Posted on 01/26/2016 9:01:35 PM PST by Windflier
DO NOT VOTE ON THIS THREAD.
This is the nightly DISCUSSION thread for the ongoing 2016 Free Republic Caucus. Per caucus rules, no comments are allowed on the caucus thread itself - hence this open chat thread.
If you'd like to vote in the caucus, please look in the sidebar for the link, or check downthread here.
Thanks, and let 'er rip!
Windy
Thank you for doing these threads.
You’ve got me scared to put a “.” after “Vote XYZ”
If DoughtyOne lacks the skillset to filter the report by just the valid votes - screening out anything else - I would be *quite* surprised. I’d like to think that he’s *more* than capable. But if not, I apologize. Mea Culpa.
However, I’ll use FreepMail should the need arise going forward.
The Caucus thread should be seen no different than the place we go to cast our votes every election.
Inside that place we don't conduct conversations, debate the candidates or issues, campaign for our candidate, wear clothing that promotes a candidate, or pass out notes to those around us telling them who to vote for. We don't speak out loud. We simply vote. That's all we do. When we're done we don't wave our ballot and tell everyone that we voted for "X".
It's a voting thread folks.
Around 97% of the FReepers on the thread have the ability to grasp the concept. A few folks don't. Those few create the full percent of the vote that is invalid.
Here's how that plays out.
Entry 01: Name
Entry 02: Oops I voted wrong
Entry 03: Vote Name
Entry 04: Sorry I voted wrong
Entry 05: I won't do it again
Entry 01: I just have to make a text post to this thread.
Entry 01: I don't know if you know this, but you can't post anything other than votes to this thread.
Entry 01: Don't you folks know you can't do X on this thread?
Result, the invalid vote count mounts. Their candidate gets no support. FReepers wonder why the invalid vote count is so high, and tend to wonder if some shenanigans are going on, favoring one candidate. It serves to undermine confidence in the numbers. I don't mind the effort to conduct the poll, but it does bother me that folks contribute to undermining confidence in it.
If you want to thank me, do it by casting your vote in accordance with the rules.
Ideally, I'd like there to be no invalid votes. How does that happen? Folks follow the voting guidelines just like they do in the voting booth every election. You don't complain going in. You don't complain coming out. You just do it, no questions asked.
Others may see the folks who can't follow the rules and wonder why their candidate attracts people like that. This may factor into their thoughts about candidates.
Some people can't help saying something on the thread.
Others can't help responding to them. In some instances they are off on another thread and don't realize the person they are talking to addressed them from the vote thread. They respond innocently and post it to the vote thread without realizing it. Both people's vote are invalidated for the day.
When we walk into a voting station do we tell the staff how we are going to vote?
We walk into the voting station and follow the guidelines so that our vote is take, processed, and supports our candidate or cause.
We don't stand there and argue about it. We don't picket the place. We just follow through and support our person or issue.
So when I ask folks to just cast a ballot, I want them to just cast a ballot by the rules.
I don't want a person who is on fire for a candidate to call attention to their vote. That is electioneering. That wouldn't be allowed in a voting station we frequent. Why should it here?
Votes that won't count.
Vote Name!
VOTE NAME
Vote Name!!!!!
((Vote Name))
Why are these not allowed?
Once you start allowing anything that calls attention to a vote, other people are validated to do anything they want to call attention to their vote.
If a person can add "!", why can't a person add "!!!!!!"?
If a person can enter VOTE TRUMP, why can't they enter VOTE TRUMP
Folks, this isn't rocket science.
Vote Name
I like the people who can’t master the rocket surgery of posting after midnight. :D
Thanks for running the caucus, I look forward to checking the results daily.
Human nature, wanting to be first. People also naturally think a thread once posted, is game to be posted on.
It is sort of a :D moment, but I don’t mind. I alert them. They vote again. No harm.
Well, I screwed up. Put an exclamation point before I saw ‘no punctuation’.
Won’t make that mistake again.
Is that like a ‘hanging chad’? ;-)
DoughtyOne, Thanks again for your work creating the best fun currently on Free Republic! It is brilliant!
Thank you. I appreciate your note.
D1
No Marie, it’s like placeing emphasis on your vote, so others are encouraged to do it, or do more.
Everyone wants to represent their candidate best, so I ask folks not to.
I know that seems like a small issue, but of one person can put one exclamation point, then someone else can use three, then five, then other things.
I cut it off at none.
It’s a good question.
Take care.
D1
Hey, how ya doing?
Thanks again for the thread.
Doing great, but (as usual) this is just getting started at my bedtime. I've gotta roll so I can get to work tomorrow.
Y'all have fun!
You are in the Central Standard Time zone.
Your voting block is 11:00pm to 11:00pm.
Don’t feel like you have to vote at 11:01.
Vote the next morning or anytime up until 11:00pm at night.
Take care.
D1
You can vote today. If you voted too early, vote again during the 24 hour period. It will be counted.
Just follow the rules.
Actually, it has become quite easy at this point.
I have a system going and it works quite well.
D1
Thanks again...
With so many members being booted off fr, I don’t consider the caucus to be valid so I have ceased to participate.
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