Re: I wish we could do away with the 5-star poll

In article <4r2dncCXvoitzoDVnZ2dnUVZ_oqhnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
 btm@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 (Brad Templeton) wrote:

> In article <mesp14tjbojfb3jrn1gds7fm4enru6sboi@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
> EGK  <me@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> >On Sat, 03 May 2008 22:51:23 GMT, s0183616 <s0183616@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> >
> >>Anim8rFSK wrote:
> >>> In article <gNednVfB6oU2N4HVnZ2dnUVZ_judnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
> >>>  btm@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 (Brad Templeton) wrote:
> >>> 
> >>>> I probably won't get my way, but I hate the 5-star poll.
> >>> 
> >>> The 5-Star poll rocks!
> >>> 
> >>> George Rocks!
> >>
> >>For not knowing George at all, I really like him.  He's good peeps,
I'm 
> >>thinking.
> >
> >I used to take part in the Buffy the Vampire slayer group.  Geroge and
I
> >disagreed quite often.  When the show switched from The WB to UPN, I
lost
> >the show because the cable here didn't carry UPN.   George was the
first
> >person to offer to help me out by sending me VHS tapes.    That was
back
> >before DVD and downloads had really taken off.   He's a good guy.
> 
> I'm sure he's a great guy, and it's nice to see reverse ad hominem on
> USENET since it usually is the other way around.  But I make no comment
> on the person in question.   I am being critical of the poll.
> 
> When newsgroups get busy, and you come in to see 200 messages, the only
> way to deal with it is the fact that the messages are grouped into
> threads, ideally with subjects, and you can pick and choose what you
> will read and not read the rest. 
> 
> Of course, it's never quite that good.  Threads drift, people post
> threads with poorly chosen subjects and so on.   But we should at
> least strive to it, and avoid going deliberately the other way.
> 
> That's what the poll does.  It's not just the sprinkling of meaningless
> posts with just votes in them.   It's the fact that it groups lots of
> different discussion threads into one big thread with a title that gives
> effectively no information other than what episode it is.
> 
> There is no need to stimulate discussion in a group about a current,
> popular show.  When each episode airs, lots of people come here to
> express their opinions, questions and reviews.   There is no need to
> ask "What did you think of that one?"

absolute nonsense.  The polls start most of the good discussions.
> 
> But if there is, I would think the group would be improved if the
> posting went:
> 
>     "Place your vote on the quality of [episode] by going
>     to [URL].   If you wish to make comments on the episode, feel
>     free to start a thread -- don't follow up this stub article."

you'd be wrong
> 
> And then set the Followup-to: header to a garbage string to reinforce
> that.

-- 
Star Trek 09:

No Shat, No Show.