Suggestion: "Other Voting Polls" Needs a Name Change

[Yusshin]

Well, I don't know about everyone else, but when I see the OVP, I think my post always requires a poll - and isn't for questions, brief conversation, etc. The only idea that it would be like that is hidden in the top announcement of the Other Chat; there's no immediate suggestion that OVP would accept non-poll material.

In all honesty, I suggest you change the name and description to include the idea of light conversation (without polls) being accepted. As it stands now, it appears to only accept topics with polls. The announcement in Other Chat obviously isn't enough / escapes the eyes of some people (probably because their topic doesn't start with a question mark, or they think it's irrelevant) to alert people that OC is the wrong forum, and their topic belongs in OVP.

Some names I was thinking of are:

- ChitChat & Polls
- Small Talk & Polls
- Questions & Polls
- Queries & Polls

[Description] Non-Pokemon polls, question-based discussions, and small conversation belong here

I like the last one :] but the title would have to be something to distinguish it immediately from Other Chat. It might be difficult, but for organization purposes (and to not confuse more people .-.), it should / needs to be done.

 

[Nick]

I remember talking to Erica about changing the name of OVP to something less confusing a while ago. I can't remember exactly how that went, so hopefully she sees this thread and addresses why it's named what it's named. But I do know that talking to her, I changed my mind in asking for the forum to be renamed. If anything, it needs a new description. I agree that it's often confusing because over the years, OVP has become a mini-OC forum, with polls. It's hard to put into words what I think of it, though. I just know that... the forum name recommendations (and forum description recommendation) you're suggesting are not ones that I would support. :(

 

[Stairmaster]

"Other Voting Polls" is quite clear.

ChitChat & Polls will get people off on crazy ass tangents, and, really, there shouldn't be any "chit chat" in OVP when there is the DCC.

Small Talk & Polls just sounds stupid.

And none of your names address the issue you presented anyway. How would that help with the number of threads posted in the wrong forum?

 

[Ho-Oh]

If you do that, then you might as well change Other Trivia because there clearly isn't any trivia.

 

[Spinor]

I say just switch OVP with OC. Or simply put OC at the top of the Category.

Simple Psychology. They see a poll forum first, they think of something broadly. At that stage, what they think of is capable of being posted in OC, which cause confusion.

By seeing Other "Chat" first. They understand the concept of Chat if they are on the internet. And then they see the rules and understand LATER that polls go in the forum below. I am not sure how it would go, but it would be worth a try.

 

[Kura]

I think it's a great idea.. but too bad it's probably never gonna happen because some members and staff will probably have a fit about it due to nostalgia/ ego/ laziness/ etc..

Here's hoping, anyways!

 

[Yusshin]

We need to brainstorm ideas as a group. The way it's named now, it makes it appear that that forum is only for polls - not small chitchat that starts with a question like "Do you look like your parents?" People who are aware of that annoucement in OC and have read it will obviously avoid OC, but I've seen a lot of topics being moved from OC to OVP. There were like, five who were moved just a few hours ago :s

Stairmaster, what's clear to you isn't clear obviously to a lot of other people causing that moderator for OC issues. She/he even had to make an announcement for it, and it's still ignored. There's obviously a problem with the name of OVP.

We need a name that incorperates the idea of polls and chatter based on questions.

 

[Nick]

I say just switch OVP with OC. Or simply put OC at the top of the Category.

Simple Psychology. They see a poll forum first, they think of something broadly. At that stage, what they think of is capable of being posted in OC, which cause confusion.

By seeing Other "Chat" first. They understand the concept of Chat if they are on the internet. And then they see the rules and understand LATER that polls go in the forum below. I am not sure how it would go, but it would be worth a try.

You'd be very surprised. Many of the threads that are in that strange area that many people ask "Is this better off suited in OVP, or OC?" are typically misplaced in OC. So moving OC above OVP would only increase the confusion of members. I don't think any movement should be done, if anything is done at all. There has always been threads that were placed in OVP that belong in OC and likewise, but from my experience modding the forum, I know full well that more threads are misplaced in OC as opposed to OVP. I believe Chibi feels the same way as well.

 

[Stairmaster]

Stairmaster, what's clear to you isn't clear obviously to a lot of other people causing that moderator for OC issues. She/he even had to make an announcement for it, and it's still ignored. There's obviously a problem with the name of OVP.

We need a name that incorperates the idea of polls and chatter based on questions.

Who says it's the name causing the problem? I think it's just because OC and OVP overlap so much, not the name.

And I think you shouldn't have to include "chatter" based on questions. The name for Pokemon General isn't "Pokemon General & Pokemon General Chatter"

 

[Ho-Oh]

Wait, Yusshin... this thread relates only to the thread creators in OVP/OC. How about actually asking them directly whether changing the name would help? Since there's regulars in both, and aside from a few others who sometimes make threads, there's no real issue.

 

[Yusshin]

No, Stairmaster, that's just silly. "Pokemon General" already gives the idea of what it's about, and it comes after the main generation forums, so people get what it's for. The description is also helpful.

When I first entered the final category of PC, I posted something in OC that belonged in OVP because there was absolutely no indication that chatter based on questions / chatter that doesn't really deem for extensive replies was meant to go in a forum that pretty much said "ONLY POLLS PLZ". The fact it says "Other Chat" and my topic had no poll, it was obvious that the topic was meant to be there, no? Wrong. It was moved, and Chibi-Chan eventually made that announcement which a lot of people don't see / ignore / their thread actually doesn't end with "?" but it's the same idea as the OVP.

A description change would be a start. It doesn't "jump" out, though, since it's smothered by that big ol' "Polls" in the forum title. People might still sail over it thinking it's polls only.

 

[Nick]

If an actual discussion - rather than a simple question - can come from a thread, then basically it belongs in Other Chat. Granted a discussion can come from a lot of things - pretty much anything, actually - it has to be a logical one that more opinions can be added to, rather than stating what your favorite food is, or how many times you did "so and so."

@Nica - Asking the regulars of OVP and OC for a forum name change to help with people's confusion? Doesn't seem logical to me. Ask a moderator if you're confused.

 

[Stairmaster]

No, Stairmaster, that's just silly. "Pokemon General" already gives the idea of what it's about, and it comes after the main generation forums, so people get what it's for. The description is also helpful.

When I first entered the final category of PC, I posted something in OC that belonged in OVP because there was absolutely no indication that chatter based on questions / chatter that doesn't really deem for extensive replies was meant to go in a forum that pretty much said "ONLY POLLS PLZ". The fact it says "Other Chat" and my topic had no poll, it was obvious that the topic was meant to be there, no? Wrong. It was moved, and Chibi-Chan eventually made that announcement which a lot of people don't see / ignore / their thread actually doesn't end with "?" but it's the same idea as the OVP.

A description change would be a start. It doesn't "jump" out, though, since it's smothered by that big ol' "Polls" in the forum title. People might still sail over it thinking it's polls only.

Shouldn't the same logic apply to OVP and OC? I think the questions problem is pretty simple. Quickie polls and quantity-based questions go in polls but debates and questions asking for extensive opinions either backed up by facts or standalone would go in OC. I think the only gray area would be on a poll like "What is your middle name?" which would obviously not generate enough "chat" to go in OC.

Either way I haven't seen an explanation for why changing the name to one of the ones you suggested would do anything to help the problem.

 

[Chibi-chan]

I've tried to make it clear in the announcement, but people are STILL not getting it. Some people don't even notice OVP exists believe it or not.

If you make an announcement and don't see it, I doubt people will actually read the descriptions.
More so I problem with members who won't (bother to) listen than confused members.

 

[Yusshin]

As said before, we need to brainstorm better ideas; I didn't say one of the four I posted would absolutely be the best one.

It's the gray line that's the problem. It technically doesn't belong in OC, but it doesn't belong in OVP because the title & description of that forum doesn't fit. It basically says "Polls only" the way it is now. It's confusing if you haven't had a topic moved from OC->OVP already.

I still think a name change would be better.

 

[Stairmaster]

As said before, we need to brainstorm better ideas; I didn't say one of the four I posted would absolutely be the best one.

It's the gray line that's the problem. It technically doesn't belong in OC, but it doesn't belong in OVP because the title & description of that forum doesn't fit. It basically says "Polls only" the way it is now. It's confusing if you haven't had a topic moved from OC->OVP already.

I still think a name change would be better.

Really, no one is going to brainstorm ideas if they don't agree with the transition in the first place.

And I think you're under the impression that something's not a poll if it doesn't have the forum-made poll attached to it. That's not true, and just a simple question with no official poll could, by definition, be a poll. So in that since it is polls only.

 

[Nick]

As said before, we need to brainstorm better ideas; I didn't say one of the four I posted would absolutely be the best one.

It's the gray line that's the problem. It technically doesn't belong in OC, but it doesn't belong in OVP because the title & description of that forum doesn't fit. It basically says "Polls only" the way it is now. It's confusing if you haven't had a topic moved from OC->OVP already.

I still think a name change would be better.

There's always been a gray line. There always will be with two very similar forums. Pretty much, though, Stairmaster hit the nail on the head.

Shouldn't the same logic apply to OVP and OC? I think the questions problem is pretty simple. Quickie polls and quantity-based questions go in polls but debates and questions asking for extensive opinions either backed up by facts or standalone would go in OC. I think the only gray area would be on a poll like "What is your middle name?" which would obviously not generate enough "chat" to go in OC.

Either way I haven't seen an explanation for why changing the name to one of the ones you suggested would do anything to help the problem.

A forum name change won't do anything.

 

[Chibi-chan]

To be honest; this isn't as big of a problem as you are making it out to be.
Although they are annoying, it isn't an epidemic :[
If I don't see them first, just report them.

 

[Yusshin]

I know it's not a big problem xD It's just to avoid confusion - it can't be harmful to change the name / description to something that's less confusing for users. If we find a name / description that would make more sense, it would only take a few moments to change in the Admin CP and allow for a more user-friendly experience between OC and OVP.

<< That sounded lame.

But you get what I mean hopefully :s It's a simple matter that only good can come out of it.

 

[Chibi-chan]

I know it's not a big problem xD It's just to avoid confusion - it can't be harmful to change the name / description to something that's less confusing for users. If we find a name / description that would make more sense, it would only take a few moments to change in the Admin CP and allow for a more user-friendly experience between OC and OVP.

<< That sounded lame.

But you get what I mean hopefully :s It's a simple matter that only good can come out of it.

Well, if staff feel like it becomes a pressing issue, we may take a name change into consideration.
But I don't see that happening soon.