RationalWiki talk:To do list/Pointless polls

I was clicking around and clicked “I don’t care” so you might want to disregard that one vote. 167.123.240.35 (talk) 06:20, 23 April 2010 (UTC)

I don't get it.

What's the joke, ADK? What could possibly be so funny that it justifies denying Babylon 5, greatest show on Earth, room to shine?--User:Brxbrx/sig 00:53, 26 October 2011 (UTC)

Because we need Worf vs. Chewbacca. We need Kirk vs. Han. We need to see Data rip Threepio apart. We need to see Jar-Jar and Wesley commit mutual suicide. We need to pit the Death Star vs. a Borg Cube. It's what we do. Ty^talk 00:55, 26 October 2011 (UTC)

And, if you're going to include Babylon 5 then why not Blakes 7 or The Tomorrow People which, if you happen to be a Brit of a certain age... Well, as regards Blake's 7, Servilan warped the sexuality of many a young lad. Bad Faith (talk) 13:19, 26 October 2011 (UTC)

Since people didn't seem to get the idea of just playing those two off each other (Babylon 5 is a big pile of shit, by the way) I've changed the poll. Add whatever the hell you like to it. Seriously. Make 100 options. Make 1000. Push the actual extension to the limits of what it can happily cope with. ADK^{...I'll erect your tomato!} 13:29, 26 October 2011 (UTC)

I'll forgive that if it's a reference to Spaced, even if Spaced is live-action Family Guy. Otherwise, as soon as I get the money I'm flying to England, finding you, and sodomizing everything you hold dear: I'll buttfuck your pets, I'll buttfuck your friends, I'll buttfuck your parents, and I'll even buttfuck your potted plants and furniture. You don't think it's possible to bugger (as you Brits say) plants and furniture? Watch me. I'm creative.--User:Brxbrx/sig 13:50, 26 October 2011 (UTC)

To be honest, the joke is on you for being such a nerd. ADK^{...I'll steal your peanut!} 13:54, 26 October 2011 (UTC)

I is what I am--User:Brxbrx/sig 19:08, 30 October 2011 (UTC)

Well that was a waste of a poll...

Really, am I the lone HP fan here? :( Osaka Sun (talk) 03:00, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

Looks like it. The only massive HP fan I know is 10, although my dad does quite like the unrelated HP sauce. Peter ^{talk, or type, or whatever...} 03:03, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

(EC)No, it's just the competition was too big. It's like asking "Which is the better musical, Avenue Q or Les Mis?" I love Avenue Q but you just can't beat Les Mis. Blue (pester) 03:04, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

LotR is boring.--User:Brxbrx/sig 03:21, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

Hm? Even though I vastly prefer Rowling it's tough to call LotR boring. Osaka Sun (talk) 03:38, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

This comic should explain what Brx was trying to do. Peter ^{talk, or type, or whatever...} 03:40, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

No matter what anyone thinks of each set of books, nobody seriously disputes that Tolkien could run literary circles around Rowling. ListenerX^TalkerX 03:53, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

I'm sorry, Peter. I find Lord of the Rings to be boring. I read the books, watched the films, read the Hobbit, a good chunk of the Silmarillion, the Unfinished Tales, and several lore/bestiary books based off of Tolkien's notes- and if given the choice I would not go through with it again. Or maybe I would. Back when I used to read a lot, I didn't have much else to do. These days I rarely read. The last book I finished was The Holocaust Industry and I've been a third of the way through Confederacy of Dunces for months now, and I see no signs of picking it up again. Also, I have ADHD. I can't even do things I find interesting without getting bored and walking away.--User:Brxbrx/sig 04:02, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

The point I was trying to make is that saying 'LotR is boring' is the most basic of trolling technique - your qualification of your point has nuance, but you didn't exactly show that when you typed the above. It certainly looked like trolling in that form. Peter ^{talk, or type, or whatever...} 04:05, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

You're right. It's difficult to properly express an opinion in two words and an acronym. I didn't feel like taking the time to explain myself and should have expected your response. At least we've cleared this up (right?).--User:Brxbrx/sig 04:14, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

I actually agree with Brx here. I read the first Lord of the Rings (can't remember what happened in it) and gave up at the beginning of the second because I found it so dull. HP FTW. Sam ^Tally-ho! 06:29, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

My first attempt through Lord of the Rings, I also stopped at the beginning of The Two Towers; I did not get through the whole thing until several years later, when I was a freshman at college and found an old copy at a used bookstore near campus. The Two Towers gets much better after the first few chapters, when Aragorn and his companions are rejoined by Gandalf. ListenerX^TalkerX 06:39, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

Around the time I first read LoTR I also read War and Peace, which may explain why I don't think it's all that bad. I much prefer the part of The Two Towers when Aragorn &co feature than the Frodo and Sam section. Peter ^{talk, or type, or whatever...} 06:58, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

Would it be double trolling to say that I cannot stand either Tolkein or Rowling? LotR reads like a musical for the first book and fuck all seems to happen, while the parts of Harry Potter I've read just seem to be strings of 6 word sentences all beginning with "Harry Potter was..." And the LotR films have dated really, really badly. ^narchist 12:57, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

It's only trolling when brxbrx does it.--User:Brxbrx/sig 13:23, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

Seriously?

LotR & HP are the only 2 entries for greatest fantasy evah? What? Are you lot illiterate or something? --PsyGremlinSpeak! 13:51, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

The Chronicles of Amber could be up there. And I think Elric beats them all.--User:Brxbrx/sig 13:58, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

Let me tweak it a bit... --PsyGremlinTal! 14:06, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

Keyword is "pointless" here. ^theist 14:21, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

Assholes. :P Osaka Sun (talk) 20:33, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

What ARE half these things??!?!? ^bomination 20:49, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

How did Elric not get all the votes? This site's user base must surely be comprised of uncultured heathens.--User:Brxbrx/sig 20:52, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

Never read it... Peter ^{talk, or type, or whatever...} 20:57, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

Exactly. I rest my case.--User:Brxbrx/sig 21:07, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

How to edit a poll

How does one edit the poll? I wanted to edit the "Favorite Sports" poll to add Skateboarding and Ice Skating. Refugee^{talk page} 02:27, 19 January 2012 (UTC)

On the latest poll there's a list of all the options, just add them to the list. Blue (is useful) 02:29, 19 January 2012 (UTC)

It didn't work. When I tried, it mixed in the votes from a different category. Refugee^{talk page} 02:31, 19 January 2012 (UTC)

You have to add them at the end of the list. Blue (is useful) 02:36, 19 January 2012 (UTC)

Oh.. I see. Nevermind then. The order looks about right as it is. Thanks for the info. Refugee^{talk page} 02:38, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

Psy's boredom poll

I had to re-read the list when I got to the end because I thought the topic had already been mentioned; but no, it says "Go for a walk". Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 11:28, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

They do say it affects the eyesight... --PsyGremlinПоговорите! 11:55, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

I will adamantly stick to age-related macular degeneration. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 12:02, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

If it helps, I took my glasses off when I typed the above... --PsyGremlinZungumza! 12:04, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

But it does wonders for the biceps ^postate 12:24, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

"In the West"

Still, quite a broad brush to use! For example, I think there are sufficient work-place protections in the UK; we have enough equality legislation and EU human rights legislation to drown any employer who does something wrong, and we have civil partnerships with a strong move to make them marriages no matter what the CofE thinks. Yet, in the US (which is still "The West") things are slightly more regressed and the most pressing issue will be those legal discrimination issues, from which other problems and more widely felt ostracization will stem from. ^pathetic 19:10, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

Well, I was trying to be inclusive, but I see your point. The UK is vastly more advanced than the US in practically every LGBT issue, and that will probably confound the result of the poll... but hey, it's not meant to be a controlled statistical survey. Blue (pester) 19:14, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

Oh, bullshit. Some days I get really ticked at the whole "anti US attitude". it's not VASTLY more advanced, much less on "practically every issue". There is no gay marriage, there are civil unions, gay adoption is legal in both countries (save a few back water states here), hate crimes laws exist in both countries at local and national level. Wanna give some details on what VAST differences the UK has, and what myriad of issues? --Godot 19:45, 28 May 2012 (UTC) oops, edited for typo.

I figure as much, but it'll be interesting to see what people view as important, irrespective of controls. Is bullying and self-harm going to be considered more important than marriage, for instance, despite the masses of publicity heaped onto the latter? ^pathetic 19:42, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

Comparison of LGBT issues in the U.K. and U.S.

Issue	United Kingdom	United States
Marriage equality	Illegal, to be introduced by 2015 according to the coalition	Illegal, pending Perry v. Brown, in 41 of 50 states
Same-sex relationships broadly	Civil partnerships grant all legal consequences of marriage since 2005	No rights afforded same-sex partnerships in 39 of 50 states
Adoption and parenthood	Foster care, IVF, birth certificate all recognize same-sex parents	Illegal/unrecognized in 31 of 50 states
Hate speech	Hate speech based on SO&GI (sexual orientation and gender identity) illegal since 2008	Hate speech based on SO&GI legal
Hate crimes	Hate crimes based on SO&GI considered aggravating circumstance since 2004	Considered aggravating circumstance since 2009
Employment	Workplace discrimination based on SO&GI illegal since 2003/1999	Legal in 34 of 50 states
Discrimination broadly	Illegal based on SO&GI since 2010	No national legislation
Military service	All LGBT people allowed to serve since 2000	Trans people banned from service; gay people allowed since 2010

There. Blue (is useful) 20:20, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

That's rather shady, blue, since you don't really address the status of gays at a state level. and it's hardly "vast", and it's hardly "in virtually every area". I'm not saying it's not better there, i'm saying you don't need to exaggerate, and it does the facts no good. Godot 20:24, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

First of all, we are talking about LGBT people, not "gays." Second, I suppose a state like Connecticut can almost approach the UK, but the vast majority of states are not like CT. That's why I specified "34 of out 50 states" when appropriate. And I said "issue," not "area," the latter of which implies geography where I did not mean it. Third, to me, it is vast. A transphobic TV advert can actually be banned in the UK. Throughout the country, it is illegal to discriminate based on SO&GI, rather than a measly 16 states in specific areas. A same-sex couple gets all the rights of marriage in the UK, whereas in 39 of our 50 states they get nothing, let alone marriage. We may have different impressions of "vastness," I guess. Blue (pester) 20:36, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

Consider this quote from our "too conservative" PM: "So I don’t support gay marriage despite being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I’m a Conservative" and contrast it with the "not conservative enough" candidate: "there’s something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can’t openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school." Our anti-gay propaganda entirely comes from Church of England heads who seem just desperate for the publicity, but are entirely focused on "redefining marriage" (not that this is an excuse). There's a marked contrast in the words of the political elite from one place to the other. ^narchist 21:33, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

Shit, Snog, Marry, Avoid is now on in the background, so I can no longer speak well of the UK. Just take off and nuke this place from orbit, it's the only way to be sure. ^narchist 21:35, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

Are lesbians allowed so serve in the UK military? Mr. Anon (talk) 21:44, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

Why wouldn't they be? ΨΣΔξΣΓΩΙÐ^{Methinks it is a Weasel} 15:46, 10 June 2012 (UTC)

I don't think hate speech should be made illegal. The best way to deal with hate speech is with free speech. Let the lies and fallacies out in the open, and prove them wrong.--"Shut up, Brx." 23:40, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

Oh my god, I actually agree with you. When I found out it was illegal to say Nigger in france, even if you are a black person, i was shocked. to know that they've arrested quite a few artists for it, even more shocked. Having said that, I am for domestic terrorism laws. Graffiti on a mosque is a simple crime of vandalism. But scrawling something like "ragheads die!" is domestic terrorism. you are trying to frighten people of one group into acting the way you want, or even leaving. Same with gay bashing, bulling a trans kid at his prom. Posting "Abortion Doctors" names and addresses on a web page, for example, with the words "wanted" under them should be (and is, i think) a crime. Cause the intent is not just expression. you are trying to frighten people. but if you want to call me a slut, or a whore, or a trailer trash, that's for me to get over, not the nation to criminalize.Godot 23:46, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

I am very conflicted about hate speech laws. On the one hand, I think they are very necessary when it comes to propaganda aimed at the public (e.g. TV adverts), which is really just an indirect incitement to violence against a marginalized group. But things like that pastor saying gays should be put in a stockade to die out? The antics of the Westboro Baptist Church? I think our system can handle that nonsense. Blue (pester) 01:28, 29 May 2012 (UTC)

That sounds like a fairly good balance, hate speech propaganda on TV should be dealt with by the FCC, but idiots like Fred Phelps should be allowed to speak as loud as they damn well please - society will give them the reaction they deserve, contempt and disgust. Don't try to suppress them, or more people with sympathize with them. Sir Onion ^{Kneel before my vegetable might!} 01:37, 29 May 2012 (UTC)

Supreme Court precedent has held that if the speech is likely to kill someone, it can be restricted. Mr. Anon (talk) 15:40, 10 June 2012 (UTC)

Voting

The phrase "largely defensive weapon of guillotine" shouldn't be as funny as it is... ^theist 16:19, 6 June 2012 (UTC)

The current poll....

Does it refer to "atheism, then New Atheism, then Atheism 3.0, then Atheism+", or is it asking if my parents were also atheist? I am a traditional ("1.0") atheist but my grandfather and father were, too. Immortality's fun, except when you become a two-headed monster ^{Talk to me or view my art} 18:27, 27 March 2013 (UTC)

Just atheist, as in "does not believe in god". Генгис^{Our ignorance is God; what we know is science.} 20:39, 27 March 2013 (UTC)

I Win!

I just discovered that, according to an old poll, I was voted Rationalwiki's biggest asshole/best user! I would like to thank everybody here for making this happen an- Oh my I'm tearing up, and thank my family for making me into the cynical, sarcastic prick I am today. Thank you all so much! (: ClothCoat (talk) 19:51, 18 June 2013 (UTC)ClothCoat

You're welcome, asshole. Ŵêâŝêîôîď^{Methinks it is a Weasel} 19:56, 18 June 2013 (UTC)

Haha I just discovered it's designed to always make whoever's logged in number one in the poll. That's a pretty clever trick, didn't know about that.ClothCoat (talk) 20:13, 18 June 2013 (UTC)ClothCoat

Thank Zeus I read this talk page... after seeing my username in the poll my heart almost skipped a beat. Clever trick indeed.~epix^{Say What?} 03:10, 6 August 2014 (UTC)

Can we please stop making polls that attack other users?

I'm fucking sick of seeing these. If you want to actually criticize a user's words or actions then say it to their face. Putting it in a poll is cowardice masking as snark. Wehpudicabok [話] [変] [留] 22:32, 1 April 2014 (UTC)

Also, if you're going to put in a new poll, put a new number on it. Otherwise the old votes carry over. Wehpudicabok [話] [変] [留] 22:35, 1 April 2014 (UTC)

I see Brx fixed the latter error before I got to it. Thanks. My first comment still stands. Wehpudicabok [話] [変] [留] 22:36, 1 April 2014 (UTC)

FYI, the current revision doesn't say anything about you- it's the good ol' "username" template. If you are referring to Madman's edit, then I personally didn't care (being one of the people actually on there), and I think it's fine if it's in good fun, but Wehpud does have a point. MESSIAH OF DOOM ^{Hehehehehe WHEEEEE!} 04:40, 2 April 2014 (UTC)

No, I know about that template. I've actually used it myself, though I prefer not to make jokes at the reader's expense. But mostly I just think we shouldn't be using polls for something like that. Wehpudicabok [話] [変] [留] 05:43, 2 April 2014 (UTC)

Eh, I don't know. I mean, if it's something that the reader can just laugh off and go "whoops, silly me", like the thingy, then I think it's fine. If we are actually deliberately making polls and jokes with the obvious purpose of actually offending somebody, then that's a different story entirely. However, as it stands, I think this particular instance is okay. GØØBY PLS ^{Keeping myself alive, through your EMPATHY.} 11:31, 2 April 2014 (UTC)

How does this work?

I just found this section today. I was wondering how/when a new poll is started? I was thinking of making one but I was afraid I was going to screw everything up by starting a new one too soon or something.TheriziπosaurusG (talk) 20:39, 2 October 2014 (UTC)

Whenever people feel like making a new one, though making one to soon after the last one is a bit rude (unless it's a crap poll). If you fell like one, go ahead and do it; i was just curious what age group is most common here.--Miekal 20:45, 2 October 2014 (UTC)

(edit conflict) If you feel that the current poll has been around long enough (this one's been around for nine days, so no one will complain if you change it) and you want to make a new one, then you edit the page, and do the following:

1. Cut and paste the entirety of the poll to the top of the Previous Polls section
2. Add the closed tag to the poll id (in this case, the poll id will be seen as <multi poll=pointlesspoll111206 > You'll want to make it so it reads <multi poll=pointlesspoll111206 closed=yes>)
3. Make sure that the <noinclude> tag is on top of the Previous Polls section header, so that only the current poll shows up on the To do list and Saloon Bar thingy
4. Now that the old poll has been properly disposed of, you'll want to make a new poll id where the old one was, by going up one number than the previous id. So you'll be making it look like <multi poll=pointlesspoll111207 > (emphasis on the 7 for educational reasons, do not replicate when you're actually trying to make the poll)
5. Above the poll id, you'll want to ask your question
6. Each line below the poll id will be a poll option
7. Once you've got all the options you want, go to the next line and type in </multi> to close the poll.
8. Now, this last bit hasn't been done for a little while, but you may feel like letting readers know when you changed the poll. To do this, you'll want to type <center><small>Poll updated: 2^st of October 2014 — See: [[RationalWiki:To do list/Pointless polls|Previous polls]]</small></center> under the </multi> Naturally, you'll want to change the date if it's not accurate.
9. Another thing that hasn't been done for a while is to add four minus signs between each old poll ---- Nobody will fault you for not doing that.

For an example edit done the way I described to you, see here. If the revision of you updating the poll looks like that, then you probably did it right. Hope this helps--"Shut up, Brx." 21:14, 2 October 2014 (UTC)

Thanks everyone.TheriziπosaurusG (talk) 01:52, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

Whyyyy

I missed a poll where "narwhal" was an answer? Nuuuu! Narky Sawtooth (Nyarnyar~) 12:48, 28 April 2015 (UTC)

So what I'm getting from this...

Is that this isn't DeviantArt. I'm thinking a new poll might be in order just as soon as someone gets to it first. WalkerWalkerWalker 19:21, 13 November 2015 (UTC)

Did I do good?

Can I be pet on the head and fed koalas, now? Narky Sawtooth (Nyarnyar~) 05:05, 19 November 2015 (UTC)

NARWHALS EAT KOALAS???? :O Nappe (what?) 05:06, 19 November 2015 (UTC)

Well, that was embarrassing. I made a joke that was already made before. I'll just delete those comments and hope nobody noticed. (in reality, a narwhal would not eat a koala. Narwhal digestive systems can't handle koalas.) Narky Sawtooth (Nyarnyar~) 05:36, 19 November 2015 (UTC)

Someone's gonna pay

Who the hell misspelled "Consumers" in the current Poll?! I wanna know right now so I can banhammer them until 2020 Ɀexcoiler Kingbolt]] Noooooooo! ^{Look! Up there!}' 19:56, 14 February 2017 (UTC)

(Current) Current Poll

It seems that Super Mecha Death Goat will win the 2020 Presidential Election. --Rationalzombie94 (talk) 03:00, 20 August 2017 (UTC)

OK where's Hitler?

Seriously why isn't he an option? Jinx (talk) 19:56, 30 April 2019 (UTC)

I'm looking for a clever and sarcastic way to say "because he'd win, dummy" and settling for just telling you. ikanreed ^{🐐Bleat at me} 20:01, 30 April 2019 (UTC)

Yeah everyone would have voted for Hitler. I also missed out a certain US president with an orange demeanor and some other particularity evil people. — Dysk (contribs) 20:11, 30 April 2019 (UTC)

Burn in hell, Cory

Your shittery knows no bounds. This is a new goddamn low, even for a scumbag like you. — Oxyaena ^Harass 20:53, 22 July 2021 (UTC)