Just Testing Out Polls

[JoshB]

I want to better understand how the polls work on the forum. So I'm testing it out here.

I'd appreciate it if people would click a each choice randomly between "little" and "lot". Also, please randomly choose a "little/lot" set to not check at all, as I want to be able to tell if we can see "null" votes.

[JoshB]

Actually, that's enough to see what's going on. We do see null votes. Great!

Unfortunately it looks like there's a bug in tallying results... so maybe polls aren't at all useful.

[kareng]

I find these polls annoying. Many times the answer choices aren't what I would answer.

For example: Question one: I need the answer:

I and my dog do not like them.

If you want to know something, just ask in a polite, friendly, uninsulting manner. Many people here are happy to share thier experiences.

[JoshB]

I did start a thread just asking in general, and that'll have to do.

I wanted to do a poll though, because I was going to ask what symptoms people had before and after gluten free. It would be really nice to have them all nicely tabulated. Unfortunately, I don't think that the polls are going to cut it. You can't add enough questions and options, and the percentages don't seem to be calculated correctly. Actually, that's not fair -- the percentages aren't calculated correctly in terms of what I want to know. The math is valid, it's just not describing what I'm after.

[kareng]

I did start a thread just asking in general, and that'll have to do.

I wanted to do a poll though, because I was going to ask what symptoms people had before and after gluten free. It would be really nice to have them all nicely tabulated. Unfortunately, I don't think that the polls are going to cut it. You can't add enough questions and options, and the percentages don't seem to be calculated correctly. Actually, that's not fair -- the percentages aren't calculated correctly in terms of what I want to know. The math is valid, it's just not describing what I'm after.

You will probably get answers from, maybe, 10 people. That really isn't enough to give you valid " mathematical percentages". Why do you feel you need that?

[Jestgar]

And you will only be able to put in the answers that you know of. People have all kinds of symptoms that aren't in the books.

[JoshB]

Absolutely. I wouldn't be able to track everything, and the results would only be a little meaningful as there would be too few people and mostly the symptoms can be pretty subjective. It just seems like it would be more information than is currently out there. I've been trying to find proper studies on this, but haven't had any luck.

Doesn't work anyway. The poll info isn't displayed as I need, and you can't put enough options on it to even approach being a meaningful survey for all the symptoms.

[JoshB]

Also, I do realize that there are several historical "What are your symptoms?" threads in the forum. In fact there are threads covering just about every aspect of what I want to ask. But I couldn't find one place that asked all the questions together. Also, most of the threads out there seem to be more restrictive. "Do your symptoms match these four symptoms I have?" rather than "What are your symptoms?"

[mushroom]

Unfortunately, celiac disease does not fall into neatly tabulated little columns. While we may all be a band marching in the same direction, we are all playing different instruments and different tunes (and if we have neurological symptoms we may not even be marching in a straight line ) Some of us have a big bass drum beating out diarrhea, others have a clarinet playing in their thyroid gland; while yet others are trumpeting gas and bloating. And these symptoms (and the myriads of others) all appear in different combinations and last for differing periods of time both before and after diagnosis. Some resolve, some partially resolve (or come and go) and some stubbornly hang around.

So it is really hard to compare your celiac disease with someone else's celiac disease. You may have certain things in common with different people but you will seldom find two who are alike. Thus, as you are finding, polls tend not to be very helpful, or even representative since many people don't like responding to polls or don't like the questions or answering options offered. And further, along these lines, polls are only as useful as the questions and answering options offered. Even scientific studies often fail to consider significant variables which render them less meaningful.

I agree with the others that it it is better to elicit individuals' experiences in their own words, rather than to constrict them to a limited array of responses.

[GFinDC]

I voted on question one, but tried not entering any vote on question 2. Gong, no-go, the site said I had to answer both poll questions.

So, I think the answer to the question "Can you enter a null vote?" is "No".

I read once on this site that there are 300 symptoms of celiac disease. I don't know if that is true, or where the poster got that number, but it sure would make for a long boring poll. I think its best to put something about aliens or ET's in polls so we can see if the government censors the poll and deletes the question. Plus it makes the poll a little more interesting and keeps the psillies on their toes.

Probably the Guvment will delete my post now, dun, dun, duh!

I did one poll on the site and got some good answers. Most of the time I vote in polls because it is easy to respond but don't say anything in the poll thread. So I don't mind polls, They aren't usually hard to answer or just ignore. Sometimes the replies people post are more interesting than the poll questions.

Hmmm, does anybody else hear a black helicopter with no lights hovering outside?

[ravenwoodglass]

Hmmm, does anybody else hear a black helicopter with no lights hovering outside?

Only when I forget my meds

Just kidding.

[Darn210]

. . . and I just have to add, that it never seems to fail, if you give me a "Rank it on a scale from 1 to 5", I want to give something a 4.5. If you give me a "Scale from 1 to 10", then I want to choose 7.5. If you give me "Always, Sometimes, or Never", then I choose "Almost Always but not Always Always".

[Darn210]

Hmmm, does anybody else hear a black helicopter with no lights hovering outside?

GeeEff, you're in DC . . . don't you guys have about a bazillion black lightless helicopters hovering around there?

[elye]

While we may all be a band marching in the same direction, we are all playing different instruments and different tunes (and if we have neurological symptoms we may not even be marching in a straight line ) Some of us have a big bass drum beating out diarrhea, others have a clarinet playing in their thyroid gland; while yet others are trumpeting gas and bloating. And these symptoms (and the myriads of others) all appear in different combinations and last for differing periods of time both before and after diagnosis.

What a fabulous metaphor, Shroom! I will be using it the next time I try to explain to a suspected fellow band-member what the symptoms of celiac are....

The name of this band?......hmm..... . .. .....The Damaged Duodenums?

I agree with the others that it it is better to elicit individuals' experiences in their own words, rather than to constrict them to a limited array of responses.

I do not want to hijack this thread, so I will likely start a separate thread on this, but for some time now I have marvelled at how fascinating the whole story of celiac disease, and humanity's historical problems with gluten, remains. Polling works very well in some areas of research to get information, but in this arena not so much -- celiac symptoms are too subjective and far-reaching.

I am a writer, and have been wondering about collecting as many written accounts as I can from celiacs/gluten intolerants dealing with their symptoms, and getting the collection out there for all to read. Interesting reading? Well, certainly to those out there who have spent years suffering from chronic migraines, depression, GERD, infertility, joint pain, etc. etc., with no effective treatment........this would be the target reader.

Anyways, carry on... . . ....! The idea of polls brought my train of thought here. .. ...

Hmmm, does anybody else hear a black helicopter with no lights hovering outside?

Hell, I thought that was an enormous bird... . . . ...

...in every window.... . . ...... . . ...

. . . and I just have to add, that it never seems to fail, if you give me a "Rank it on a scale from 1 to 5", I want to give something a 4.5. If you give me a "Scale from 1 to 10", then I want to choose 7.5. If you give me "Always, Sometimes, or Never", then I choose "Almost Always but not Always Always".

What about "Frequently"? Never fails...I ALWAYS wanna say "frequently", and it is never there.. . . . .."Occasionally" not so much -- but "Frequently" is so often where I'm at.... . . ....

[GFinDC]

Only when I forget my meds

Just kidding.

Ha Ha, those are some good meds! :0

GeeEff, you're in DC . . . don't you guys have about a bazillion black lightless helicopters hovering around there?

I think so, too afraid to go out and look.

Hell, I thought that was an enormous bird... . . . ...

...in every window.... . . ...... . . ...

Shhh, they'll hear u!

Poor Josh must wonder how his poll question got so sidetracked. Sorry Josh, wandering minds u know.

[Oscar]

I wonder, if we took a poll about taking polls, how many of us would be in favor of taking polls? I don't personally like multiple choice questions, since frequently the answer I want to give is not one of the options offered.

[elye]

I wonder, if we took a poll about taking polls, how many of us would be in favor of taking polls? I don't personally like multiple choice questions, since frequently the answer I want to give is not one of the options offered.

Yes! Like "Frequently"! All right, we need to conduct a poll that goes something like this:

How much do you wish that polls regularly offered the word "FREQUENTLY" as a choice? 1) Never -- I'm completely satisfied with "never, rarely, sometimes, always''; 2) Sometimes -- "frequently" is often how I feel; 3) Always -- "frequently" is where I am -- always.

Okay. . ..once again, carry on. .. .....

[Jestgar]

Yes! Like "Frequently"! All right, we need to conduct a poll that goes something like this:

How much do you wish that polls regularly offered the word "FREQUENTLY" as a choice? 1) Never -- I'm completely satisfied with "never, rarely, sometimes, always''; 2) Sometimes -- "frequently" is often how I feel; 3) Always -- "frequently" is where I am -- always.

Okay. . ..once again, carry on. .. .....

:lol:

[kareng]

Well, Josh....Welcome to the Forum, As you can see, some of us will use any excuse to make jokes.

I will sum this all up to say that the polls don't seem to have enough options on questions to suit some of us Psillies. I hope you can get the help you need from "narrative" answers.

[elye]

I will sum this all up to say that the polls don't seem to have enough options on questions to suit some of us Psillies. I hope you can get the help you need from "narrative" answers.

But Josh -- WE need YOUR help -- please join us over on the Tickle Me Elbow thread.......we need new, funny blood. We will NOT make jokes about polling practices, I promise....unless, of course, you wish to do so.....

Dear gawd....that solidifies it. I am an official hijacker. My apologies!

[kareng]

But Josh -- WE need YOUR help -- please join us over on the Tickle Me Elbow thread.......we need new, funny blood. We will NOT make jokes about polling practices, I promise....unless, of course, you wish to do so.....

Dear gawd....that solidifies it. I am an official hijacker. My apologies!

I thought Josh might have a psilly streak to him, too. However, he has probably given up on this thread about 5 posts ago.

[elye]

I thought Josh might have a psilly streak to him, too. However, he has probably given up on this thread about 5 posts ago.

Yes, when I crazily chimed in... ...... .. .bah, story o' me life..... .. ...

Shall we take a poll on Why we think Josh has not posted here, on his own thread, for over twelve hours? 1) He has gotten a sound, collective answer from us to his questions regarding forum polls; 2) He has joined another forum with a specific section on online poll troubleshooting; 3) He read one post of elye's, and that was more than enough; 4) Frequently.

I choose number four. Like, always.

[kareng]

Yes, when I crazily chimed in... ...... .. .bah, story o' me life..... .. ...

Shall we take a poll on Why we think Josh has not posted here, on his own thread, for over twelve hours? 1) He has gotten a sound, collective answer from us to his questions regarding forum polls; 2) He has joined another forum with a specific section on online poll troubleshooting; 3) He read one post of elye's, and that was more than enough; 4) Frequently.

I choose number four. Like, always.

Once again, none of the above is what I would answer.

5). 293.25 and the Tower of London

[Darn210]

But Josh -- WE need YOUR help -- please join us over on the Tickle Me Elbow thread.......we need new, funny blood. We will NOT make jokes about polling practices, I promise....unless, of course, you wish to do so.....

Dear gawd....that solidifies it. I am an official hijacker. My apologies!

I just want to say . . . knowing Emily as well as I do . . . she's lying right there.

Shall we take a poll on Why we think Josh has not posted here, on his own thread, for over twelve hours? 1) He has gotten a sound, collective answer from us to his questions regarding forum polls; 2) He has joined another forum with a specific section on online poll troubleshooting; 3) He read one post of elye's, and that was more than enough; 4) Frequently.

I choose number four. Like, always.

Yeah, I think Josh headed for the safety of some other thread after this one was hijacked.

[Jestgar]

Yes, when I crazily chimed in... ...... .. .bah, story o' me life..... .. ...

Shall we take a poll on Why we think Josh has not posted here, on his own thread, for over twelve hours? 1) He has gotten a sound, collective answer from us to his questions regarding forum polls; 2) He has joined another forum with a specific section on online poll troubleshooting; 3) He read one post of elye's, and that was more than enough; 4) Frequently.

I choose number four. Like, always.

c