MobileRead September 2011 Mobile Read Book Club Vote

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by issybird

Gee, voting because of ulterior motives. Again, I'm appalled. People are supposed to vote for their favorite and damn the consequences. Or so I've been told. And told. And told.

I did vote that way. I voted for the book I wanted when there were others with more votes. I'm now hoping Storm Front wins because people want to read it.

It's like a political vote. When the the candidate you voted for hasn't a chance to win or drops out, you then hope the better of the ones with a chance to win wins. Though sometimes, there is no better in that case.

But, if we have a blind vote, then I can only hope the book I voted for wins.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's like a political vote. When the the candidate you voted for hasn't a chance to win or drops out, you then hope the better of the ones with a chance to win wins.

Exactly.

But, if we have a blind vote, then I can only hope the book I voted for wins.

Oh, I see. This is all part of an agenda to improve the chances for the books you want, because you don't think you can win in an open vote. Alrighty, then.

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by din155

Oh, you already started? I will wait for the poll to close so that I can finish The Gods Themselves After that I will start with Storm Front irrespective of whichever book wins.

din

Sorry. I was growing impatient.

[din155]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

Sorry. I was growing impatient.

I would have done the same had I not started with the current book which is getting pretty interesting.

din

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by issybird

Exactly.

Well, not exactly. A political vote is a blind vote.

Oh, I see. This is all part of an agenda to improve the chances for the books you want, because you don't think you can win in an open vote. Alrighty, then.

I think seeing the votes skews some people's vote. A blind vote would hopefully eliminate that.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Well, not exactly. A political vote is a blind vote.

Not exactly. Pre-election polls give people a very good idea of who the viable candidates are. Moreover, there's no artifical constraint forcing people not to discuss for whom they're voting, as has been advocated here.

I think seeing the votes skews some people's vote. A blind vote would hopefully eliminate that.

I'm just taken aback that you would advocate strategic voting to others when you wouldn't engage in it yourself.

[vivaldirules]

Although I've only occasionally read the book club's monthly selection (but never participated in the discussions), I'm rather intrigued by van Gulik's novel and so have voted for it - something I've done only once before.

It would be really good if a blind poll could be conducted for the next month, or very soon. I can see that to give it a fair hearing it would have to be truly blind, a thread locked at inception. Then have a poll so that the preference of the majority could be measured, open results during polling or blind poll. Then the question could be fairly settled just like it has been for the two months of classics issue.

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

Although I've only occasionally read the book club's monthly selection (but never participated in the discussions), I'm rather intrigued by van Gulik's novel and so have voted for it - something I've done only once before.

I hope this means that you will take part in the discussion as well. Welcome (officially) to the Mobile Read Book Club. We hope you enjoy your stay.

[GA Russell]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

It would be really good if a blind poll could be conducted for the next month, or very soon. I can see that to give it a fair hearing it would have to be truly blind, a thread locked at inception. Then have a poll so that the preference of the majority could be measured, open results during polling or blind poll. Then the question could be fairly settled just like it has been for the two months of classics issue.

I agree! Maybe not every month, but I think it would be fun to do it like that every once in a while.

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

It would be really good if a blind poll could be conducted for the next month, or very soon. I can see that to give it a fair hearing it would have to be truly blind, a thread locked at inception. Then have a poll so that the preference of the majority could be measured, open results during polling or blind poll. Then the question could be fairly settled just like it has been for the two months of classics issue.

Originally Posted by GA Russell

I agree! Maybe not every month, but I think it would be fun to do it like that every once in a while.

From what I've noticed, everyone of us who wants to give this a try feels the same way.

[issybird]

I suspect that while the polls may be flatter, the outcome won't be affected materially. There will be no way to know, however.

I don't think the two aspects have been addressed. Voters can be hidden (although I think that's less interesting), but there's still no mechanism for hiding the votes unless I missed something. Tom doesn't want to nor should he be expected to tally votes privately.

In the end, an entirely hidden vote sounds like a lot more effort to me and the fun of it doesn't seem worth the nuisance, nor will it prove anything. IMO, of course.

My suggestion would be to have a poll to see if people really want the voters hidden and take it from there.

[WT Sharpe]

The poll is closed. It was a good month for nominations, and there were several on that list that I've added to my To Be Read list, but the winner, with 26.92% of the vote, is The Chinese Maze Murders by Robert van Gulik.

Despite the few naysayers, I think this will be a real treat. I've already started reading it, and I'm really enjoying it. It's fast-paced, intriguing, action-packed, and a chance to immerse ourselves in another time and—for most of us at MobileRead—another culture; told by someone who lived in the country and knows whereof he speaks.

The Chinese Maze Murders Discussion thread will open on September 20th.

[sun surfer]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

It would be really good if a blind poll could be conducted for the next month, or very soon. I can see that to give it a fair hearing it would have to be truly blind, a thread locked at inception. Then have a poll so that the preference of the majority could be measured, open results during polling or blind poll. Then the question could be fairly settled just like it has been for the two months of classics issue.

I agree with everything except it being "truly blind, a thread locked at inception". To me, part of the fun of the book club is the discussions we have in the threads.

I see it more like many elections - people are free to support who they like and give opinions before and during an election, but actual results are not announced until the election is over.

Originally Posted by issybird

I suspect that while the polls may be flatter, the outcome won't be affected materially. There will be no way to know, however.

I don't think the two aspects have been addressed. Voters can be hidden (although I think that's less interesting), but there's still no mechanism for hiding the votes unless I missed something. Tom doesn't want to nor should he be expected to tally votes privately.

In the end, an entirely hidden vote sounds like a lot more effort to me and the fun of it doesn't seem worth the nuisance, nor will it prove anything. IMO, of course.

My suggestion would be to have a poll to see if people really want the voters hidden and take it from there.

Just to be clear I was not suggesting that we conduct a vote through any sort of private message system. That would be burdening the Grand Muckity-Muck too much, and besides some people have indicated that they would not participate under such a system. I was just suggesting that we give the blind polling a try if and when the forum software can be modified to allow this, and then have a poll to see what is the preferred alternative. I would say just have the poll now, but if the results were what I anticipate the results would be there would be those who would say it was not a fair hearing since the blind polling alternative had never been given a try.

Originally Posted by sun surfer

I agree with everything except it being "truly blind, a thread locked at inception". To me, part of the fun of the book club is the discussions we have in the threads.

I see it more like many elections - people are free to support who they like and give opinions before and during an election, but actual results are not announced until the election is over.

That suggestion was just an attempt to make the poll as completely blind as possible.

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

The poll is closed. It was a good month for nominations, and there were several on that list that I've added to my To Be Read list, but the winner, with 26.92% of the vote, is The Chinese Maze Murders by Robert van Gulik.

Despite the few naysayers, I think this will be a real treat. I've already started reading it, and I'm really enjoying it. It's fast-paced, intriguing, action-packed, and a chance to immerse ourselves in another time and—for most of us at MobileRead—another culture; told by someone who lived in the country and knows whereof he speaks.

The Chinese Maze Murders Discussion thread will open on September 20th.

Glad to hear that you are finding it enjoyable. I actually requested the epub for The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency from the FLP when I nominated that book, and by coincidence received an email this morning that it was available for download. So I will be reading that first while it is available to me. I will be reading The Chinese Maze Murders before the discussion begins though. Quite out of the norm for me, two Mystery/Crime books in one month.