Inq should invest in a new computer.

[jBirch]

So, in numerous posts Inq has expressed frustration and dismay at the loss of valuable post information. He has attributed this to a deficient computer.

Is he justified in purchasing a personal computer on grounds other then convenience? Is there an ecconomic rationale for his purchase and if so, what is the projected ROI?

What computer should he acquire and what sort of Internet access should he get?

[Fencergrl]

He needs a keyboard with the “E” and “P” missing.

This would go a long way towards his obsession with epee and epeeists.

[Goofy]

I believe Inquartata has stated that the deficient computer is not his own, but rather is at the office; like many of us, he participates in the forum from work. It's not his to replace or even upgrade, therefore the poll is flawed.

[HookUpandFence]

Anyone, anytime, for any reason is justified (even Inq) in getting a new computer. By the time they get through the checkout, they will again be justified in getting a new computer. That is my opinion, just ask me. ^_^

[chefencer]

I must say, I cannot vote in this poll without proper econo-metric documentation....I need graphs, people! Therefore,and without further ado, after much debate and thorough consideration, I must declare and further announce.....

*logged out of f.net*


@#$%!!!! ^&*@!!!!!

*Logged back in*

This poll is flawed!

[jBirch]

Originally Posted by chefencer

I must say, I cannot vote in this poll without proper econo-metric documentation....I need graphs, people! Therefore,and without further ado, after much debate and thorough consideration, I must declare and further announce.....

*logged out of f.net*


@#$%!!!! ^&*@!!!!!

*Logged back in*

This poll is flawed!

What you mean to say is that you are currently undecided. Were you to refuse to do the research yourself (or found that after doing the research, you couldn't reach a satisifactory conclusion) you would select "Indeterminate".

The poll, as I've argued many times, is not flawed, but rather forces you to make a choice and to declare your opinion should you choose to do so. Merely being unable to select your specific opinion instead of a general category does not make a flawed poll make. The poll would definitely be flawed if, for example, I gave an option that had absolutely no relevence to the question or did not completely cover the sample set (or had a number of other characteristics that denote a flawed set of selections).

Since Yes and No are mutually exclusive binaries and Indeterminate covers the case where the data doesn't support the conclusion, the poll covers all of the possible answers. As such, the poll does not satisify the criteria for a "flawed poll".

*grin*

And for future reference, asserting "this poll is flawed" because Inquartata has done so often in the past with poorly formulated polls, does not defacto make this poll also flawed. This is the Politics folder, after all, and logical arguments are a necessity...even if sometimes they need to include Venn diagrams in their assertions. In your case, the assertion of "This Poll is Flawed" needs to have a clearly stated set of premises and definitions and a correct deductive path towards the conclusion that the structure of this specific poll satisifies the criterion outlined in the formal definition of "Flawed Poll".

James.

[TitanHawk]

How long did you have that prepared in advance? Very nice.

[chefencer]

Originally Posted by TitanHawk

How long did you have that prepared in advance? Very nice.

I was surprised it was still available...

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by jBirch

What computer should he acquire and what sort of Internet access should he get?

He's already gotten a lot of suggestions. He might still be looking for that keyboard missing the E and P though...

[chefencer]

Originally Posted by jBirch

This is the Politics folder, after all, and logical arguments are a necessity...
James.

I do not even know where to begin, but the underlying assumption that logical arguments are a necessity in the Politics folder is probably a good place...

[jBirch]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

He's already gotten a lot of suggestions. He might still be looking for that keyboard missing the E and P though...

Ah crap. And I thought I was doing so well...

James.

[jBirch]

Originally Posted by chefencer

I do not even know where to begin, but the underlying assumption that logical arguments are a necessity in the Politics folder is probably a good place...

And why is that? A logical argument doesn't have to be reasonable, you know, just well-formed.

James.

[jeff]

I vote no, even though I've suggested it to him several times and started the thread referred to above --- because it would remove one of the longest running jokes on the board. With Soldier absent from the fray the "chicken in the room" joke (for which I also claim credit!) doesn't quite have the same zing

[Inquartata]

Bah. The poll is you-know-what, since there is no option for "I am going to send a substantial monetary contribution to the Buy-Inq-a-Computer fund".

[chefencer]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

Bah. The poll is you-know-what, since there is no option for "I am going to send a substantial monetary contribution to the Buy-Inq-a-Computer fund".

I'm sure James will show you the error of your answer... He's probably been saving a five paragraph theme reply with my missing diagrams and graphs!

[academe]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

Bah. The poll is you-know-what, since there is no option for "I am going to send a substantial monetary contribution to the Buy-Inq-a-Computer fund".

Perhaps a better strategy would be along the lines of the "one red paper clip" guy?

http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/

You could start with something similarly worthless, oh say, like a sabre, and try to trade up to a new computer.

You could probably pull it off on F.Net.

[gtmac]

Originally Posted by jBirch

Since Yes and No are mutually exclusive binaries and Indeterminate covers the case where the data doesn't support the conclusion, the poll covers all of the possible answers. As such, the poll does not satisify the criteria for a "flawed poll".

This would be so if the text of the third option wasn't "Indeterminate. It depends upon the usage, the cost and the specifications of the computer model."

By adding the additional text to the "Indeterminate" option, you fail to provide a case where the answer is indeterminate for alternate reasons.

For instance, I think the answer is indeterminate because I choose to spend more time picking apart your argument than considering Inq's plight of technological deficiency enough to derive an opinion.

Despite this, I'll spurn the "F" word in describing the poll, and offer that the poll options are simply insufficient for all those desiring to contribute to the poll numbers without answering the actual question in a useful way.

[jBirch]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

Bah. The poll is you-know-what, since there is no option for "I am going to send a substantial monetary contribution to the Buy-Inq-a-Computer fund".

So your answer is "Yes" then.

James.

[jBirch]

Originally Posted by gtmac

This would be so if the text of the third option wasn't "Indeterminate. It depends upon the usage, the cost and the specifications of the computer model."

By adding the additional text to the "Indeterminate" option, you fail to provide a case where the answer is indeterminate for alternate reasons.

For instance, I think the answer is indeterminate because I choose to spend more time picking apart your argument than considering Inq's plight of technological deficiency enough to derive an opinion.

The implied option of not answering the poll covers this case.

Despite this, I'll spurn the "F" word in describing the poll, and offer that the poll options are simply insufficient for all those desiring to contribute to the poll numbers without answering the actual question in a useful way.

Yes! And now you've illuminated the more subtle nuances of truly flawed polls. Polls which are flawed in this way provide so many options that nothing useful can be drawn from the conclusions. Default options (which cover the case of "nothing useful to add but want to click a button") create flawed results and as such are a surefire indication of a flawed poll.

Hopefully, other curmudgeony posters will take note of what constitutes flawed and un-flawed polls first instead of flinging rhetorical poo around like a hysterical monkey.

James.