Let’s be honest. The goskagit poll questions have been really lame of late and it’s time to breath some new life into this fun and delightful passtime. So, we thought we’d take the opportuntiy to ask our readers for a little help.

Do you have a suggestion for a poll topic?

If so, post your ideas to this discussion thread. Include your question and choices for answers. Please limit poll answers choices to four. Feel free to suggest as many poll topics as you like.

Thanks for your help.

Here’s a poll topic for you:
Should the “discuss” function be available on all articles or just the ones selected by goskagit administrators?
Should goskagit administrators remove posts that they don’t like (even if those posts contained no profanity or vulgarity)?

bzz_bzz,

Thank you for your poll suggestion. I’d like to use it as an oppurtunity to explain how the discussion proccess is intended to work.

The “discuss” link is to be included on most articles posted to goskagit.com, except in these instances:

Articles posted to goskagit prior to June 9, 2008 do not include a ‘discuss’ link. Previous comments on these older stories could not be transferred to the new forum platform.

‘Celebrations’ articles, e.g., engagements, birthdays, weddings, etc…

In some instances the Editorial staff from the participating newspapers reserve the right not to include a discussion link for a particular story. Ongoing trails are a good example. With these stories a discussion link will not be included until the trial has closed and a verdict has been delivered.

If you see a ‘discuss’ link missing now, it is likely an oversight. We are still learning a new process for posting stories and linking discussions. We do our best to go back and link stories if we see one has been missed. If there are any that you know about that we may not, please respond to this post with the titles.

In regards to removing posts, there are justifications other than profanity or vulgartiy. I’ve included our expectation for online conduct as stated in our terms of use:

Goskagit encourages a free and open exchange of ideas in a climate of mutual respect. Any action by a user that infringes on another user’s right to use and enjoy the website is prohibited. Goskagit reserves the right, but does not assume any obligation, to monitor your online conduct to enforce this User Agreement, without limitation and with absolute discretion.

We may cancel or terminate your right to use goskagit.com at any time without notice, for any reason whatsoever, including but not limited to your failure to abide by the terms and conditions of this User Agreement. In the event of cancellation or termination, you are no longer authorized to access goskagit.com affected by such cancellation or termination. The restrictions imposed on you with respect to material downloaded from goskagit.com, and the disclaimers and indemnification provisions set forth in this User Agreement, shall survive. Goskagit.com reserves the right to suspend or terminate your access to and use of goskagit.com if, in our view, your conduct fails to meet any of the following guidelines or for any reason whatsoever, within our complete and absolute discretion:

a. Users shall not provide any information that is false, misleading or inaccurate.

b. Users shall not use any portion of goskagit.com for any unlawful purpose and will comply with all applicable domestic and international laws, statutes, ordinances and regulations.

c. Users shall not use any portion of goskagit.com for uploading, posting, e-mailing, transmitting or otherwise making available content that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other proprietary rights of any party. Only the owner or a representative designated by the owner may upload copyrighted material to goskagit.com.

d. Users shall not use any portion of goskagit.com for uploading, posting, emailing, transmitting or otherwise making available content that is harmful to minors in any way, or for posting content that is harassing, harmful, threatening, abusive, vulgar, obscene, defamatory, libelous, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable.

e. Users shall not use any portion of goskagit.com for uploading, posting, emailing, transmitting or otherwise making available junk mail, commercial advertisements, or any other form of commercial solicitation.

f. Users shall not attempt to interfere with any other person’s use of goskagit.com.

g. Users shall not misrepresent their identity nor impersonate any person.

MOST IMPORTANT

As a goskagit forum member your have the ability to start a discussion thread on any topic you want in the “Skagit Talks” forum. No longer are you restricted to the discussion as related to a story. If there is an issue in the communtiy that isn’t being reported in the paper, please take the opportunity to discuss it here. Or if you find a story on goskagit that does not have a ‘discuss’ link, start the discussion yourself. You can even start a topic that is not covered by one of the newspaper.

HOW DID YOU ENJOY YOUR DINNER?

*back to lame

Your “What’s for Dinner” poll needs a “None of the Above” choice.

I strongly disagree with the notion of a “sweet spot between 40 and 60 mph.” Back in the seventies, in the days of the original 55 mph national speed limit, this notion of maximum fuel mileage at 55 mph was closer to true, but with most all modern automobiles today being equipped with overdrive transmissions, 55 mph is a far cry from the optimum speed for fuel efficiency.

My Jeep gets its best mileage around 65 mph.  Same with my wife’s Subaru.  My Harley is most efficient at around 70 mph.  At 55 mph I wouldn’t even be able to use my Harley’s sixth gear.

Gas mileage has nothing to do with road speed and everything to do with engine RPM.

It’s not so much that the polls are lame as much as they are not always thought out. Tonight was the “how many TV’s do you own?” there was no option for “0”.

Like the other person suggested, there is no NULL option.

How about what would you do if you were a S-W City Councilmember?

Do you feel that you have taxation without representation

How about this for a poll. Is elizabeth hasselbeck being treated fairly on the view?

How many folks think it is insane that the RR crossing on College Way will be closed on 18 Nov from 7AM to 7PM. PLEASE someone give to me the reasoning behind this? Should this not be done at night?

How many people in our community are aware that when you get out of jail in Skagit County that there are organizations that give these individuals a free motel room. How many people think these charities should give them a one way bus ticket out?

Do you think the Skagit Valley Herald as well as Skagit Valley College should post what days are training days for the many different emergency management and criminal justice classes offered at Skagit Valley College.

I have a few more my night begins in the day. I’m going to bed. Good day folks.

How about a new poll, did you have your property taxes in skagit county, Raised? Lowered? or Stayed the Same?