This Would Be Better As A Poll
Entry posted by -Sidorak-
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As per Omi's suggestion, I am posting this here. It will be interesting to see who replies to this. Personally, I'm expecting more blog people to read/comment on it, but we'll see.
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I have been thinking about this idea for some time. Please carefully read and consider this post. 
Instead of locking them, the staff should leave some of the topics that would normally be closed in favor of a poll open to encourage discussion.
Before you get ahead of me, I am NOT suggesting that all topics in GD that have less than 10 possible answers should be left open. Topics like this should indeed be closed. Those kinds of topics that ask simple questions really are best as polls.
Polls are good because they give a visual representation of how the choices break down; it's easier to see how popular one option is compared to another. And polls automatically calculate the percentage of members that voted for each choice. That kind of data is useful when you're dealing with those types of straightforward questions.
However, topics such as this provide plenty of opportunity for meaningful discussion. Look at the variety of replies in the topic; they aren't yes or no answers, there are many different viewpoints that can't really be captured in a poll.
Sure, you can water any question down by phrasing it in a way that creates "Yes" or "No" answers, but that's not always the best choice.
If you look at the poll that was made for that topic, the discussion has been stifled and the number of replies have been reduced. That's because the "Voting Booth mentality" is to click on a topic, vote, and maybe write a short answer. Leaving topics that have discussion potential in GD open would encourage in-depth discussion. B)
Also, when there is an important topic or a particularly interesting question, it also attracts more attention in GD than it would in the Voting Booth.
Word to the GD staff: Please consider leaving a few potential poll-topics open to promote discussion: it doesn't hurt to leave one open now and then!
Word to the regular members: Is each topic with less than 10 theoretical answers always better as a poll? No. Please remember this and use your judgment decide whether the question really would be better in the form of a normal topic before suggesting that the topic starter PM a member on the poll-making team.
To summarize:
- Some topics should be locked in favor of a poll.
- HOWEVER, leaving some of these topics open encourages discussion. Remember, BZPower: BIONICLE News, Reference, and Discussion.
I look forward to hearing the views of both staff members and normal members.
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