Idols and Twisted Gnostic Secrets

[aggienaut]

   Most recent LJ Idol poll is up. With 28 people remaining, its easy to read them all. I encourage doing so. And voting! (=

[Poll #1348977]

   I stared deep into the dark coils of lj, to understand its arcane inner magic, and lo, I was rewarded with gnostic secrets. Anyone can post any poll. I'm not a hacker, there is no secret. I simply questioned what I couldn't do and was rewarded.
   And I found this pleasing -- that specifically the kind of behaviour I thought most commendable (questioning your surroundings) yielded a reward of some usefulness. Personally I think the advantage gained by being able to post the poll in your entry was more deserved to those who found it and more proportional to the merits of earning it than nearly all the random "rewards" and "Special powers" that have been purposefully bandied about in this competition. In short, it made me feel like at least something was right in the world.
   However, all good things must come to an end. All too often good technology is eventually twisted, and this has happened.
   Gary became concerned and asked how it is done, and the knowledge was passed on to him. I hoped he would have the good sense to keep it under wraps, or at least would tell everyone about it all at once. Unfortunately however, he simply told two idolists, spydielives and kittenboo.
   It is no longer a slight advantage to those who have thought to question and investigate their surroundings on their own, it is now an advantage to those who asked Gary how to get advantages. That literally makes me feel sick, and I'll feel filthy until I rectify it.
   From here I'm quite clear that it will continue to spread, and until someone posts about it publicly the people who have gained the knowledge by asking others will do it under the table. Already today I'm seeing strange vote spikes NOT accompanied by a visible entry, that ARE accompanied by "last post: four hours ago," a spot I can't see an entry anywhere near.

   And so, I am levelling the playing field. I am telling each and every one of you that yes, you can post the poll. The method is shockingly, mind-blowingly simple, all you have to do is try. That or ask Gary.


PS: I thought I'd brighten your days with a visual representation of the poll standings. Please stand by, hopefully I'll have some charts converted to a postable size and form within an hour or two.

Comments

Re: Other Polling Secrets

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Isn't that deep dark secret in the FAQs or do I have to add that?

I know it's pretty much standard poll info though.

Re: Other Polling Secrets

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Yeah I don't know, I haven't checked the FAQs lately. On any account I don't really regard it as a secret, I was trying to poke fun at the whole situation. The ability to go back and add votes is definitely something I think everyone ought to be aware of.

Re: Other Polling Secrets

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Seriously they should know. But some people don't I guess. (What do you mean not everyone lives on LJ!!!!*G*)

I guess I need to go back and make sure it is. . . although that really seems like more of an "LJ FAQ" than an Idol one.

Re: Other Polling Secrets

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Maybe remind people at the top of a future vote post? I think most people do understand it, but there's a few that don't. I try to inform them when I catch it. I forget if my friend above was in Idol, but there's presumably people from people's friends lists who won't be familiar with the faq and may later decide to vote for more people and run into this misconception.

Re: Other Polling Secrets

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

That happened to me last year. I voted, read on, wanted to vote for more and didn't realise I could change my vote. Took me ages to figure it out and I know from comments in the GR that I wasn't alone.