Reply #191: Why would you ever submit a poll vote that you couldn't defend? [View All]

[NorthernSpy]

(...) I do however, think its totally stupid to have polls where people assume they mean nothing and are anonymous and then ban people for there answers. I've only been posting for a couple months, and I can think of at least three times where I chose an option because I was completely kidding and thought it didn't mean anything. I would usually then comment on my choice and my lack of seriousness in the thread.

Banning people for choices that may mean nothing to them other than feeling oppositionally defiant some day seems really ridiculous. At the very least, you ought to make a big huge warning before these silly poll telling people that their literal ability to post may depend on how they answer, so don't ever kid around with their choices or be a "rebel" in a poll they think is stupid.

If you think a poll is stupid, then just say so.

It's one thing to kid around on polls that don't really mean anything.

But "did Jews invent the holocaust?" and "are black Christians dogshit?" are not meaningless questions. Agreeing with such statements puts you completely beyond the pale -- at least as far as a progressive community is concerned. If you'd say something like that, then why shouldn't the moderators assume that you mean it -- and act accordingly.

Thing is, I care far more about protecting members of the targeted groups from slander, than I care about protecting the anonymity of their most malicious detractors.