What is the purpose of a poll?

[astral brick]

Resuming the considerations related to the current role of blogs - please refer to my previous post “Are forums still relevant when compared to comments” - and hoping that this time the discussion will be kept on-topic, noticing blogs’ periodic polls I can’t help wondering what I am looking at.

An indirect message addressed to a company? A childish plea that wants to emphasize customers’ wishes for the release of a certain product, fantasizing about to be heard, hoping to modify millionaire investments and long-term business strategies? Or am I in front of a market survey with a friendly appearance, a cheap way to test the appeal of potential new projects?

As I mentioned, popular blogs will always give rise to these doubts, regarding who is really deciding the agenda of the posts. And yet, it is so difficult not to be tempted to push that vote button.

[Vindicare]

To gauge an interest from the general public. Or, in this case, the fan community. I reckon most blogs/fan sites do them for more as opposed to actual market research, but the information could be seen by TLG. Most polls are usually 1,000+/- & the most recent “what should the next license theme be” on Brickset has 7817 voters, a pretty decent sized pool. 

[astral brick]

16 hours ago, Vindicare said:

... the most recent “what should the next license theme be” on Brickset has 7817 voters, a pretty decent sized pool. 

And wouldn't it be better if these polls were held in a forum, a more democratic instrument than a blog?

[Lyichir]

I certainly don't think polls are really that useful for getting feedback for Lego corporate, since they have other ways of getting product feedback that are probably more representative of their overall audience (of which AFOLs who frequent fansites are but a portion). Same goes for most petitions, especially ones calling for a significant change in Lego's business operations.

But what they can be good at is gauging interest and perspectives WITHIN the community itself. I think AFOLs often underestimate the value of community upkeep and feedback. Polls and surveys can allow the community a better understanding of its demographics, a better perspective on how it can best serve its existing members, and a better view of what areas of the community could be improved to attract new members. That can range from specific goal-oriented polling (regarding decisions such as how discussions could best be organized) to a more general check-in to see what other members of the community think of new ideas or developments in Lego news.

[astral brick]

3 hours ago, Lyichir said:

I certainly don't think polls are really that useful for getting feedback for Lego corporate...

Aside the intentional rhetoric of the title, judging by the replies, the thread is risking to derail (again). I apologize if I weren't clear enough. As I stated in the conclusion, the point that I would like to stress is that forums are being left behind by blogs. Sadly, this is the same thing that already happened to newsgroups, and on each passage people lose a bit of freedom of speech, that is an essential feature of democracy.

From the maximum liberty - bordering of anarchy - of the non-moderated newsgroups (in my opinion the only possible form of ng and the true essence of usenet) to forums - naturally moderated and where a minority has the power to limit or close a discussion - and nowadays to comments, often sterile soliloquies whose topics' order is decided by a handful of people or maybe only one person, more and more exposed to the risk of becoming an echo chamber of a company instead of giving voice to fans/customers (or the opposite? and today is there a difference anymore?).

The future appears even darker, if the world wide web hemorrhage of homepages/sites/blogs - or whatever you want to call them - in favour of social networks, where the various page-owners, if not-aligned, will have to face, in a sort of poetic justice, the irrevocable judgment of a founder (an entrepreneur, not a hobbyist, fan of anything but profits growth).   

At the same time, I also understand that it is very difficult to resist to the sirens of this so-called progress, in which internet democracy is at stake. Forums had colorful graphics and easier access than newgroups and they won. And now dropping comments or participating to a poll in a blog is even easier than subscribing a forum, reading the rules, learning how to use its tools, starting a discussion or debating with someone, ultimately having a personal opinion about subjects not decided from above.

Apparently many people are happy to let the burden of choices to others, without realizing that this act implies to lose their liberties day by day.     

[TeriXeri]

10 hours ago, astral brick said:

Aside the intentional rhetoric of the title, judging by the replies, the thread is risking to derail (again). I apologize if I weren't clear enough. As I stated in the conclusion, the point that I would like to stress is that forums are being left behind by blogs.

And the reverse is also happening, where Blogs comments are being replaced by Forums : 

See Blizzard Entertainment (makers of Overwatch)

" Over the next few weeks, we’ll be transitioning blog comments over to our new forums. At that time all historical blog comments will be lost. During the transition, you can still join the conversation by heading over to our General Discussion Forums. "

 

As for Polls on blogs, I never treat them as 100% facts, but more of a general direction, as it really varies per website, and most polls are snapshots of a certain moment.

If no proper measures are taken, polls can be easily abused by newly created accounts.

Still, LEGO uses polls to decide some sets, like the IDEAS ISS vote.

Or if some "famous" (in social media terms) person posts like a link or site to vote on (LEGO IDEAS for example) , the traffic of people could be very different from the already established "community". 

The review phase is an extra measure for IDEAS to not just create everything that gets to 10000.

Now that doesn't mean that IDEAS that get to 10000 is easy, but in a case where something would reach 10000 in 1 day it would get suspicous.

Social media has a big bandwagon mentality, and some people just too easily follow everything some youtuber/facebook/instagram says, even regarding LEGO, with the whole 501st battlepack spam getting to a point of being annoying.

 

Edited March 27, 2020 by TeriXeri

[dr_spock]

Poll in blogs can be an easy quick way to collect your reader's reaction to your specific blog post without them having to leave a comment and then you having to read through the comments and collect stats by interpreting their comments. As with any stats, take it with a grain (or a lump) of salt.

[Merlict]

On 3/27/2020 at 2:36 AM, astral brick said:

Apparently many people are happy to let the burden of choices to others, without realizing that this act implies to lose their liberties day by day.     

Uhhh you ok there?