isn’t interested in a particular topic, don’t click on it. There are many topics I find uninteresting to me (but may be of interest to others) and the simple solution for me is to bypass them and click on the topics I am interested in.