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Polls and User online (Read 397 times)

mucknort


    2 more options I'd like to see here that are helpful on other forums.

     

    Being able to add a poll question.

     

    Having a doohickey within your posts that shows if you are online at the moment. This option always can be turned off, on the forums I've seen it, if you don't want folks to know whether you are online or not. Helps if you feel like directly commenting/asking a question of someone that has posted.

     

    Thank you. That is all, for now.

    LedLincoln


    not bad for mile 25

      Gotta say, I think online polls are stupid.  Nothing personal; after all, I love your avatar. Smile

      Wing


      Joggaholic

        Gotta say, I think online polls are stupid.

         

        We need a poll for that


        an amazing likeness

          I'll add strident "nay" vote against polls. They don't foster discussion and exchange, just 'drive-by' posting.

          Acceptable at a dance, invaluable in a shipwreck.

          Troy.


            I'll add strident "nay" vote against polls. They don't foster discussion and exchange, just 'drive-by' posting.

             

            +1

            It should be mathematical, but it's not.

            HappyFeat


              I'll add strident "nay" vote against polls. They don't foster discussion and exchange, just 'drive-by' posting.

               +100

              Don't make excuses for why you can't get it done. 

              Focus on all the reasons why you must make it happen.

              xor


                Polls are alright.  Theoretically, at least.  Some polls are weird.  But the feature can be fun.  One issue is that it can also be resource-intensive and drive down the performance, at least for rendering the page that the poll is on.

                 

                I'm a little confused by the second request, but basically it sounds like mucky is looking for some way to detect if others are online (or, really, showing that you yourself are online, but you already know that, so I assume this is information for others to see).  On message boards I've seen that do this...and based on how http works, being "online at the moment" is an interesting thing just to define... it has a tendency to sort of define (or in our case, change)  the culture of the board. In several ways. Pluses and minuses to that one.

                 

                But I guess we'd see if my signature is kind of true.  Undecided

                 


                an amazing likeness

                  Polls will lead to (even) more of the posts that the OP doesn't participate in, and isn't really interested in the answer. Such as...

                   

                  Do You Think Running is Painful?

                  What is your Favorite Race Distance?

                  Do You Untie Your Shoes? ("yes", "no", "sometimes", "don't know")

                  Who's Running Dallas (visualize the Poll "I Am" vs "I'm Not")

                  Pooped Your Pants While Running ("Yes", "Not", "Don't Know")

                   

                  I'm thinking the "online" feature is desired to mimick the FaceBook "online now" and is intended that you could PM or otherwise chat with the person in reatime.

                  Acceptable at a dance, invaluable in a shipwreck.

                  xor


                    Whatever you do, don't go into the untie-your-shoes thread and note how many pages it is. 

                     

                    Yes, I get that lots of posts are goofy.  But they aren't always... some of the ones we encountered on RWOL were pretty reasonable.  For me, it wasn't as much about the OP not re-engaging as it was about the OP trying to use survey responses as some kind of scientific data-set.  Anyway, the good ones over there fostered discussion.  And discussion is good.  Would the same discussion have occurred without the poll?  I am betting yes, but Mongo not really know.  The shoe tying thing is interesting simply because without a poll, it is many pages of people basically saying "yes" and "no".  WITHOUT the poll, there isn't much discussion (because, well, it is a yes/no question) and the presence/absence of the poll doesn't affect its meaty nature.  All a poll would do for that one is slow down the page.

                     

                    As for "who is online", lots and lots and lots of message boards do that.  Boards based on phpBB do that for example. I was just in one.  Hmm.  Same basic effect you are going for, I think.  It does change posting styles.

                     

                    zoom-zoom


                    rectumdamnnearkilledem

                      I am betting yes, but Mongo not really know.

                       

                      I have no opinion, but any reference to Mongo makes me happy.

                      Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

                      remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

                           ~ Sarah Kay

                      eric :)


                        I think polls can be fun.  Not sure if it would encourage drive by posting.  At least it provides an easy way to tally the votes.  I've been thinking about how best to add it lately.  I'm not against it and will try to add it when I have time.

                         

                        As for displaying whether a member is logged in or not, I'm not sure if it's a good idea.  It has a stalker-ish feel to it.


                        sugnim

                          Polls will lead to (even) more of the posts that the OP doesn't participate in, and isn't really interested in the answer. Such as...

                           

                          Do You Think Running is Painful?

                           

                           

                          Actually, I posted that thread & have been reading all of the answers.  I was just curious about others' opinions & experiences.  I don't have more to say about the subject than I said in the original post.  Sorry for not commenting on your comment; I didn't know it meant that much to you.