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Q: What is all this POLL and POLL2 stuff meam?
A: POLLs are the original characters who by now have already been cast in the pilot. POLL2s are characters who show up in the rest of Season 1.
Q: Are you going to flake on this set of polls like you did the last set?
A: meh, probably, but I'll most likely get in one good round of votes first.
Q: What's with the group polls? I think xxx should have his own thread!
A: if any one role in the group polls starts getting significant interest, i'll make that new thread with all extisting votes intact.
Q: you idiot, you forgot xxx
A: whoops. send me a pm.
OBSOLETE FAQ, left for reference
Q:WHY ARE YOU RUNNING POLLS WHEN YOU ALREADY HAVE OFFICIAL CASTING THREADS?
A:Different threads for different reasons. Official casting threads are to post NEW, AS YET UNSUGGESTED actors/actresses for parts. They have pesky rules about discussion, yet people still feel the need to both discuss and repeat previously suggested choices. In POLL threads, that's the whole point! Discuss! Argue! Flame! The rules for poll threads are only for the benefit of getting a legitimate poll: only vote once. Vote in a list of preferences. Make the difference between a vote preference list and discussion obvious.
Q:HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHICH CHARACTERS GET POLLS?
A:I put up polls for all the characters that the reports of the leaked script suggest might be in the pilot, and that have more than 1 actor suggested. (ok Illyrio was a joke poll, so sue me).
Q:HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHICH ACTORS ARE LISTED IN YOUR INITIAL POLLING LIST?
A:Cutting and pasting from the official synopsis thread. If you put an actor not on the list in your vote, be sure to also add it in the OFFICIAL casting suggestion threads.
Q:IS THERE A CUTOFF TIME WHEN THE POLLS CLOSE?
A:Not until the part gets cast. Until then ALL poll: character threads are live. Yup, even the ones on page 4 or 5. Go post your preferences in them, even if there's been a recent recalculation. I recalculate as often as I can. You can even change your vote after you've cast it. Just don't vote twice.
Q:ARE THE PRODUCERS LOOKING AT THE POLLS?
A:Heck if I know. They ARE looking the compiled lists, so if you write in a name in your vote, make sure to add it to the official threads.
Q:I CHANGED MY MIND, CAN I CHANGE MY VOTE?
A:Sure, but the change won't be reflected until the next vote calculation.
Q:CAN I WRITE IN AN ACTOR/ACTRESS NOT ON THE LIST IN MY VOTE?
A:Yes, but please also suggest that actor/actress then in the official suggestion threads.
Q:HOW COME THE ORDER HASN'T CHANGED YET FOR (insert character here)?
A:Because I haven't run the vote yet for them. I check them regularly and run votes as I have time and people still cast or change or modify their votes.
Q: WHAT THE HECK IS THIS INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT
A: Why Instant Runoff Voting is the best thing since sliced bread
Q: BUT THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WINNER HERE. HOW DOES THAT WORK?
A: Once someone has been determined the board favorite via IRV, that person's name get's eliminated from everyone's vote. Then I run a second instant runoff vote for second place. Rinse and repeat. (err, for non Americans, "rinse and repeat" is the final instruction listed on most shampoo bottles in America, leading to the joke "Why did the computer programmer run out of shampoo? He followed the directions." But as an idiom it means do the same thing over and over until you are done.)
Q: WHAT HAPPENS IF TWO OR MORE PEOPLE ARE TIED FOR LAST DURING A RUNOFF ROUND WHO LOSES?
A: Compare them the previous round. Rinse repeat. If they are tied all the way back sinse voting began, they are all eliminated simultaneously. If there is no one left at that point, then, and ONLY then, are they listed as tied in the results.
Q: CAN I LIST PEOPLE AS TIED IN MY OWN PREFERENCES?
A: Yes, but your vote gets split among all remaining members in your tied list, when it gets to the top of your vote.
Q: CAN I LIST PEOPLE AS TIED IN MY PREFERENCES, BUT WEIGHT HOW I DIVIDE MY VOTE BETWEEN THEM SOME OTHER AMOUNT THAN EQUAL SPLIT?
A: You just want to make my life hard, don't you? But yes. /slap
Q:I DON'T CARE WHO GETS THE JOB, EXCEPT THAT I REALLY DON'T LIKE THESE FEW GUYS. CAN I LIST MY LEAST FAVORITES?
A:Yes, but list them in reverse order, with your least favorite last. Also, clearly mark them as such. Mentions of dislike in commentary won't be considered a vote. Effectively, you tie all names not mentioned in your vote, including future write ins, above your least favorites.
Q:CAN I LIST BOTH MY FAVORITES AND LEAST FAVORITES?
A: Yes, but, once again, please mark each list appropriately. Effectively, everyone who is not on either list has a tied preference in between the two lists.
Q:SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIT... I CAN LIST MY FAVORITES, I CAN HAVE PEOPLE BE TIED, I CAN LIST MY LEAST FAVORITES, WHICH CAN ALSO BE TIED, MY TIES CAN BE WEIGHTED, I CAN LEAVE SOME PEOPLE IN THE LIST OUT OF MY LISTS, AND I CAN ADD PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T MENTIONED ON THE LIST IN MY VOTE?
A:Yes.
Q:COULD YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF THAT?
A:
EXAMPLE VOTE LIST:
1)Somedude
2)Someotherdude
3)yetanotherdude
4)moredude alpha 30 (these numbers after your tied choices)
4)moredude beta 30 (don't have to add up to 100)
4)moredude thatilikeslightly better 40 (but it helps)
7)someguy ionlykindalike
Dislike list:
-1)guyidislike
-2)guyidislike more
-3)guyiREALLY DISLIKE
-3)guyiEQUALLY REALLY DISLIKE
-5)HECK NO THISGUY IS HORRIBLE
Q: CAN I VOTE TWICE?
A: No. Only your first properly formatted reply will be honored, and only then if it's in the form of a list, so it can be distinguished from commentary. But you can list your entire preference list in your vote.
Q:ALL THESE CHOICES SUCK, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MINDS?
A:Clearly we are. You should a)list how badly they suck, from least sucky to most sucky. b)write in someone you think would be good, and suggest him/her in the official threads. This, actually, is the primary benefit of doing polls, to show people who have definite Ideas of what they want in a character to focus their casting efforts on those characters whose suggestions least meet their ideas. Err, that means you if this was your question.
Q:AW MAN, WHY ALL THE COMPLICATION? WHY DON'T YOU DO IT LIKE (insert prefered voting method here)?
A:Most of the complication is in the special cases. All you really have to do is list your preferences in order. Heck all you really have to do is put down one name as if it's a basic vote. Just like word processors, though, some people like the additional bells and whistles. All methods have their own issues. Suffice to say, Math and econ geeks like IRL, and I'm a math/econ geek.
Q: HEY, NO FAIR, YOU ARE COMMENTING ALL THE TIME AND YOU TELL US TO ONLY MAKE ONE REPLY. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?
A: Err, it says one VOTE reply. Which you should edit should your VOTE change. Feel free to make as many commentary replies as you want. Healthy debate as to why some actors are good or bad (or more...descriptive...terms) for a role makes for entertaining forums.
Q: ALL THESE POLLS ARE AT LEAST XXX OUT OF DATE, WHY SHOULD I BOTHER VOTING?
A: Even a single vote for someone not in the top 2 or three choices can drastically affect their placement on the list in the next calculation, even if that name is added to the bottom of your preference list (this is because most people only vote their top 5 rather than a top and bottom list...). New people get suggested all the time. Check your old votes and see if you still feel the same way. Someone may have just slandered your top pick! Clearly you should defend it! Don't like some of the choices? Put them in your dislike list, and then everyone you don't mention, including new write ins, will be tied on your vote list above them!
Edited by Smoldering Hound, 04 March 2010 - 05:41 AM.
