[DG2] - Private vs Public polls

[DaveShack]

Please continue / update the discussion on whether polls should be private or public here.

We did have previous discussions and polls on this issue during DG1. My opinion is that the previous threads carry way too much baggage to continue there, it would be better to start fresh.

My position is to require all binding polls to be public except those which are not required to be private (the ones about individuals). My reasoning for taking this position is:

In the DG we are simulating a government where we the citizens are acting as the legislators. Every legislative body I'm aware of has "on the record" votes, all the way from the local school board up to the UN Security Council. Legislators are held accountable for their actions.

I have nothing to hide. I would never argue in favor of one side of a poll and then vote the other way to try to fool people -- if my position is changed by the discussion, I will say it has been changed and why. I'm quite willing to vote for the losing side of a poll in order to vote my principles, and I have nothing to fear from someone trying to use my voting record to gain an advantage against me.

When we have an election, a candidates voting record is one of the things I take into account. There have been times when I've been backstabbed by people who say they are in favor of something and argue quite strongly for it but then vote the other way. They are entitled to change their opinion and say why, but in some cases the idea might have died in discussion if there hadn't been that support. That doesn't mean that crossing me results in permanent damage, but I might support the other candidate for an election or two.

I also like to use voting records to find out a little about citizens civ skills, especially the ones who aren't very vocal in the forum.

One last thing, in a public poll we can see who has and hasn't voted. It's useful information to track interest in the game from the lurkers, and sometimes a comment can influence the undecided, if you know who they are.

 

[donsig]

I've got nothing against DaveShack or anyone else posting public polls. Heck, I'll even vote in them. But there may be times when a private poll would be better than a public poll so we should allow them to be used. We now have a user group to prevent double log-ins from skewing a poll vote. We use private polls for elections. Therefore they must not be entirely evil.

Restricting the use of private polls (in other words making a rule that says we can't use private polls or can only use them when a specific member is affected or some such criteria) would cause me to lose interest in this game.

 

[Furiey]

As long as Private polls are used when an individual is affected (eg: elections etc) I feel it is best to leave whether other polls are Public or Private up to the person posting them. Public polls do give information on how people are really voting, but I do not feel that is essential particulalry as we now have the user group. Leave the option open, if someone always posts Private polls that will also tell you something about them.

 

[Cyc]

Nice to see you again, Furiey.

Sorry donsig, but this has always been a major difference in the way you and I play a DG (and unfortunately Ravensfire also). But I agree with DS here. Yes, DS. I know it's hard to believe, I almost can't believe it myself...

To me, the game of the peole should be an open game. All polls should be public. If you've got the huevos to vote for an issue OR a person, you should have the huevos to stand behind your vote. Not lurk in the shadows, hoping no one saw you vote. Period.

I will mark this day on my calendar, DS. The days are few and far between when we actually agree on something, or I don't suspect something hidden in your agenda. But I could have written your post above. I commend you.

How's that for baggage?

 

[GenMarshall]

Keep polls strictly private when dealing with election based polls and other polls that deals with the poster(s) in question. The rest of the polls can be public.

 

[donsig]

To me, the game of the peole should be an open game. All polls should be public. If you've got the huevos to vote for an issue OR a person, you should have the huevos to stand behind your vote. Not lurk in the shadows, hoping no one saw you vote. Period.

I would agree with that if we actually made all polls (including elections) public but since we leave the door open for private election polls we should leave it open for other sensitive issues as well.

Now here's a question: Do forum rules really mandate that our election polls must be private? Remember that we have a nomination process where we require the candidates to accept nomination so they know what they're getting into. Rememeber also that this is a private forum and we could possibly get exceptions made to forum rules. If the only reason we use private polls in elections is because of forum rules then let's talk to Thunderfall and see if our elections can be public polls.

If there are other reasons for having private elections then I submit that those reasons are just as valid for other sensitive polls and therefore private polls should be allowed.

 

[Falcon02]

Personally fairly indifferent on the issue myself, I understand the desire to have private polls for elections. Especially given a precedent in real life of secret ballots for elections.

However, I don't feel strongly one way or another about the issue...