Anime polls and the rules

[Kraco]

While I love Gotwoot's strict anime related discussion rules, it has occurred to me, after seeing a couple of doomed examples, that the current rules leave no room at all for any manner of polls (like Best Couple, Toughest Mecha, etc.). This is of course a natural consequence of the 'one thread per series' policy. En Fuego actually would allow any number of polls for the select series in that category, but the number of series there is exceedingly limited by default.

So, I thought to ask here whether Gotwooters would desire such an option in some form, like another subsection in General Anime that would be reserved for nothing but polls. It would naturally have thread naming conventions allowing for easy identification of what particular series is in question. The main General Anime forum itself will never be a host to a random number of poll threads.

Please note this thread is in no way sanctioned by the admins, so no matter the results, nothing might still happen.

[Nadouku]

I agree that having another subforum for polls is a good idea, since polls are prone to abusive categories like "Best Couple?" or "Strongest Fighter in Anime History." Those general categories of poll should be separated and kept under control from the General Anime section.

[Death BOO Z]

what, a forum with only polls?

sounds like a spoiler alert. since any discussion about a poll between characters of different anime would lead to spoiling something (even if it's not about the manga, it can also be about an end of a series I haven't seen yet).

still, I'm in for it.

[Kraco]

It would still be under the same rules as General Anime itself (just like En Fuego is), being another subforum there. So, it wouldn't contain any spoilers as such, except naturally spoilers for people who haven't watched some series or are lagging behind the most recent subbed episodes. But that would equal to reading the most recent discussion from any series thread, and as such wouldn't really be a spoiler technically.

Polls are kind of easy and cheap, compared to the "deep" discussion our current rules only allow, and thus might generate extra action that now is missing. Plus they would be episode independent, thus allowing people to participate even if they are late, unlike the episode threads that are heavily centered around the latest ep. Though being episode independent does not mean they would be allowed to contain spoilers (options not yet introduced in the subbed anime).

[Archangel]

I'm not sure...

If you've ever been to animeforum.com you know how those polls can get fucking annoying.

I'm cool with it as long as the categories don't get exceedingly retarded. Just stuff like "Best couple" or "Who would win in a fight"

[Death BOO Z]

suggestion for a poll:

who would you ask for help when you go shopping for a valentines day present for your girlfriend?

1. Naruto (Naruto)
2. Claire (Claymore)
3. Brook (One Piece)
4. Haruhi (Haruhi)

I just want to make sure, that I get the first dibs on the most irrelevant poll .

[Ryllharu]

sounds like a spoiler alert. since any discussion about a poll between characters of different anime would lead to spoiling something (even if it's not about the manga, it can also be about an end of a series I haven't seen yet).

This would be my concern as well. The section would have to end up as something like the Naruto Open Discussion, where all users are forewarned that there will be spoilers aplenty. Any discussion afterwards of the results (the most fun part of polls) would be rife with spoilers. There really can't be a way to avoid them when members are attempting to persuade everyone else that the results are bullshit

Polls like "best Rie Kugimiya tsundere" are just asking for that sort of discussion.

Aside from that, I'm all for it.

[shinta|hikari]

I agree with it completely. I once tried to make a "favorite couple" poll for Minami-ke (don't get me wrong, I personally don't like couple polls, but Minami-Ke pairings are mainly for comedy rather than anything cheesy) not knowing it was against the rules and it got merged.

However, there should be a rule that will limit the possibility of spoiling the story for some people, like not allowing possible spoilers (even hints) in thread titles, or citing the latest episode or chapter that is included as material in the poll.

An example would be:

Favorite Kara no Kyoukai Girl (as of episode/movie 5)

This labeling will prevent spoiling for people who do not wish to read about any characters that they have yet to see.

[Board of Command]

Favorite Kara no Kyoukai Girl (as of episode/movie 5)

How can you have a poll with only one option?

I'm not strictly against the idea of polls, but I just don't see them working out due to spoilers and whatnot.

[Buffalobiian]

It doesn't matter to me, as long as the title signals potential spoilers, and doesn't contain any in itself (as Shinta & others suggest).

I'll be a bugger to browse the "new posts today" section to see "Poll: How did Naruto die?" (I made that up. Sorry if that's true )

[Kraco]

Hmm... I never really considered the spoiling issue to be any issue at all, but I certainly do see Bill's point there. But by following strict naming conventions, like Shinta said, it could be mostly avoided. Gotwooters are well accustomed to the draconian rules in general, so I don't see why polls as such would cause much extra trouble.

If you've ever been to animeforum.com you know how those polls can get fucking annoying.

What comes to this, the idea would be to have them in their own subforum, so basically you didn't even need to see them unless you went there. However, it would be easy to post a link directly to a poll thread in the main series discussion thread as well.

[shinta|hikari]

How can you have a poll with only one option?

Check my avatar and sig, and you will realize how hard a choice it is for me. It is even to the point that I am not sure who you are referring to, though my guess would be the main character.

It seems that the Yes vote is winning by a landslide, though that is to be expected.

[Munsu]

Even with naming convensions and spoiler rules for thread titles still in effect, I don't think it would work very well. Because even if a thread title isn't consider spoiler, it has the potential to spoil a ton of people because not everyone can keep up with all the series they're interested in and up to the latest episode at that. So I would think even stricter spoiler rules would need to be in place... a new definition of what is considered spoiler (and I think it'll be quite hard to moderate).

I've never been a fan of polls, so I'm not enamored with the idea... but it might be worth a shot with a good system in place.

[Kraco]

If spoiling material in the poll thread titles is forbidden, it shouldn't be a problem. After that, people could only select to visit threads of series they are sufficiently up to date with. After all, you are assured to spoil yourself with the discussion threads as well if you don't keep up with the releases - and that system still works nearly perfectly.

And while such would appear, I still wouldn't expect all the polls to cover multiple series.

[Archangel]

Maybe create another subforum for manga polls and anime polls?

I've never been a fan of polls, so I'm not enamored with the idea...

You're never a fan of any of the suggestions on this subforum O_o

You're too negative dude

[Munsu]

If spoiling material in the poll thread titles is forbidden, it shouldn't be a problem. After that, people could only select to visit threads of series they are sufficiently up to date with. After all, you are assured to spoil yourself with the discussion threads as well if you don't keep up with the releases - and that system still works nearly perfectly.

And while such would appear, I still wouldn't expect all the polls to cover multiple series.

My only problem is to what is considered a spoiler in a thread title? Because by definition, if it has been revealed already in a fansub, then it's not considered a spoiler... so how do you protect people who aren't up to date with a series and have no intentions of entering the thread and risk being spoiled? They're still exposed to the thread title with it still being within our spoiler rules. Is this worth worrying about? I know we can run into the same sort of problem with the Series en Fuego, but overall we pick series that have good release paces and are watched by most around here. Is this a concern?

And Archangel, shut the fuck up. Most, if not all of your suggestions are a piece of shit.

[shinta|hikari]

Well, one option is to make the poll title quite vague, and putting the more detailed description of the poll in the first post.

Example:

Spice and Wolf (1st season) and Code Geass (1st season) VA poll

Then on the first post:

Which character was voiced better even if they were done by the same VA/Seiyuu?

Holo
Kallen

I know this is very rough example, but I think you guys get the point.

In this thread, people can then cite events or lines that were said during the 1st season of Spice and Wolf and 1st season of Code Geass to justify their choices. Anything that comes from other sources, such as Code Geass R2, will be considered a spoiler.

I know this poses the problem of the thread titles being too vague, but clicking and checking the 1st post should not be an arduous task for anyone.

[darkshadow]

vague? why not more precise, like "blablalba poll"[code geass -09] , that way ppl will know that the poll would cover up till ep nine of said series.

[Buffalobiian]

vague? why not more precise, like "blablalba poll"[code geass -09] , that way ppl will know that the poll would cover up till ep nine of said series.

I like this idea. Only problem with that (and any other poll system we'll implement) is that you can get:

Hottest Girl Gundam [First Season]
Hottest Girl Gundam [Second season Episode 2]
Hottest Girl Gundam [Second season Episode 6]
Hottest Girl Gundam [Second Season Episode 7]
Hottest Girl Gundam [Second Season Episode 10]
Hottest Girl Gundam [All Gundam as of 9/2/09]

[darkshadow]

true, maybe there should be some sort of minimum limit how far in certain topics can be made, like hottest girl only from like the midway point or something.