Escalation: Should we void these questions?

The problem as I see it is that the the alien question, that I created, was flagged because people feel it is not news. They feel it is a silly question. But when tens of thousand of people believe they have been abducted by aliens and millions more claim to have seen a UFO why is this not a valid "news" question. It can be settled by a major news source, if it happens it will be huge news.

Also how does this question differ from a SETI signal by a certain date?

I have also been told it was flagged because the percentages were set to high. Well how in hades could I set them any lower then 5% yes and 95% no.

To void this question means that opinions and a majority of opinions decide what is news. So if someone from the UK places a sports question and the majority of Hubdub users are Americans, if enough of Americans flag the question will it be voided? Should it be voided?

The "Alien" falls within the guidelines of the sights stated objective that Hubdub is a "news" forecaster. To void it means any question can be voided for any reason does it not?

As an aside, I, too, always thought that 5% was the lowest percentage that could be set.

I recently created a question with a 2% range.
<http://www.hubdub.com/e/Market/Will_a...>

My sense is that the range is [now] 1-99% ... but I don't know. Perhaps the accurate range can be incorporated in the next revision of the "Good Question" information.

As for the Jesus question I am an Anti-theist so I think its silly, but replace Alien with Jesus and my arguments would apply to the Jesus question as well. Hubdub is a news forecaster, not a popularity contest.

Will the sun come up tomorrow? If it doesn't that sure as hell would be news. Will Betelgeuse (beetlejuice) go supernova in the next 30 days?
So lets restate the sun question just a little, will our sun go super nova on or before March 1st? Void that one!

I don't believe an alien will speak at the UN anytime soon, I pose questions to challenge the participants and the sights creators way of thinking. I pose questions to challange and I hope improve the website. This is a beta test is it not? So I could give a damn about aliens, but I do give a damn about fairness and one of the things I have observed on Hubdub is that it can be very clickish. That is a real threat to the websites financial success.

When the "Alien" question was posed the lowest option was 5 percent. According to Hubdubs rules my Alien question can have its percentage reset and therefore not be voided.

I'm not sure that either the Jesus or alien question can necessarily be settled unambiguously. Which is not to say that there are no circumstances in which they can be independently confirmed, just that there may be some circumstances where determining the truth will not be possible, someone claims they are Jesus or that Ahmadinejad is an alien for example.

I actually think this question:
http://www.hubdub.com/e/Market/Will_p...

should be voided because someone who believes the Apollo landings were staged isn't going to be convinced that it wasn't by some photos "allegedly" taken by a Japanese space probe.

that's because truthwrangler's Q is multiple choice...you can set any percentages you want with those, but yes/no questions have to be 5-95%

Very disingenuous Nigel, you offered to put it up on the forum for reconsideration, but now you say it is not possible. The Doctor "un-voided" questions in the past so what gives?

So the questions are valid? Is that the determination here? The question about a child being born clearly violates the rules, it is of interest to one person, the questioner, maybe a few others in that family, so why are you keeping it?

As great a job as your team is doing it is clear that "ego's get bruised and that your team has vastly different opinions at times, all very natural but not very professional when the rest of us see the inconsistencies in the rules, the contradictions in policy. Hubdub needs integrity above all else and unfortunately I am not confident that the "team" understands how important it is to be "above board" all the time.

I have felt at times that people on the "team" are being very defensive. "This damn game would be awesome if we could get rid of the participants". My life would be a lot easier if I never had to deal with patrons, but how would I sell my art?

This is still a beta test so it is important to "shore" up your shortcomings before the site goes live. An arrogent attide will not help you get further investors and it will drive players away.

Keep plugging away,

-Rob

Wow a none answer, surprise. And look at the smart ass response from you Nigel (I can send you a screen shot of a greyed out button if you like!).

Very disappointing. Still on the defensive and not answering questions. I can point out a few more important ones Nigel and the team just won't touch.

Looks like I am better off at the more established sites like Intrade and Newsfutures.

I really am sorry that in the end it is immaturity that will doom the sight to failure.

Thanks Nigel!

Now I really like the ability to buy and sell on Newsfutures and Intrade. Intrade is in your part of the world and is technically illegal in the US I believe.

Hubdubs website is much cleaner looking then Newsfutures and worry that Hubdub could get cluttered with unsightly advertising.

Newsfuture and Intrade of course are much livelier with a "trading" focus and I do find them more enjoyable on that level.

Scientific American has an article which should be right up your alley.
"Super Tuesday: Markets Predict Outcome Better Than Polls"
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=m...

Your customer service is responsive but I still feel that you and the team are a little two quick to crack a joke or avoid answering questions posed to you. Tom can be just as defensive, if not more so then ou Nigel. I do not want to pick on anybody.

Now I do know you need to be cautious, but being overly cautious could be your undoing as well. Certainly if I were an "Angel" or other investor I would be leery of jumping in, based on my gut. I just don't trust you guys, something seems wrong. But maybe it is inexperience not immaturity.

Of course quick written communication can quickly dissolve into a flame war. Email is "misconstrued" over 60% of the time. So by not taking the "bait" you my be doing yourself a service.

Customer service is not just about fast response times. Very few companies actually give a shit about their customers so it is refreshing to see you guys try. I do think you care, but be careful you can care to much and that can lead to fatal mistakes.

Now as far as the "wit" goes Nigel, lock it up in Al Gores "Lock Box" you have pointed out on more then one occasion how detrimental your quips can be, they are easily misconstrued. Maybe its "Scotch" humor but then again I am a more Scot then anything else. So its best to stop trying to be funny, you more often then not just come across as an arrogant ass.

Read the Sciam article and keep on trucking.

-Rob

so, I wonder if ...

I can choose "Multiple outcome, one winner" as the "Answer type", then label (only) two outcomes as "Yes" and "No" ... and then set percentages greater than 5-95%.

News Futures has more action but Hubdub is cleaner in its look and feel. Hubdub also feels "deeper" somehow. Your site definitely is more professional overall, lots of glitches at News Futures. But The charity version is a cool concept. The buying and selling aspect is very exciting. The "forecasting" aspect of News Futures is also very intriguing.

My advice should be taken with a grain of salt to be sure, but I am glad Iam helping out. Rarely will family, friends or subordinates tell it to you like it is...

i think on multiple choice u need at least 3 options