Forum Polls

Are they really useful?

[fargo1999]

What do you think about forum polls? I'm thinking about programming a custom poll script for my forum, but I wonder if they are really useful and engage members in better conversations?

Another dillema - would you allow your members to create their own polls? It seems the questions/answers must be well-thought out to make sure the poll makes sense and includes objective answers. I think IF I was to have polls on my forum, I wouldn't allow members to create their own (but then they would complain, I'm sure).

[Lobo]

The whole point of a forum is to allow your users to interact, to create their thoughts and share them..

Why oh! why would you then restrict the ability to post a poll? that is so counter-productive and pointless...

If you want people just to know what you think then get yourself a blog...

[fargo1999]

why would you then restrict the ability to post a poll? that is so counter-productive and pointless...

Mostly because I feel an average user doesn't have the ability to create an useful, objective, AND related to the forum's theme/subject poll.

I wouldn't like the members to create polls like "Do you think it will rain today?" or "Who will win today's football game" etc. because they don't match the theme of my forum at all. And I'm sure if you allow to create them polls, some of them would treat it as a way to entertain themselves.

[LBmtb]

You don't want your users to entertain themselves?

[fargo1999]

You don't want your users to entertain themselves?

Your question suggest you would allow users to do whatever they wish, even if that would damage the site's theme and purpose, but if the forum is serious and on a specified topic (not "myspace-like") then yes, my goal would not be to allow them to do whatever the feel like.

I guess I've just answered my own question so I think forum polls are not very useful.

[fargo1999]

I've just found this very useful topic [webmasterworld.com...] and I agree with Brett (even though some of the "gimmicks" have actually been implemented here, but polls aren't one of them ;).

[AjiNIMC]

WebmasterWorld is different market and things keep on changing every single hour but many other sectors do not enjoy this information hunger. Polls and other add-on tools help you engage your member but remember every add-on is adding complexity. Simplicity still rules.

I have seen polls working good in implemented through a distributed system.

[rogerd]

I think polls can be useful and an interesting way to spark discussion, though I prefer to leave starting polls to mods/admins. A lot depends on your users - if the will post drivel like "What's the diameter of your bellybutton", you probably don't want them starting polls. If the are a mature and serious bunch, perhaps allowing user polls makes sense.

[AjiNIMC]

though I prefer to leave starting polls to mods/admins

I always let the community drive. I spend most of my time in providing the right platforms and asking two questions in a loop.

What is community asking for?
How can I make it simpler and simpler and simpler?
What is community asking for?
How can I make it simpler and simpler and simpler?
......

This is phase 2 when site has earned enough popularity. If a lot of members are asking for polls give it to them and make it simpler.

Thanks,
AjiNIMC

[Lobo]

Mostly because I feel an average user doesn't have the ability to create an useful, objective, AND related to the forum's theme/subject poll.

That is so condecending .. remind me never to come to your forum..

If that is your attitude towards your users straight off, I suspect you have no concept on how to build a vibrant community..

If you just want people you think can match up to your immense intellect then just contact any friends you may have to chat with, perhaps you would be better with a conference telephone call?

You don't restrict participation you get off your ass and moderate if necessary...

[edited by: Lobo at 12:13 pm (utc) on Nov. 28, 2006]

[fargo1999]

That is so condecending .. remind me never to come to your forum..
If that is your attitude towards your users straight off, I suspect you have no concept on how to build a vibrant community..

The attitude comes from experience... most users are not capable of creating a poll that makes sense and is useful for other users.

You may ask the moderators of this forum (especially pre-moderated) how many messages per day are being deleted just because they don't meet the basic forum rules. And creating a useful poll is more complex than posting a message.

[edited by: rogerd at 10:23 pm (utc) on Dec. 4, 2006]
[edit reason] TOS [/edit]

[rogerd]

A lot depends on the style of the forum. Some forums are focused and professional, and tend to require a lot of moderation (and member training) to maintain that atmosphere. In that kind of forum, you wouldn't want members starting all kinds of polls.

In forums that have a lot more open and grant members wide leeway in posting, member-initiated polls may be fine. In fact, they may tend to encourage participation by other members and even lurkers.

[AjiNIMC]

In my opinion most of the forum decision depends on the market you deal with. Tech forums will get a lot of queries and participation. I am part of few financial forums and making participation happen there is not that easy as people do not stick with forums.

In financial forums I have seen that people generally do not bother to start a poll. It is more like question & discussions.

AjiNIMC

[fargo1999]

Thanks for your useful replies. The forum I'm thinking of including polls for is not very specialized, but it focuses on a specific region (like widgetlandforum.com). In addition to on-topic, original articles, the members help each other answer specific questions about the region's laws, way of living etc.

As you noted, my little concern is that polls may distract the members from... posting. And making useful posts makes the forum useful and lively.

[Beagle]

...my little concern is that polls may distract the members from... posting.

The mid-size forum where I mod has always allowed user-created polls, and this problem has certainly never come up. The poll is always the original post of a thread, and a lot of people will take the opportunity of posting their reasons for choosing the response they did (or complaining that the response they would have chosen wasn't offered). You may get some people voting in the poll who never post at all, but it shouldn't keep people who already post from doing so.

That said, the forum is a community-building one, centered mostly around literature, which lends itself especially well to polls since people's likes and dislikes will vary and lead to some interesting and/or entertaining discussions (it's a pretty laid-back place, so entertaining is just fine). OTOH, on a technical forum that deals in facts rather than opinions, especially one not geared toward community building, I wouldn't see as much reason for them.