NationStates Jolt Archive

This is something I always ask myself, since though I always make threads with polls (90% of the time), I'm never sure whether to make votes public or not on particularly touchy/divisive issues. Public polls allow for someone to proudly take a stance on an issue and/or make themselves known if they are the minority vote. It also allows thread "leaders" to call voters on their votes if they suspect they were just messing around. On the other hand, private polls allow for anonymity and ensure minority voters some protection if they don't want to be "called out" on their opinions.
So I guess there are two questions. Do you sometimes shy away from voting or temper votes on polls because they are public, or do you always proudly proclaim your views? Furthermore, which type of polling do you think is best, or do you think it depends on the poll question asked?

nope

if i was afraid of letting people know what i think what the fuck would i be doing on nsgeneral?

Depends on if the poll is one of those "how often do you beat your wife" polls or not. I've never tempered my vote because it was public, but I have avoided answering them. Of course, I've avoiding answering non-public polls when they're crap polls too.

Depends on if the poll is one of those "how often do you beat your wife" polls or not. I've never tempered my vote because it was public, but I have avoided answering them. Of course, I've avoiding answering non-public polls when they're crap polls too.

That's true. Sometimes if I don't have an opinion formulated on an issue, and a "Don't know" answer isn't given, I won't vote.

This should be a public poll.

If it's a sensitive issue, it should be private because they people won't look to see who is on the otherside and hence, the 'enemy'.

Plus, some people might just want to vote but write an opinion later.

Plus, what's the point of a vote or poll of it's public?

Nope.
This 'should' be a public poll.

Nope.
This 'should' be a public poll.
That joke is so eight minutes ago.

how can you tell what someone has voted, on a public poll that is?

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

I vote in public polls the same way I would in a hidden poll. I don't give a fuck what someone chooses to make of my responses.

As you have no idea who AB Again is, why would I care. (Actually I wouldn't care even if you did know.) So public polls are best.

The reason I avoid voting is only that there are so often no answers that make any sense. Plus, if I am voting, I am usually also posting, so it isn't like someone couldn't figure out my viewpoint anyway.

I have nothing but contempt for most of you, so I speak my mind no matter how stupid my opinion may be. Case and point: This post.

Nope, doesn't bother me.

Do you sometimes shy away from voting or temper votes on polls because they are public, or do you always proudly proclaim your views? Furthermore, which type of polling do you think is best, or do you think it depends on the poll question asked?

i always think more about my answer if it's a public poll but it doesn't ultimately discourage me from voting. i think a public poll is only really useful if there is only 2 answers and an 'other' or 'dunno' option so as you can see who sits on what side of the fence. although there's rarely ever such a clearcut response to any issue. so... meh, i dunno.

I've never quite got why people take polls on NS so seriously. If there's not a poll on a thread, there's always some chump asking for one. Whats the deal?

Depends on if the poll is one of those "how often do you beat your wife" polls or not. I've never tempered my vote because it was public, but I have avoided answering them. Of course, I've avoiding answering non-public polls when they're crap polls too.

Yeah, a crap poll, especially one with simplistic options on a complicated issue...that tends to be not voted in by me, regardless of publicity.

I've never quite got why people take polls on NS so seriously. If there's not a poll on a thread, there's always some chump asking for one. Whats the deal?

Dunno. Do a poll and ask people. ;)

Personally I never take notice of whether it's public or not. So meh, nope.

Of course not!

You've got to make your views known.

That joke is so eight minutes ago.
Joke?
I am serious.

I prefer it, frankly. This should have been a public poll, for irony.

how can you tell what someone has voted, on a public poll that is?

If you click on the hotlinked number, you see the names of those who voted for that option.

Not to date, at least that I recall anyway...

...but if I found that, for example, answering it would divulge personal information about myself that I wanted to keep private, I would.

I remember seeing a couple of polls where the question was a loaded one and it was public. The post done by the thread's creator carried the tone of 'you're either with us or against us and those who don't vote like we do will be unnecessarily harassed for having a varying opinion.'. Those types seem to be public and an attempt to weed out 'dissendants'...