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replaced http://stackoverflow.com/ with https://stackoverflow.com/
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Ultimately what should happen is that an answer should be created that is the sum total of everything that has been posted; and that answer should be marked as the Accepted answer. That way if someone has something new, they add it to the accepted answer, instead of having pages and pages of new answers.

Regarding @Jonik's "Mess" Comment:

Not true, take this for exampletake this for example. If people want to see votes, they can always link the answer in the compiled thread to its place on the thread, just so people can see the votes if they really want to. But if you're collecting information, it's superfluous.

Using the Stack Overflow engine for polls fails.

It shouldn't be used for Polls. Here's why:

  1. Anytime anyone votes for more than one (but not all) they skew the poll. "Your Favorite" implies they should vote for one, but that doesn't stop anyone from voting for more than one. The poll isn't accurate.

  2. Anytime anyone games the system by randomly voting up and down certain posts (for whatever reason), the voting is skewed. There's nothing in place to stop that from happening.

Bottom line: If you're using numbers next to a post to indicate worthiness, that's not as accurate as you may think. Not to mention: What if people are voting it up because it's already voted up? That's possible (Look at the FGITW syndrome).

Ultimately what should happen is that an answer should be created that is the sum total of everything that has been posted; and that answer should be marked as the Accepted answer. That way if someone has something new, they add it to the accepted answer, instead of having pages and pages of new answers.

Regarding @Jonik's "Mess" Comment:

Not true, take this for example. If people want to see votes, they can always link the answer in the compiled thread to its place on the thread, just so people can see the votes if they really want to. But if you're collecting information, it's superfluous.

Using the Stack Overflow engine for polls fails.

It shouldn't be used for Polls. Here's why:

  1. Anytime anyone votes for more than one (but not all) they skew the poll. "Your Favorite" implies they should vote for one, but that doesn't stop anyone from voting for more than one. The poll isn't accurate.

  2. Anytime anyone games the system by randomly voting up and down certain posts (for whatever reason), the voting is skewed. There's nothing in place to stop that from happening.

Bottom line: If you're using numbers next to a post to indicate worthiness, that's not as accurate as you may think. Not to mention: What if people are voting it up because it's already voted up? That's possible (Look at the FGITW syndrome).

Ultimately what should happen is that an answer should be created that is the sum total of everything that has been posted; and that answer should be marked as the Accepted answer. That way if someone has something new, they add it to the accepted answer, instead of having pages and pages of new answers.

Regarding @Jonik's "Mess" Comment:

Not true, take this for example. If people want to see votes, they can always link the answer in the compiled thread to its place on the thread, just so people can see the votes if they really want to. But if you're collecting information, it's superfluous.

Using the Stack Overflow engine for polls fails.

It shouldn't be used for Polls. Here's why:

  1. Anytime anyone votes for more than one (but not all) they skew the poll. "Your Favorite" implies they should vote for one, but that doesn't stop anyone from voting for more than one. The poll isn't accurate.

  2. Anytime anyone games the system by randomly voting up and down certain posts (for whatever reason), the voting is skewed. There's nothing in place to stop that from happening.

Bottom line: If you're using numbers next to a post to indicate worthiness, that's not as accurate as you may think. Not to mention: What if people are voting it up because it's already voted up? That's possible (Look at the FGITW syndrome).

Post Migrated Here from meta.stackexchange.com (revisions)
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George Stocker
George Stocker

Ultimately what should happen is that an answer should be created that is the sum total of everything that has been posted; and that answer should be marked as the Accepted answer. That way if someone has something new, they add it to the accepted answer, instead of having pages and pages of new answers.

Regarding @Jonik's "Mess" Comment:

Not true, take this for example. If people want to see votes, they can always link the answer in the compiled thread to its place on the thread, just so people can see the votes if they really want to. But if you're collecting information, it's superfluous.

Using the Stack Overflow engine for polls fails.

It shouldn't be used for Polls. Here's why:

  1. Anytime anyone votes for more than one (but not all) they skew the poll. "Your Favorite" implies they should vote for one, but that doesn't stop anyone from voting for more than one. The poll isn't accurate.

  2. Anytime anyone games the system by randomly voting up and down certain posts (for whatever reason), the voting is skewed. There's nothing in place to stop that from happening.

Bottom line: If you're using numbers next to a post to indicate worthiness, that's not as accurate as you may think. Not to mention: What if people are voting it up because it's already voted up? That's possible (Look at the FGITW syndrome).