What the definition of a "simple poll question"?

I really don’t know. They use that reason for a lot of my questions also, when there is no way it is a yes or no answer question. I think maybe they just don’t like the question you are asking, because even when I edit it they still don’t put it back out there.

Why has this Q been moved to the Meta category? It’s just as valid a Q as asking how to unjam my toaster… isn’t it?

I have no idea if this is the basis but I would suspect any question that asks either/or, choose from x,y,z, or solicits (or is likely to be answered by) single word/phrase answers might be in danger of falling into that category, though I can think of exceptions.

And, yeah, I understand why it would go to “Meta” after leaving the front page perhaps, but why is it not in (or also in) “New” considering it clearly fits?

Stop being so paranoid, @RealEyesRealizeRealLies! The question was moved to Meta because it is about the inner workings of FLuther.

Also, a simple poll question is one that asks something like “What is your favorite color?” in which the recipient is asked for an opinion on something.

@marinelife Hey thanks for calming my nerves. I feel much better now.

Is the example of “What is your favorite color?” based upon any fluther guidelines? If it included ”...and why?”, would it still be a poll?

And as I understand you, Q’s asking for “opinions” are considered polls? Is that right? Is it better to request personal experiences instead of opinions? Thanks for your help.

@marinelife That may be the case, but here’s a stupid thing. Your details may ask why that’s your favorite color—i.e., making it more than a poll question, but you’ll still get modded. However, if you merely change the title to “What is your favorite color? Why?” they will allow it. What is the reasoning behind that? I can’t begin to imagine.

I don’t know how many times this has happened to me. Hell, if I write the question again, but add “the mods called this a simple poll question even though it isn’t, what do you think?” it will be acceptable.

This is simply absurd, and there is no consistency in the application of the rule. I think there is one mod who is pretty tight-assed, although I have no idea who it is. I think they are on duty overnight (East coast US). Others don’t seem bothered by these things. In fact, I’ve had a question modded overnight, and then asked in the morning what I can do to fix it, and have been told it is fine as it is.

Of course, one expects some inconsistency, but consistent inconsistency—that indicates a problem, I think. Also, I have been modded a lot more lately. I think I was skirting the edges more closely for some of those questions, but they all got modded, whereas that probably wouldn’t have happened in the past.

I think the definition of a poll question is way too tight. We’re told to ask them in chat, but that doesn’t get the audience, nor does it get the interesting answers. And they are interesting, which suggest you haven’t asked a simple poll question after all. So I don’t think this criteria is being applied correctly or usefully.

@wundayatta “I think the definition of a poll question is way too tight.”

What definition? Where is it? I can’t find it anywhere on this forum, yet I’m consistently accused of doing something that I can find no definition for.

Perhaps I should ask more “Is she going to leave me…” type questions. Those never seem to get modded.

It would be much more helpful to be made aware of the particular Mod that moderated the Q. And a direct link to ask for assistance directly from that specific Mod. Much time would be saved and a Q wouldn’t loose so much of its momentum in waiting to be re-posted, much much later, if at all.

A direct link to the Mod would also keep edits from being ignored. Might even show some accountability. But who am I to hold anyone accountable for their decisions?

Purple. And I don’t know why, it just is.

@AstroChuck It is not purple! And I know that for a fact!

The rule of thumb is that if the prompt encourages single-sentence answers, it needs more details.

Who is Lech Walesa?

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies But what happens when the mod that moderated it leaves for a few hours? You just wait around indefinitely? Until the next day?

I have seen many questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no, and sometimes I show my feelings by leaving that type of answer, but other people seem to be able to give longer answers.

@AstroChuck No.

Solidarnosk

@Trillian Ah. You speaka Russian? Is that Russian for “I can’t live without my poll questions?”

It’s an arbitrary distinction with no definition that the mods employ at will.

I think of it as anything the doesn’t solve a problem. I thought the purpose of this site was to solve problems. “What is your favorite color?” isn’t a problem. “What colors would look good with my new couch?” solves a problem.

@andrew “But what happens when the mod that moderated it leaves for a few hours? You just wait around indefinitely? Until the next day?”

Well sure. That’s exactly how it happens now. But now, you have no idea if your request for re-edit has even been looked at, or if it’s being ignored. I’ve got three or more questions that I’m waiting on a mods decision to repost. I’ve received no notice, and have no idea whatsoever if anyone is even considering it. The questions have disappeared from my account. All accused of being “simple poll questions”, with not one mention of what that even is in any of the guidelines.

At least if I had a specific moderator to contact, I could at least check on the status and seek assistance rewording the Q. I got nothin but cold shoulder.

@andrew “The rule of thumb is that if the prompt encourages single-sentence answers, it needs more details.”

You just broke your thumb with that single sentence answer.

BTW… Thanks to All for your varied opinions about what a simple poll question is.

Aside from your opinions, which are much appreciated, can anyone point me to an actual rule… an official statement?

Isn’t that how the law is supposed to work? How can you break a law if it isn’t in the law?

@johnpowell I asked very recently ”During a family conflict, do you choose sides or try to remain neutral?”. I then described in the details section the problem that I am having with my sister and mother arguing right now. I asked this question to solve a problem. It was sent to editing because it was considered a poll question. The mod told me ways I could change the question, but I had spent so much time with the original, I got frustrated and dumped it. :/

@jonsblond :: I’m not a mod of anything anymore. I was never a mod on the Q&A site and I recently stopped being a mod in the chatroom. I think the question is legit. But the schizophrenic moderators simply manages to do stupid shit. This seems like why there is a bit of a scramble to repair the damage.

Something needs to be done. I wish I knew what that was.

No disrespect to the mods. You work for free. But the inconsistency is simply painful. And I flag a ton of shit and pay attention to what gets deleted and what stays. It is all over the fucking map.

@jonsblond The title is really poll-y on that question. If you changed it to, “What should I do about my mother?” it’d be perfect.

Or, if you really just wanted to poll people about if they’re a side-chooser or a neutral person, that’d be a question more suited for the new social area.

The editing is a really tricky thing. Sometimes I think it’d be better to just have the mods rewrite titles and fix spelling, but I’d rather put those choices in the hands of the users.

@jonsblond “I got frustrated and dumped it.”

I think that’s the point. In the Town Hall Meeting the other night, one person said that Fluther was supposed to be encouraging to people. But the frustrations that we share are very discouraging.

Ask your question, but ask it how I tell you to. Share your mind, but share the way I say.

It’s easy to feel just plain stupid. It’s like, I’m not good enough. Only be serious when I say to be serious, and joke around and express yourself only when I say it’s ok.

Intelligent people spend a decent amount of time and mental energy attempting to share their concerns with others. It comes from the heart, and we are not stupid. We are adults. We don’t need anyone’s protection for our feelings, and we don’t need anyone’s correction in how we express our feelings. None of the questions I speak of (and yours I’m sure) have anything hateful in them whatsoever. They don’t hurt anyone. And the chance of them helping anyone is killed dead in its tracks.

For the short time that my undefined poll questions actually do last, there are often thoughtful answers given. These people have decided for themselves whether it is a waste of their time or not. But someone comes along and decides otherwise. What purpose does this form of moderation serve exactly? It completely invalidates the interests of others. It basically says, “What you’re thinking isn’t worth thinking about”.

“You should think about it another way.”… And I’ll let you know when it’s ok, if I ever decide to get back with you”

_______________________________

My comments here are in no way attempting to harm this forum. Quite the contrary.

There are a lot of intelligent heart felt people here that are being made to feel inadequate.

And the reasons given for it have never officially been defined.

How can I break a rule, that is not in the rule book?

How can I break a law, that is not in the law book?

How can I be accused of vagueness with vagueness?

Doing such a thing can definitely seem quite personal at times… most of the times actually.

Maybe what we need is another category. Yeah, I’m sure that’ll fix it.

Uh nope sorry, IT doesn’t need fixing, I’m the one who needs fixing. Sorry, I forgot.

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies I know. It’s frustrating—and no matter how we try to work the moderation process, it’s going to feel unfair.

Our core belief (and that overwhelmingly of our community) is that there are certain types of questions that aren’t appropriate for this site. Now, figuring that out is really tricky—and we very deliberately decided to implement the editing process—rather than outright removing questions—so that we can try and retain the personal aspect.

We could just have the community downvote things (and not spend the time)—but that feels crappier to me that a gang of people will hate on my content.

That said, there’s a lot wrong with the existing question editing process. We’re rewriting it so it’s easier to communicate with the moderators, and easier to know exactly what is going on in the process (with a lot less… “where did my question go?!?”)

I know you’re an adult, and it gets frustrating to feel like the things you’re interested in aren’t valid. I hear that. I feel the same way when I’ve been moderated (on this site and others).

The whole reason for creating two areas with different guidelines is so we can reduce the frustration—so that the people who aren’t as interested in asking questions to connect with people have a place to ask. Likewise, I think it’s really important to provide a space for askers that want to connect with people—ask them really thoughtful questions about what great finds they’ve found on the street, for example—can have a place as well.

@andrew

I wish you well with that. I appreciate your concern and interest in addressing the issue. I’m pleased you even see it as a valid issue. That gives reason for hope.

Unfortunately, I believe you are going about it in the wrong way. I know this is your baby. I know you want it to work for everyone, and be efficient at the same time. But in that process of figuring it out, consider that you may be going snow blind. You may be over thinking things.

I will give my unsolicited opinion. Take it for what it’s worth. The worth is intended to help.

Trust People to moderate themselves.
If a question is confusing, rude, ill formed, poorly conceived… Trust Your Members to be intelligent enough to decide for themselves if they wish to answer, ignore, or make suggestions on how to communicate better.

You don’t really want to baby sit us… do you?

We don’t really want a baby sitter… do we?

_____________________________

Be there to protect us from Trolls and Hateful Insults. Trust Your Members to assist in pointing this out to you. Trust Your Members to care for the garden you built as if it were their very own.

Consistently, the most mature people on this site, over and over again say the same things about being able to pass over questions that they are uninterested in. It’s the same way we handle real life. Yet when our own questions are removed, and questions about “Bottled Farts” remain, it forces us wonder what this site is evolving into.

Trust Your Legacy Members to help new members acclimate themselves to this environment… this Fluther climate.

Acclimate
to adapt to a new temperature, altitude, climate, environment, or situation

Sarcasm is a fact of life. It’s not the same as being Rude or Insulting. Sarcasm is appreciated amongst friends. It can foster creativity and levity. Sarcasm lets people express themselves as individuals and encourages others to do the same. Sarcasm is a tool of wit and intelligence. Sarcasm is a powerful device for revealing those who take things too personally. And those are the folks you need to be concerned about. Those who insist upon everyone adhering to their narrow viewpoints.

Protect Your Members from the Rude and Hateful. Trust Your Members to do the rest.

You don’t need confusing categories to keep everyone happy. Don’t over think this beautiful environment. You don’t need heavy moderation to eat resources and null creativity of expression. It wobbles on the wire of censorship.

Trust Your Members and encourage people to be real people. That’s what real people want.

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies…..bottled farts??......great post!