"Proposal to Restrict Poll Topics" Topic

I concur. Favorite bands and albums ad infinitum and current celebrities are way off topic, even if the Kraken is mentioned in a lame attempt to rope it back in.

Polls should be restricted to wargaming topics,

Does that include a ban on Polls on individual members?
I remember a Poll on restricting Connard Sage to one Poll Suggestion per day, which I thought was a mean-spirited invitation to personal attacks.
There were also a series of similar mean-spirited Polls about some other TMP member, whose name slips my mind.

Perhaps if Polls were restrcited to gaming topics, such personal attack Polls would not surface.

I would hate to see the non-wargaming Polls disappear, but if that's the only way to eliminate the "Let's all gang up on ZombieKing 32!", let's do it.

I don't like restrictions much. But this may be one exception. Don't much like proposals to ban things, either.

I don't want the non-gaming topics banned (surprise, eh ?).

I find then no worse than (say) napoleonics mudslinging or dull dull dull zombie topics. I just ignore napoleonics mudslinging or dull dull dull zombie topics, don't see why others can't ignore polls they don't like.

Oh, but 20thmaine, don't you see that some folks just can't abide the notion that you might want to discuss something they aren't currently interested in…and have the ability to do so. Best to take other people's fun away.

Does that include a ban on Polls on individual members?

No, as they are considered wargamers.

To quote Chairman Mao: "Letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend is the policy for promoting progress in the arts and the sciences and a flourishing socialist culture in our land."

Restricting poll topics would have the Chairman spinning in his grave. (And trust me, where he is he doesn't need to generate any more heat!)

But there's another part of TMP for discussing non-gaming related things like your favourite album or band (or so I've heard). So can't such polls go there as well?

Does that include a ban on Polls on individual members?

No, as they are considered wargamers.

so..

Favorite bands and albums ad infinitum and current celebrities are way off topic,

are allowed as they are soundtracks for games we play.

Had the idea of two poll sections, just as there is a split between marketplace (sales, auctions) and Exchanges (trades). Not proposing that Bill do this, because it seems like it is unneeded work for Bill, and still won't satisfy everyone – is topic X really "strictly gaming related" or does it belong in the other poll? Is the poll about your mother having worn combat boots one that belongs in the "other" poll, or in wargaming as it gave you an appreciation for movement of individuals in combat foot gear that you use in your skirmish gaming?

I say that flawed as it is, any "fix" will be worse.

My .02,

JJ

Of the three polls today, I voted no opinion on the one that was actually wargame related. That tells me something. As to the off topic polls, I have a very strong opinion. That should tell you something.
<insert the late Rodney King voiceover>
Caint we all jus getalong?
<exit the late Rodney King voiceover>

I find then no worse than (say)… dull dull dull zombie topics

Zombies would be wargaming-related.

Never said zombies weren't proper wargaming topics – just because they don't exist there's no reason not to discuss their relative capabilities and which ways will kill them (even though, as noted, they don't actually exist).

Just said I find the majority of zombie threads dull – and so generally ignore them. Generally.

Also not very interested in sparkly vampires – but others might be.

Can we discuss / poll on Dr John albums as several reference gris gris and general occult zombie raisng jive? As obliquely linked to zombie's they surely are viewable as wargaming source material.

I Presume Alice Cooper will be ok for the same reasons. And anything Beethoven dedicated to Napoleon ? Period source material again.

Does that include a ban on Polls on individual members?

No, as they are considered wargamers.

So, mean-spirited personal attack Polls would still be allowed?
OK. I just changed my vote.

So, mean-spirited personal attack Polls would still be allowed?

Mean-spirited personal attack polls are never allowed.

Polls should be restricted to wargaming topics, as per general discussion on the main message boards.

Note that this would allow…

1. wargaming-related movie polls (since they can be discussed on the various media boards, per previous poll)
2. wargaming-related utter drivel polls (since this can be discussed on the Utter Drivel board)
3. anything related to TMP and this community (since this can be discussed on TMP Talk)

It would prevent…

1. music polls (unless the music is wargaming-related)
2. celebrity polls (unless wargaming-related)

Why not just do away with polls completely and make em all mad?

Mean-spirited personal attack polls are never allowed.

You could fool me.

I second the OFM.

This poll isn't about wargaming.

Hmm, given the editor's examples of what counts as "wargaming related" above, I withdraw my suggestion as nigh-on meaningless once interpreted as it has been….

Hmm, given the editor's examples of what counts as "wargaming related" above, I withdraw my suggestion as nigh-on meaningless once interpreted as it has been…

Is there another way to interpret your proposal?

Don't really mind the off topic polls occasionally, but some individuals propose topics in a manner that amounts to Spamming. This does get tiring and should be limited, if not banned outright. Personal attacks, of course should never be allowed in a poll. No excuses. However, banning topics is not really a good answer. Banning the abusers of poll topics might be the answer.

The Editor wrote:

1. music polls (unless the music is wargaming-related)

Which Sex Pistols' track would you most like as a background to a game?

…as to Zombies not existing…we made a good case for being Zombies in Iraq.
and there was a unit on Baghdad – the ZES – Zombie execution Squad. It has a great patch.

If someone doesn't like a poll…then don't look at it or just say no.

"If someone doesn't like a poll…then don't look at it.."

But…But, that would require self restraint and maturity! Surely we can have none of that.

I have a number of thoughts and observations:

First, if only wargaming topics are permitted, then that means that polls about board, card, and computer wargames would be permitted, despite not being miniatures related. This is The Miniatures Page. If we are going limit polls to stay on subject, then only miniatures gaming subjects should be permitted.

Next, I am not a wargamer. I'm a miniatures gamer, not a wargamer. Since I am not a wargamer, TMP cannot have polls about me or others like me, as we are miniatures gamers, not wargamers. Just wanted to get that out there.

Next next, I play music as a component of my miniatures games (note not wargames, but miniatures games, as in The MINIATURES Page, not The Wargaming Page). So, music polls should be allowed as music is directly related to miniatures.

Some more next, I play miniatures (note: not war) games that are set in miniature jungles. To create the miniature jungles I researched palms, ferns, and cycads, such that I might make realistic looking miniature palms, ferns, and cycads. These needed to be realistic, as my games are realistic, unlike wargames, which we have long established on TMP as being unrealistic. Anyway, palms, ferns, and cycads are thus part of miniatures gaming and should be permitted as subjects for polls.

More other next, I had to expand my knowledge of calculus when studying the loss of penetration by long rod kinetic penetrators due to the bending stress imposed on the penetrators during engagement with armor. Thus calculus is part of miniatures gaming and should be an eligable subject for polls.

Extra more other next, pizza should be okay for polls, as pizza is often a part of the miniatures gaming process. (Except pizza with pineapple, as that is just wrong.)

Additional extra more other next, though beer is not part of my miniatures gaming, it does seem to be a part of some miniatures gaming, thus beer should be a good topic for polls.

Second, Politics and religion are associated with both past and present (and probably future) events, about which, miniatures games are played. Thus, clearly, politics and relion should be good topics for polls.

Slightly beyond second, my cats sometimes sleep on my miniature gaming terrain. Cleaning the fur from the terrain is required to permit continued use of the terrain, thus discussion of cat fur is a part of miniatures gaming and should be permitted as poll topics.

Well beyond second, but not nearly to third, sometimes I prime my miniatures (though I never prime wargames) on our picnic table as the toxic fumes from the can of primer cause less distress to me when sprayed outside, than when sprayed inside the house. Thus picnic tables are a part of miniatures gaming and should be a lovely topic for polls.

Third is now in sight. There are a lot of things that are related to the miniatures gaming hobby. Do we really need a set of TMP rules that read like tax law to govern what we talk about here?

If so, then I have a whole bunch more (like a gazillion) things to qualify for polls on TMP. Things like fuzzy nut chuckers, my neighbor's kids, the Dallas Cowboys, mashed potatos…

By the way, how do you know if you don't like a poll, if you don't look at it?

Sometimes I think that there's a tranche of TMPers who won't be happy until everyone is sitting down in rows, hair combed, wearing a tie and with their blazers freshly brushed.

I seem to hear them (behind the shuffling of the zombie feet) "Lets make the poll suggestions as serious as the napoleonic boards, where never is heard a discouraging word and all is peace and light and academically sound". Then all those ultra-serious and histroically sound WH40K guys and Starb wars fans nod their silent agreement, whilst the people who don't like the WRG Ancients board (because they only play FoW) sharpen the stakes and ready the wooden mallets. Yes, it's time to kill fun. Let's do it !

I'm willing to treat TMP that way the day The Editor (may he live forever) says that's the way he wants TMP. Until then, well….until then….

Which Sex Pistols' track would you most like as a background to a game?

More likely, "Which WWII movie soundtrack do you prefer to listen to while painting?"

First, if only wargaming topics are permitted, then that means that polls about board, card, and computer wargames would be permitted, despite not being miniatures related.

As I understand Dom's proposal, the same rules that apply to the main forum would also apply to polls. That means no topics regarding non-miniatures games, as those are relegated to the TMP Plus forum.

Although there are non-miniature game topics on the main forums, even some that were started today.

But that's maybe 50 posts out of what, 100,000 today ?

Is that a serious problem ?

I suppose if amongst the hundreds of new threads daily a single poll on "The Alan Parson's Project" is a really serious issue (and the way this poll is going that would seem to be the case) then the odd stray boardgame thread is also a very serious problem.

That's a lot more forum policing for someone to do.

Which Sex Pistols' track would you most like as a background to a game?

More likely, "Which WWII movie soundtrack do you prefer to listen to while painting?"

Better chance of me listening to the Buzzcocks or the Sex Pistols, as I own more of them than WWII soundtracks.

I think it's time to stop trying to control other people and their fun.

I think it's time to stop trying to control other people and their fun.

Then you better mobilize your "get out the vote" efforts.

I seem to remember this Poll coming up once or twice before.
Do we keep voting something until we get the "RIGHT" answer?
what if someone starts a Poll Suggestion to negate THIS Poll?
Would you run it, and how soon?

No, *I* am NOT going to suggest it. I am no longer in the Poll Suggestion business, for reasons that shuld be pretty obvious. For the Dense, I feel that ANY POLL which has as its premise the controlling of a TMP Member is a personal attack, and a violation of TMP rules.
Hmmm. I just ahd a bright idea for a Poll suggestion. I will break my boycitt this once. After all, a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.

I voted no, as I wouldn't want to eliminate the "off-topic" polls altogether, but I am in the camp that would like to see all non-wargaming polls in TMP Plus. I'd also move TMP Talk there as well, as these two boards seem to generate most of the non-"miniatures gaming" related traffic. Then those who want a gaming-only site (BTW, I'm not one of them) can switch off that side.

I think the polls should be kept to 'gaming' related topics.

I have to admit that I am getting hacked off trawling through all polls for the favourite album from a band, or favourite vampire movie, best band of the 70's & celebs to feed the kraken etc.

Whoever is submitting these is obviously bored with too much time on their hands.

I visit TMP less than I used to because of the increasing amount of non wargaming noise that does not interest me

My choice entirely of courseo, others will choose differently. However if 70's bands is your area of interest TMP is probably not an obvious choice of forum to go for a discusson on the subject

Hey Dave, I felt the same way myself last Fall – I had all boards turned on. So what I did was simply turn off all the boards I didn't want to see. I've restricted myself to most of the WWII boards and some other wargame related boards.

While I have many of the general boards turned on, I have the biggest chest thumping noise makers, TMA Talk and Poll Suggestions, turned off (though I do look at the polls and enjoy the silly non-hobby related ones, though there are too many of them, IMO).

I have practically no noise whatsoever now. The only thing is, it takes a little while to go through all the boards on each group.
--
Tim

"So what I did was simply turn off all the boards I didn't want to see."

This.

Then turn off the polls from your layout.
--
Tim

I'm fine with the status quo.

The only thing is, it takes a little while to go through all the boards on each group.

If you don't want to see any of the Napoleonic boards (for example), it is simpler to just remove Napoleonics from your member preferences in Settings. That will keep all Napoleonic content off your homepage (including Hobby News stories).

Do we keep voting something until we get the "RIGHT" answer?

Yes