Friday 9 January 2009

Favourite Compiler Poll: Outcome

Those of you who followed the poll announcement will wonder why the result is being announced prematurely. The initial idea was to give the poll a long 6-week run. Many of my readers come through organic search, so this was to allow a wider, representative sample of votes to be cast.

I had launched the poll on a whim, just for fun. Many of us are not even used to observing the compilers' names. I thought those of us who do notice could find a common platform to voice our appreciation, and those of us who don't notice will, perhaps, now. The poll progressed smoothly for the first two days.

But then a strange thing happened. There was a sudden spurt in favour of one particular option on the poll. When this went on for some time, I thought of investigating. As administrator it is possible for me to trace the IP of those using the poll panel.

All these visits were from one particular IP address in Mumbai. Clearly, the poll was being rigged and so it was pointless to continue it.

I don't know whether to be surprised, amused or frustrated at this outcome. I had only read about "booth-capturing" before; this is the first I've experienced it. The motive is a total mystery. There was promise of neither seat in the cabinet nor the plum rewards of Indian Idol.

Anyway, for what it's worth, this is how the poll stood when closed.

Results 

the-hindu-compiler-rigged-poll-result-pie

 the-hindu-compiler-rigged-poll-result-bars

Thanks a lot to each one of you who showed sincere interest in the poll and took the time to vote/comment.

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