[2022] Poll 3 Voting

[Nadine in NY]

Why would a lot of up-votes dilute the result?

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads)]

After the discussion about how many books involve politics, I'm realizing that I only hate real world politics, but actually rather enjoy it in sci-fi and fantasy. It's not enough to make me vote for it, but it does stop me from *dis*liking the prompt so much.

On the other hand, I have decided to downvote the 'book found while searching for another book' prompt. While I'm sure this does occasionally happen to me, it's so rare that I can't count on it happening next year, and can't remember which of my TBR books might have originally been found this way. It also seems very hard to interpret in a creative way--the only other option I can think of is if I were looking for a book amongst books I own, and ran across something else I'd forgotten about but actually wanted to read more.

[Nancy]

I went 6 up, 2 down. I had a really hard time deciding which prompts I'd originally had in my up list to cut, but I wanted to use 2 downs this time.

Sunday is so far away!

[Jillian]

Nadine wrote: "Why would a lot of up-votes dilute the result?"

If there are only 3 really popular prompts, than it is easy to get 3 tops. If there are 8 popular prompts, we might only end up with 1 or 2 tops because while many prompts were liked not many had a clear advantage over each other.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Nadine, it wouldn't.

Technically, the way that lots of good prompts dilute the voting is that not everyone agrees on what the *good prompts* are lol. If everyone uses 6 upvotes, but they all spread their 6 votes across 12 different prompts, that's when it gets diluted.

If the group agrees on the same 6 prompts, then 6 prompts will win!

Moral of the story is to vote on the prompts you like, downvote the prompts you don't, and let the chips fall where they will.

[Steve]

Emily wrote: "I put that cover because it has that centerpiece that is centered and symmetrical! The cover Aimee posted was more symmetrical that this one.

The previous one doesn't..."

Got it! Since the one in your (updated) post was different from the one Aimee posted, I assumed that was the "original" cover you posted that was being referenced. I was going to say, if that's not symmetrical, we're being REALLY picky!

[Ellie]

Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads) wrote: "On the other hand, I have decided to downvote the 'book found while searching for another book' prompt...."

This week I've been adding to my 2022 wishlist and a lot of books weren't found on Amazon so it was determined to show me The Overstory every time that happened. But I wouldn't say I discovered the book that way, I already have a copy somewhere. So I'm open to a prompt about search serendipity of some sort but not quite this wording.

[Milena]

Another idea for author younger than you is Frankenstein: The 1818 Text. I knew Mary Shelley was really young when she wrote it. According to Wikipedia, it was published when she was 20.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads) wrote: "After the discussion about how many books involve politics, I'm realizing that I only hate real world politics, but actually rather enjoy it in sci-fi and fantasy. It's not enough to make me vote f..."

I also am not sure about "book found while searching for another book". I think I would just count what happens when I go to the library for 1 specific book and come home with several more that just looked enticing. It has also happened with nonfiction, if I am looking for a subject and other books on the subject come up.

[Edie]

NancyJ wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I have 8 upvotes right now! And others I'd vote for if we had more than 8. I don't think I'll downvote any, except maybe the author younger than you for reasons mentioned, it would be..."

FYI, I had a chance to meet Delia Owens at an authors event and she is not 90. At 72 now, she is still younger than me.

[Irene]

I really dislike the "younger than you" prompt since I'm still in my 20s. I don't want to read a book by a teenager, although there are some (like Eragon, as someone mentioned). Sure, I've read Frankenstein and other classics by authors in their early to mid 20s, but I don't want to have to specifically look up how old they were at the moment of publication to see if they were younger than me. I also just don't like prompts where I have to research the author or background of the book for info not found in the book itself.

I'm also downvoting the Betty White prompt because I don't know who she is and have never seen any of her movies. Google isn't really helpful, is the significance mostly that she will turn 100 in 1922?

Undecided on the other prompts, but am definitely upvoting the light source on cover and Disney song.

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

For those who are unfamiliar with Betty White, I think she is most well known for her role on the tv show "Golden Girls".

[Sherri]

Betty White was on Match Game a lot. She won an Emmy for playing Sue Ann Nivens on the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Her third husband was Allen Ludden. He was the host of Pass Word. She is considered a pioneer of television. She was the first woman to produce a sitcom, Life With Elizabeth. If this becomes a prompt there is a lot to work with here. I went neutral on this suggestion because I figure something would come to me. She is also an animal activist.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

I have a feeling people will have trouble with Betty White. I think it's a great idea but prompts tied to a specific person, place, date, or event tend to be underappreciated. Betty White is probably not known outside the US or by some younger members. I know it's frustrating when the proposer of a prompt gives lots of great ideas for possible interpretations and voters don't take the time to read the detailed description.

I remember Betty White from the game show Password, where she met her husband, the host Allen Ludden (not sure if that's the right spelling.) Then she was on The Mary Tyler Moore Show for years before The Golden Girls.

[Nadine in NY]

Betty White, Lily Tomlin, and Chloris Leachman were the voice actors of the three elderly women in the assisted living facility in the movie Ponyo! If only Ponyo had been based on a book, I would have voted for this category and then read that book. But, sadly, it is not, it's Miyazaki's original re-imagining of The Little Mermaid story.

[Beth]

Even if you read the description and ideas for the Betty White prompt but you don't know who she is (like me), it would feel like quite an arbitrary prompt to vote for. I'm guessing the same would apply to the Taylor Swift prompt in the previous poll.

I also think the wording of 'honor' might throw people off in this case.

[Kendra]

Well, the author who is younger than you prompt just makes me feel old, so I'm downvoting that one!

I'm also not crazy about the politics one. If it makes it in, I know I can find something, but reading something for the politics just turns me off.

I am upvoting the Disney prompt, the book connected to something you read in 2021, the World cup prompt, and Betty White prompt.

I went back and forth on where to put my final 2 votes, and decided to downvote a book with a history just because it seems to only work for rereads and I try to use only new reads for the challenge. And in the end, I went with my gut and upvoted the book you found while searching for something else. It just inspires me for some reason.

[Pam]

NancyJ wrote: "I didn't know half of all that about her! ..."

Your ideas sound good Nancy! I think most people associate Betty White with just Golden Girls, that's why I mentioned these 2 other shows. She had a career before and after Golden Girls! She was hilarious (and very snarky) in Hot in Cleveland! It was supposed to be a bit role but they made it permanent after she was so well received. I also read that she was the honorary mayor of Hollywood so a book about Hollywood would also work.

I wanted to suggest a prompt where I could use a book with a nun detective character so I voted for the female detective prompt to cover that idea. I'm also a Flavia de Luca fan and I have a bunch of those books to still read. Since she is a child protagonist, I voted for that one too. I have lots of mid-grade books I want to read plus some adult ones that fi this criteria.

[Joan]

I voted 4 up and 4 down.

My picks were a book with a character that has a disability, source of light on the cover, child protagonist and a book connected to a book you read in 2021.

I wasn't thrilled with the more subjective ones. I waffle too much choosing a book on those. My downvotes were a book with a history, a book connected to the World Cup, a book you might take on a long journey and Betty White.

If any of those get in though it won't bother me. The ones I didn't vote for either way I actually like a lot as well.

[Jill]

I voted 5 up/3 down.

Up votes were:
A character with a disability
A child protagonist
Disney song
Connected to a 2021 read
World Cup

Down votes:
Author younger than you
Found while searching for another book
Book with a history

[Rachel]

Emily wrote: "Nadine, it wouldn't.

Technically, the way that lots of good prompts dilute the voting is that not everyone agrees on what the *good prompts* are lol. If everyone uses 6 upvotes, but they all sprea..."

Yes, this is what I meant, lol! I just find it so hard to put into words, and I'm definitely not trying to influence how anyone votes or what they choose. It's just a pattern that I've noticed from being in the group for a few years now.

When there are a lot of popular prompts on one poll, it gives me the impression that things get diluted since there isn't as much of a consensus. Then again, I've also seen many polls where there seem to be very clear frontrunners and then those don't get in either, so who knows.

[Angie]

Voted.

I wound up going with 4 upvotes:
*A book with a child protagonist
*A book with an image of a source of light on the cover
*A book related to the title of a song from an animated Disney or Pixar movie
*A book where the main character is a female detective/private eye/police officer

I did a Disney song quiz, and I got "Be My Guest" from Beauty and the Beast. If the Disney prompt goes through, I will be sticking to that song.

And four downvotes:
*A book whose author is younger than you
*A book connected to a book you read in 2021
*A book connected to the World Cup
*A book you might take on a long journey

[Jillian]

Rachel wrote: "Emily wrote: "Nadine, it wouldn't.

Technically, the way that lots of good prompts dilute the voting is that not everyone agrees on what the *good prompts* are lol. If everyone uses 6 upvotes, but ..."

I’m pretty good at predicting what will be polarizing and bottom prompts (though the Taylor Swift really surprised me). About half the time, I’m surprised with what actually makes it into the top.

[Laurii]

I voted 5 up and 2 down.

Up:
-A book with an image of a source of light on the cover
-A book by an author with 3 names
-A book related to the title of a song from an animated Disney or Pixar movie
-A book connected to a book you read in 2021
-A book where the main character is a female detective/private eye/police officer


Down
-A book whose author is younger than you (I'm just not interested in going through my TBR and looking up author birthdays)

-A book with a history (I try to use only new reads for the challenge and this seems better suited to rereads)

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Laurii wrote: "I voted 5 up and 2 down.

Up:
-A book with an image of a source of light on the cover
-A book by an author with 3 names
-A book related to the title of a song from an animated Disney or Pixar movi..."

I think voted exactly the same as you, except for one more down vote, which I have already forgotten.

[Harini]

At first look these prompts didn't look as strong as the last two but more I thought about them I started to like them. I finally did 6 upvotes and 2 downvotes.

Upvotes:
*A book with a character who has a disability
*A book with a child protagonist
*A book related to the title of a song from an animated Disney or Pixar movie (I absolutely love this prompt and I did the quiz that was given in the wild discussion and I got the song 'Circle of Life' and I am excited to fit in a book about animal world in this prompt).
*A book connected to a book you read in 2021 (It is kind of a freebie but I like this one)
*A book connected to the World Cup (I want to explore works from Middle East and this prompt seems perfect for that)
*A book where the main character is a female detective/private eye/police officer

I like both the cover prompts and would be ok if either of them gets in.

[Conny]

Just to clarify for those people who think the "book with a history" prompt only works for re-reads, it wasn't conceived that way at all. I may have been a little rushed in the examples (that's what I get for not workshopping the idea in the Wild Discussion first, haha) but the general idea was to use a book which you have a very good reason to read, one that goes beyond pretty cover or interesting blurb or favorite author (or whatever usually makes you pick your books). Could be a boom you picked up because you met the author, even thought you had never been interested in their books before. Or a book you found out served as the inspiration for a movie you really loved. Or a non-fiction book on a topic that only recently became very dear to you.
The idea was, if someone asks you about the book, you have a story to tell as to why you are reading it.

[Jill]

Conny wrote: "Just to clarify for those people who think the "book with a history" prompt only works for re-reads, it wasn't conceived that way at all. I may have been a little rushed in the examples (that's wha..."

Now I want to go back and vote for this suggestion. I thinks if it doesn’t get in this time you should resubmit including this explanation. I would vote for it for sure.

[Harini]

Jill wrote: "Conny wrote: "Just to clarify for those people who think the "book with a history" prompt only works for re-reads, it wasn't conceived that way at all. I may have been a little rushed in the exampl..."

I am with Jill here. I now want this prompt in.

[Conny]

I will prepare to resubmit if it doesn't get in this time around :)

[NancyJ]

Pam wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "I didn't know half of all that about her! ..."

Your ideas sound good Nancy! I think most people associate Betty White with just Golden Girls, that's why I mentioned these 2 other sh..."

Wow, lots of discussion of Betty while I was away! My idea was actually not so much about Betty herself, though I always adored her. But it's about how inspiring she is to our view of aging. Her latest TV show was a wakeup call to me to get moving despite a car accident, brain injury, joint pain, etc. Even when I was young, I found older characters interesting, especially if they were funny or hip. There are tons of books about old people (or whatever term is best), such as A Man Called Ove, that really resonated with me. This year there seem to be more than ever. I don't read a lot of fantasy, but I always like the ones that play on immortality (such as Invisible Life of Addie LaRue). So maybe I'll resubmit something later with a change in wording. Of if anyone else wants to help, or do it themselves, that's great.

[NancyJ]

Edie wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I have 8 upvotes right now! And others I'd vote for if we had more than 8. I don't think I'll downvote any, except maybe the author younger than you for reasons mention..."

Oops. I meant 70. Apologies to Delia.

[Thomas]

Are the results up yet? Not a crtcism of anyone just somehow I missed the notfication last time

[Nancy]

Yes, there's a Poll 3 Results thread.

[Thomas]

Nancy wrote: "Yes, there's a Poll 3 Results thread."
thank you