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Fan, issue 6, February 1946
Page 7
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WHAT SHOULD BE IN A FAN POLL? E. E. EVANS It seems to this observer that Fan Polls do not get the information that t hey are seeking, because of their shortness, and the fact that it is too hard to know exactly what the Poll taker has in mind when he asks certain questions. For instance: one of the main questions always asked is "Who is your favorite fan?" and from the results we get our Number One Face. It is my contention that this does not always give the true picture. We may well ask what is meant by "Favorite" -- your favorite choice as a person? As an active fan, and if so, for all time, or for the past year? As a fan publisher? As a fan correspondent? Polls invariably ask for your favorite author, and your favorite story. Ever notice how seldom the two coincide, even on the replies from individual voters? There will be several authors listed none of whose stories are listed in the favorite story division. After consultation with several fans, and particularly after a session of discussion with Walt and Jim-E Daugherty, we have worked up the following table of ideas about the sort of questions that we feel should be asked in a fan poll if we are actually to get the real consensus of opinion about the various items that interest fans. First, FAVORITE FAN. There should be several divisions of this question; (a) What fan do you consider the most important and worthwhile to fandom from the standpoint of activity and results achieved in fandom during the past year; (b) the same only for your all-time fan first, taking in activity and results achieved during the whole course of fandom; (c) Your favorite fan as a PERSON; (d) your favorite fan correspondent. 7
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WHAT SHOULD BE IN A FAN POLL? E. E. EVANS It seems to this observer that Fan Polls do not get the information that t hey are seeking, because of their shortness, and the fact that it is too hard to know exactly what the Poll taker has in mind when he asks certain questions. For instance: one of the main questions always asked is "Who is your favorite fan?" and from the results we get our Number One Face. It is my contention that this does not always give the true picture. We may well ask what is meant by "Favorite" -- your favorite choice as a person? As an active fan, and if so, for all time, or for the past year? As a fan publisher? As a fan correspondent? Polls invariably ask for your favorite author, and your favorite story. Ever notice how seldom the two coincide, even on the replies from individual voters? There will be several authors listed none of whose stories are listed in the favorite story division. After consultation with several fans, and particularly after a session of discussion with Walt and Jim-E Daugherty, we have worked up the following table of ideas about the sort of questions that we feel should be asked in a fan poll if we are actually to get the real consensus of opinion about the various items that interest fans. First, FAVORITE FAN. There should be several divisions of this question; (a) What fan do you consider the most important and worthwhile to fandom from the standpoint of activity and results achieved in fandom during the past year; (b) the same only for your all-time fan first, taking in activity and results achieved during the whole course of fandom; (c) Your favorite fan as a PERSON; (d) your favorite fan correspondent. 7
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