Buffy Poll results and other stuff
Feb. 29th, 2012 09:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. The good news...I feel better today. Much better. The irritability seems to have dissipated. ie. I no longer want to kill people or fling myself in front of a wayward bus (which I've decided would be a painful way to go, also not necessarily effective...people have survived. Albeit easy - I decided on the way to work this morning that I had a better chance of being hit by a wayward bus in Jamiaca, Queens than I do of finding a mate, winning the lottery, getting a better job, getting a book published, and a whole host of other things I won't depress you or me with.). Still struggling with focusing...
2. The Buffy Favorite Season Poll was rather interesting and far more entertaining than expected. (And so far no kerfuffles, yay team!) Also a bit perplexing...proving once again that there are a variety of ways to interpret what appears to be a fairly straight-forward question. (I should know this already from work, or at least you'd think I would.)
So far? Or the last time I checked...
* 69 people had taken the poll. (Come on, let's see if we can get up to at least 70..., it's still open if you want to participate.)
* Of the 69, 85.9% did not consider S3 their favorite season.
* Okay, now this is bewildering..
- 8 people state that S3 is their favorite season under question #1 (which states: "Was S3 of Buffy your favorite season?") while only 4 people state
that S3 was their favorite season under question #2 ("Favorite Season of Buffy"). I thought that the way the questions were framed that Question 1 and Question 2 would have the same answer or roughly the same for Season 3. (8 people - no more, no less - loved S3. But nooo.)
Now before you start to theorize, I'll add another wrinkle to the problem "2" of the people who voted under Question #2 did not vote under question #1. I have no idea why they skipped question #1. Maybe they didn't see it? No clue.
So...this begs the question - what do you think happened? Also how's that for a brain teaser?
Possible theories:
a) Did people interpret question 1 as stating "that season 3 was amongst your favorite seasons?" - and so voted that it was a favorite, but when they got to question 2, picked another season as "the" favorite? In other words, yes, season 3 is a favorite, but I actually like S5 or S4 a little more. OR I like S5 and S3, but today S5 is my favorite, so I'm going to put yes to question 1 and pick S5 under question 2.
b) Did people decide to split the difference, yes to question 1, and picking another Season under question 2?
c) And what about the people who skipped question 1 entirely? Was this an oversight?
Deliberate? An accident? I'm tempted to say 10 people saw S3 as a favorite - just add the 2 from Question 2 who failed to answer Question 1.
d) and of course there's the majority who read the questions the way I wrote them:
Was Season 3 Your Favorite Season? (your number one choice) and Favorite Season of Buffy (what was your favorite season). So the questions were clear to the majority of voters or pollsters which is somewhat reassuring, at least from my perspective.
I'm wondering if the questions would have been clearer if I left Season 3 off the option list for question 2? No, people may not have seen question 1. You really can't win in these situations.
See? Polling is an inexact science, people have a tendency to perceive questions in ways you can't imagine when setting up a poll. I do not envy professional poll creators.
At any rate, I've decided to interpret the responses as follows: 10 people saw Season 3 as a favorite season but not as their favorite season of the entire series. Only 4 people saw Season 3 as their favorite of the entire series. Now before you jump to any conclusions...this is out of the 69 people who chose to take the poll.
I know for a fact that more than 4 people on my flist preferred S3 to the other seasons, because I've fought with several of them over it. They just declined to take the poll, probably lack of interest. I also know more than 2 loved Season 2. So the poll so far isn't really indicative of either my flist or fandom. But it is of the 69 who took it.
Of the other seasons? 49% picked S5, 27% picked S6, 7% loved S4 (so people bemoaning the fact that they are the only ones who liked S4, take heart - you aren't - there's at least 5 of you to date), S3 and S7 are tied in fifth place...with 6% each*, and surprisingly enough S2 is in 6th place with 3% (this surprised me...I thought people liked that season more for some reason. Certainly expected it to rank above 4,7 and 6.), and no one apparently thinks of S1 as their favorite - which makes sense, if it was your favorite - how in the hell did you make it through 7 seasons? You wouldn't be taking this poll.
*Yes odd pairing S3 and S7. But actually it makes sense to me. Both were plot heavy seasons that focused on authority figures and slayers. Faith factored predominately in both seasons. And the First Evil was in both seasons. As was the Mayor. There's a lot of similarities between S7 and S3 plot-wise and structure wise. Even the relationships are somewhat similar...although I found the B/S angst more relateable than the B/A angst of S3, which just bored me. I had troubles with both seasons for more or less the same reasons. The plot didn't work for me on an emotional level.
I find the lack of interest in S2 fascinating. Way back when...oh about five or six years ago, when we did these polls online, people often chose S2 as their favorite.
Now, it's becoming more or more S5, S6 and S4. Very interesting. Of course different people were taking the polls...so there may not be any change.
I read the comments which were also fascinating. A lot of people confessed that they didn't really have a "favorite" season per se or that it changed depending on their mood. There was no discernible pattern as to why people picked S3 over S5 or vice versa. It was largely for personal reasons - which are impossible to analyze.
None of this should be remotely surprising...considering people were able to interpret the question "Was S3 of Buffy your favorite season?" multiple ways.
I did the poll because I scanned a Mark Watches post and got mildly curious. Mark said he was sure S3 was a fan favorite or the favorite season. And I thought, uh no, that would S5. Then I pondered...and thought, is that true? Was it really S5? Or did more people love S3? How many people on my flist loved 5? I can't remember. How many loved 3? Can't remember. I know, let's do a poll and find out.
What I discovered is I was sort of right, most of my flist does love S5 and isn't all that crazy about S3. But...I also discovered that you can't really tell. OR understand why people like what they like. Or how they perceive things. You are so stuck in your own body and own pov...that you will never understand what is going through someone else's head or why they think, perceive, interpret or do the things they do. For example? I've no clue why Glee is still doing well in the ratings, and SMASH (which in my opinion is 100 times better) is not. Maybe people like crass satire about high school? And not straight drama about putting on a Bway show?
I don't know. I think this is why I love books so much and why I am so obsessed with pov...because I want to understand how other people think and see the world, and books are a way of understanding that, getting inside someone else's head.
[ETA: Well, more people have taken the poll now, we're at 74 last count, with 9 who saw S3 as a favorite, and roughly 5 as their "favorite" out of all of the seasons - dead heat with S4. Meanwhile S7 has jumped ahead of 3 and 4 both, and landed in 3rd place. Go S7. S2 is stuck in second to last place.
And there is no joy in mighty lj land for poor old S1. Who's in first? Lucky S5, with S6 behind. But no gains there. S5 is holding steady at 49% of the vote, and way ahead of the pack. This is actually not that suprising, considering S5, S6, and S7 are my favorite seasons and we do tend to attract people who look at the world in a similar manner to ourselves. ]
[ETAA - 3/2/12- It's Friday and good lord, S3 and S7 are still tied - they have 6 each.
And S2 is gaining on S4...it's at 4 people to S4's five. With S5 still way ahead of the pack with 35 votes. And S6 a distant second with 18. No love in mighty mudville for
poor old S1. Also, with 79 votes, only 9 people see S3 as their favorite or a favorite, not sure which at this point, considering only 6 voted for it as the favorite amongst the other seasons. After four or five days...I'm declaring S5 the winner, and no...S3 really isn't much of a fan favorite on my lj. ]
Off to watch tv. I'm tired and it's getting late.
2. The Buffy Favorite Season Poll was rather interesting and far more entertaining than expected. (And so far no kerfuffles, yay team!) Also a bit perplexing...proving once again that there are a variety of ways to interpret what appears to be a fairly straight-forward question. (I should know this already from work, or at least you'd think I would.)
So far? Or the last time I checked...
* 69 people had taken the poll. (Come on, let's see if we can get up to at least 70..., it's still open if you want to participate.)
* Of the 69, 85.9% did not consider S3 their favorite season.
* Okay, now this is bewildering..
- 8 people state that S3 is their favorite season under question #1 (which states: "Was S3 of Buffy your favorite season?") while only 4 people state
that S3 was their favorite season under question #2 ("Favorite Season of Buffy"). I thought that the way the questions were framed that Question 1 and Question 2 would have the same answer or roughly the same for Season 3. (8 people - no more, no less - loved S3. But nooo.)
Now before you start to theorize, I'll add another wrinkle to the problem "2" of the people who voted under Question #2 did not vote under question #1. I have no idea why they skipped question #1. Maybe they didn't see it? No clue.
So...this begs the question - what do you think happened? Also how's that for a brain teaser?
Possible theories:
a) Did people interpret question 1 as stating "that season 3 was amongst your favorite seasons?" - and so voted that it was a favorite, but when they got to question 2, picked another season as "the" favorite? In other words, yes, season 3 is a favorite, but I actually like S5 or S4 a little more. OR I like S5 and S3, but today S5 is my favorite, so I'm going to put yes to question 1 and pick S5 under question 2.
b) Did people decide to split the difference, yes to question 1, and picking another Season under question 2?
c) And what about the people who skipped question 1 entirely? Was this an oversight?
Deliberate? An accident? I'm tempted to say 10 people saw S3 as a favorite - just add the 2 from Question 2 who failed to answer Question 1.
d) and of course there's the majority who read the questions the way I wrote them:
Was Season 3 Your Favorite Season? (your number one choice) and Favorite Season of Buffy (what was your favorite season). So the questions were clear to the majority of voters or pollsters which is somewhat reassuring, at least from my perspective.
I'm wondering if the questions would have been clearer if I left Season 3 off the option list for question 2? No, people may not have seen question 1. You really can't win in these situations.
See? Polling is an inexact science, people have a tendency to perceive questions in ways you can't imagine when setting up a poll. I do not envy professional poll creators.
At any rate, I've decided to interpret the responses as follows: 10 people saw Season 3 as a favorite season but not as their favorite season of the entire series. Only 4 people saw Season 3 as their favorite of the entire series. Now before you jump to any conclusions...this is out of the 69 people who chose to take the poll.
I know for a fact that more than 4 people on my flist preferred S3 to the other seasons, because I've fought with several of them over it. They just declined to take the poll, probably lack of interest. I also know more than 2 loved Season 2. So the poll so far isn't really indicative of either my flist or fandom. But it is of the 69 who took it.
Of the other seasons? 49% picked S5, 27% picked S6, 7% loved S4 (so people bemoaning the fact that they are the only ones who liked S4, take heart - you aren't - there's at least 5 of you to date), S3 and S7 are tied in fifth place...with 6% each*, and surprisingly enough S2 is in 6th place with 3% (this surprised me...I thought people liked that season more for some reason. Certainly expected it to rank above 4,7 and 6.), and no one apparently thinks of S1 as their favorite - which makes sense, if it was your favorite - how in the hell did you make it through 7 seasons? You wouldn't be taking this poll.
*Yes odd pairing S3 and S7. But actually it makes sense to me. Both were plot heavy seasons that focused on authority figures and slayers. Faith factored predominately in both seasons. And the First Evil was in both seasons. As was the Mayor. There's a lot of similarities between S7 and S3 plot-wise and structure wise. Even the relationships are somewhat similar...although I found the B/S angst more relateable than the B/A angst of S3, which just bored me. I had troubles with both seasons for more or less the same reasons. The plot didn't work for me on an emotional level.
I find the lack of interest in S2 fascinating. Way back when...oh about five or six years ago, when we did these polls online, people often chose S2 as their favorite.
Now, it's becoming more or more S5, S6 and S4. Very interesting. Of course different people were taking the polls...so there may not be any change.
I read the comments which were also fascinating. A lot of people confessed that they didn't really have a "favorite" season per se or that it changed depending on their mood. There was no discernible pattern as to why people picked S3 over S5 or vice versa. It was largely for personal reasons - which are impossible to analyze.
None of this should be remotely surprising...considering people were able to interpret the question "Was S3 of Buffy your favorite season?" multiple ways.
I did the poll because I scanned a Mark Watches post and got mildly curious. Mark said he was sure S3 was a fan favorite or the favorite season. And I thought, uh no, that would S5. Then I pondered...and thought, is that true? Was it really S5? Or did more people love S3? How many people on my flist loved 5? I can't remember. How many loved 3? Can't remember. I know, let's do a poll and find out.
What I discovered is I was sort of right, most of my flist does love S5 and isn't all that crazy about S3. But...I also discovered that you can't really tell. OR understand why people like what they like. Or how they perceive things. You are so stuck in your own body and own pov...that you will never understand what is going through someone else's head or why they think, perceive, interpret or do the things they do. For example? I've no clue why Glee is still doing well in the ratings, and SMASH (which in my opinion is 100 times better) is not. Maybe people like crass satire about high school? And not straight drama about putting on a Bway show?
I don't know. I think this is why I love books so much and why I am so obsessed with pov...because I want to understand how other people think and see the world, and books are a way of understanding that, getting inside someone else's head.
[ETA: Well, more people have taken the poll now, we're at 74 last count, with 9 who saw S3 as a favorite, and roughly 5 as their "favorite" out of all of the seasons - dead heat with S4. Meanwhile S7 has jumped ahead of 3 and 4 both, and landed in 3rd place. Go S7. S2 is stuck in second to last place.
And there is no joy in mighty lj land for poor old S1. Who's in first? Lucky S5, with S6 behind. But no gains there. S5 is holding steady at 49% of the vote, and way ahead of the pack. This is actually not that suprising, considering S5, S6, and S7 are my favorite seasons and we do tend to attract people who look at the world in a similar manner to ourselves. ]
[ETAA - 3/2/12- It's Friday and good lord, S3 and S7 are still tied - they have 6 each.
And S2 is gaining on S4...it's at 4 people to S4's five. With S5 still way ahead of the pack with 35 votes. And S6 a distant second with 18. No love in mighty mudville for
poor old S1. Also, with 79 votes, only 9 people see S3 as their favorite or a favorite, not sure which at this point, considering only 6 voted for it as the favorite amongst the other seasons. After four or five days...I'm declaring S5 the winner, and no...S3 really isn't much of a fan favorite on my lj. ]
Off to watch tv. I'm tired and it's getting late.
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Date: 2012-03-01 08:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-03-01 08:52 pm (UTC)'what are you doing? you can't kick her out of her house? Particularly since she's the only one who pays the bills for it and owns it. Plus she saved all your lives.' (They should have left the house not pushed Buffy out of it. Ugh.)'And so, Xander got his eye poked out. He shouldn't have come, the nitwit.'
LOL!
And yes, Dopplegangland over KiM...took me a while to remember the title of KiM...it tried to do too much. Dopple was more focused.
That was the problem with S7 - it was too busy, they kept packing episodes with things, instead of focusing them. As a result the season felt diffused.