Stormbinder's "Improved" Clams Poll Poll

Reverend Zombie · #1 May 4th, 2004, 09:59 PM

Let's hear what you think about Stormbinder's improvement on the Clam-hoarding poll.

Kristoffer O · #2 May 4th, 2004, 10:07 PM

Norfleet · #3 May 4th, 2004, 10:59 PM

Given that Stormbind has been aggressively foisting his personal agenda against clams from day 1, and approaches it with a fervent vigor that rivals religious zeal, I'd have to say that yes, his poll does show a certain bias....as evidenced by the fact that my own vote in favor of either the status quo, or merely a slight alteration to it, is being interpreted as a call for a nerfing.

Gandalf Parker · #4 May 4th, 2004, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Reverend Zombie:
Let's hear what you think about Stormbinder's improvement on the Clam-hoarding poll.

As polls go this one is about the clearest one Ive seen here yet. (no not StormBinders, I mean THIS one)

Norfleet · #5 May 4th, 2004, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
As polls go this one is about the clearest one Ive seen here yet. (no not StormBinders, I mean THIS one)

Well, there's two options, which basically are "yes" and "no". Hard to be terribly biased there in a binary choice.

johan osterman · #6 May 6th, 2004, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Norfleet:

quote:
Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
As polls go this one is about the clearest one Ive seen here yet. (no not StormBinders, I mean THIS one)

Well, there's two options, which basically are "yes" and "no". Hard to be terribly biased there in a binary choice.

I could formulate the poll like: case 1) I believe norfleet is a crackpot, case 2) I do not have an opinion whether or not norfleet is a crackpot. This binary poll is at least somewhat biased.

Norfleet · #7 May 6th, 2004, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by johan osterman:
I could formulate the poll like: case 1) I believe norfleet is a crackpot, case 2) I do not have an opinion whether or not norfleet is a crackpot. This binary poll is at least somewhat biased.

That's because this is a trinary poll with a missing answer, not a binary poll. So of course it's biased: It is impossible to express the opinion that you firmly believe I am not a crackpot. You can only express that you believe I am, or that you don't have an opinion. The poll includes no means of expressing that you disagree completely with the assertion.

Put me down for 1, BTW.

LintMan · #8 May 6th, 2004, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Norfleet:

quote:
Originally posted by johan osterman:
I could formulate the poll like: case 1) I believe norfleet is a crackpot, case 2) I do not have an opinion whether or not norfleet is a crackpot. This binary poll is at least somewhat biased.

That's because this is a trinary poll with a missing answer, not a binary poll. So of course it's biased: It is impossible to express the opinion that you firmly believe I am not a crackpot. You can only express that you believe I am, or that you don't have an opinion. The poll includes no means of expressing that you disagree completely with the assertion.

Put me down for 1, BTW.

Here's a better example of a 2-choice biased poll:

Is the oddly-named, habitual forum poster "Norfleet" a crackpot?

1) Yes: I'm a wonderful person and I most certainly think he's a certifiable crackpot, just like any reasonable person would.
2) No: I'm an idiot who'd lose his head if it wasn't attached, and for some typically dumb reason I think Norfleet isn't a crackpot.

And if we wanted a third, "not sure", option:

3) Undecided: I don't have enough evidence to *prove* Norfleet is a crackpot. Not yet, anyway, but give me time... I'm watching him.

No offense intended, Norfleet!

The lead-in wording and the little descriptions following the yes/no/maybe make all the difference!

-LintMan

Norfleet · #9 May 6th, 2004, 06:51 AM

I think we should make this an actual poll.

Stormbinder · #10 May 6th, 2004, 07:23 AM

LOL!

Interesting poll Reverend Zombie.

62 vs 38 is not bad, in fact better than I expected when I saw your topic.

However I have to say that your own poll is definetly somewhat biased. To better represent people opinion it should have another option number 2, something like "Stormbinder's poll is slightly biased" If this would be the case, than personally I would honestly vote for this option myself.

(mostly because I feel now that I should indeed include another 5th opinion in my Clams poll, such as "I don't have opinion one way or another about clams, period!" )

Seriosly though, it's easy to be a critic.

I have already asked Josef, and I am asking KristofferO as well - could you tell us please how would you modify that poll to make is absolutely not biased? I fell that 2nd option there (I wouldn't mind having clams toned down to satisfy people who complain) is important one to have in any none-biased poll, but if you want to throw it away that's ok.

Let's put together one final clam poll to end all clam polls, absolutely non-biased, developers approved, politically correct, et cetera...

[ May 06, 2004, 06:28: Message edited by: Stormbinder ]