Abstaining in Votes

**Justinian** · December 23, 2005, 07:25 PM

Am I the only one who thinks it's absurd to have the abstain option on polls when abstentions don't effect the outcome of the vote in any way? Abstaining is exactly the same as not voting, so why just not vote? If you can't make up your mind ... don't vote.

So why do we need abstain on the polls if they don't effect the percentages?

**Emperor Dimitricus** · December 23, 2005, 07:26 PM

i agree with justinian totally. when someone abstains, it almost looks like they have chosen "no". when really, they didnt care either way, and shouldnt have to vote in that case.

**Justinian** · December 23, 2005, 07:26 PM

All it does is make it confusing trying to figure out if the voted passed or not.

**PyrrhusIV** · December 23, 2005, 07:27 PM

They do get to see what the poll results are though. They are the moderate party usually. They neither wish to vote yes, but not exactly no either.

**Justinian** · December 23, 2005, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by PyrrhusIV

They do get to see what the poll results are though. They are the moderate party usually. They neither wish to vote yes, but not exactly no either.

Oh god no, they have to click one more thing to see the results. If they're not going to vote why do they care? It's the same as voting yes to every single option on a multi choice poll, your vote doesn't change the outcome. At all.

**Kscott** · December 23, 2005, 07:28 PM

It shows that they saw the issue, thats the important thing. The saw the issue, just dont effect the results. An important thing to have. Or else we would have a misguided idea of how active the curia is.

**therussian** · December 23, 2005, 07:29 PM

I like the abstain vote. I makes a civitate (or at least me) feel that he's not completely useless. Its just there to say, "Hey, I see this issue, but I really don't care about it", and so you vote abstain, instead of just not even voting on anything. I've done that once.

Hell, Justinian. You're overcomplicating things. Let the people have their bread and circuses. Does it really annoy you so much that you need it removed completely?

Edit: Damn, six replies before I even clicked finished posting.

Kscott hit the nail on the head (or whatever it is)

**PyrrhusIV** · December 23, 2005, 07:29 PM

Exactly, it is for people like me, who try to "overclock" their lazyness. We push lazyness to the absolute max, and then some

.

**Justinian** · December 23, 2005, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by therussian

Does it really annoy you so much that you need it removed completely?

Yes.

It causes undue confusion trying to figure out if a vote passed with a 2/3 majority or not.

**PyrrhusIV** · December 23, 2005, 07:31 PM

Not really, just dont add them into the ratio, or add them as no, it is your choice.

You do know what a Ratio is, right?

**Justinian** · December 23, 2005, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by PyrrhusIV

Not really, just dont add them into the ratio, or add them as no, it is your choice.

You do know what a Ratio is, right?

I like the % on the poll to actually mean something, is all.

Fine, abstentions show how "active" the Curia is (but you can judge by how many Civitates are posting anyway...), but there's still no reason for people to vote abstain.

Why not just post "I can't make up my mind" in the thread?

**therussian** · December 23, 2005, 07:35 PM

Why not add a vote option for it?

**PyrrhusIV** · December 23, 2005, 07:36 PM

To extend our lazyness, and to make Justinian angry.....

Honestly, Abstaining is good.

Edit:

Why not add a vote option for it

I think i'll abstain.

**Kscott** · December 23, 2005, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by Justinian

I like the % on the poll to actually mean something, is all.

Fine, abstentions show how "active" the Curia is (but you can judge by how many Civitates are posting anyway...), but there's still no reason for people to vote abstain.

Why not just post "I can't make up my mind" in the thread?

another thing. If there is no abstain, people who dont really care would be tempted to vote, and thats not what we want.

**Justinian** · December 23, 2005, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by Kscott

another thing. If there is no abstain, people who dont really care would be tempted to vote, and thats not what we want.

We don't want people to vote now?

**therussian** · December 23, 2005, 07:40 PM

Give the people what they want. Do we really need to have a Curia vote on it? I won't abstain on it! Just so you know...

**Kscott** · December 23, 2005, 07:41 PM

With abstain you give people who can accept either choice the option to not affect the poll, like they shouldnt. If they really cared they would go yes or no.

Now without an abstain, these people most likely still want to participate, but wont have abstaining as an option. They will vote just to vote, and thats not what we want. We need a neutral vote for this purpose if not anything else.