Should off-topic polls be allowed in the Off-Topic Forum?

EricNoah · Dec 8, 2003

We've had a longstanding ban against off-topic polls in the past because people just went crazy with them. But now that we have an out of the way place for off-topic posting, should off-topic polls be allowed on a trial basis?

Ankh-Morpork Guard · Dec 8, 2003

I dunno...it would probably allow too many completely random and ultimatly pointless things. At least some discussions in this forum aren't THAT pointless.

Silver Moon · Dec 8, 2003

EricNoah said:
We've had a longstanding ban against off-topic polls in the past because people just went crazy with them. But now that we have an out of the way place for off-topic posting, should off-topic polls be allowed on a trial basis?

I don't know. Maybe. Why don't you start a poll with that question to see what everyone thinks?

Macbeth · Dec 8, 2003

Well, I don't have strong feelings either way, but I had to vote when I saw the "fool" option.

On a more serious note: can the server handle the strain? I thought the ban on OT polls was in part resource related.

EricNoah · Dec 8, 2003

Macbeth said:
Well, I don't have strong feelings either way, but I had to vote when I saw the "fool" option.

On a more serious note: can the server handle the strain? I thought the ban on OT polls was in part resource related.

No, it wasn't resource related as far as I remember -- it was that people just loved posting silly pointless polls even more than regular off-topic banter, and it was getting so you couldn't go anywhere without tripping over them. We got lots of complaints. So we banned them as a way to keep some of the off-topic clutter out of General.

Macbeth · Dec 9, 2003

EricNoah said:
No, it wasn't resource related as far as I remember -- it was that people just loved posting silly pointless polls even more than regular off-topic banter, and it was getting so you couldn't go anywhere without tripping over them. We got lots of complaints. So we banned them as a way to keep some of the off-topic clutter out of General.

In that case I don't see any problem with it, but I'm not particularly for it either. Do as you will, oh mighty mods.

Darrin Drader · Dec 9, 2003

I see nothing wrong with it. I say go for it. Bring on the silly polls!

Buttercup · Dec 9, 2003

I'd advocate taking a wait-and-see attitude. I didn't have high hopes for this forum, but it's going well. The place hasn't turned into spam heaven or anything. There is a possibility that allowing off topic polls would change that balance. Since this is still an experiment, I don't think it's a good idea to add another variable right now. If this forum ends up staying, then maybe in a few months it would be a good idea to see what happens if OT polls are also allowed.

orbitalfreak · Dec 9, 2003

I wouldn't mind, as long as people kept them from being non-sensical. Who's going to win the [sport] playoffs? Which is your favourite musical genre? I think those would be fine. "Have you hugged your couch today? Y/N" would probably not be.