These polls are poorly posed for the following reasons:

1. The first poll simultaneously asks "Do you think you are better than other people?" and "How do you use the word "elitist"?" and the result is confused voting.

2. The first option of the first poll is too emotionally charged and conflates too many different responses. People that technically agree with it might be uncomfortable with choosing it.

3. The third poll ignores the base rate. I, for one, would not participate in an online group non-anonymously, and therefore the same is true for a group described as "elitist". The poll options should be stated like "I will be less likely to participate than otherwise" or "It will be more important for me to be anonymous than otherwise" (that's poor wording but it gets the point across).

4. Possibly, the "participation" and "anonymity" parts of the third poll should also be split up, or more combinations of these should be allowed.

5. The final poll asks two questions, to which the answers may well be different, and allows only one response.

6. The question of the final poll is too complicated, and as a result people who disagree entirely may end up giving the same answer, making the results meaningless.

All of these questions have an "Other (Please elaborate.)" option, which is good, but it doesn't really save bad polls: if too many people are forced to the "Other" option because of problems with the question, the results of the poll are meaningless and misleading, and you have no way of comparing the reasons for choosing "Other".

P.S. Due to the poll resetting bug, I'm going to post a raw data summary here for convenience (as of 10 total votes); the votes are split 1:3:6:0 for the first question, 3:5:1:1 for the second, 2:1:2:0:4:1 for the third, 8:1:1 for the fourth.

Why on earth would people who think elitism can be a good thing always automatically think they themselves are elites?

Do not make another elitism poll. You are continuing an unproductive discussion.

Poll Responses at 19 votes:

Are you an "elitist", and, if so, how do you use the word? (poll id 32)

• 3 (16%) - Yes, better than / entitled to special treatment or exceptions to rules.
• 4 (21%) - Yes, but not by the first definition.
• 11 (58%) - No.
• 1 (5%) - Other.

"Elitists": 37%

Non-"Elitists": 58%

How do you think most people perceive groups that describe themselves as "elitists"? (poll id 33)

• 11 (58%) - Likely to make a bad impression regardless of presentation.
• 6 (32%) - There is a way of presenting it.
• 1 (5%) - It's unlikely to make a bad impression regardless.
• 1 (5%) - Other.

Do you feel inhibited about participating in a group that is described as as "elitist"? (poll id 36)

• 5 (26%) - I will participate fully, but only if I can be anonymous.
• 1 (5%) - I will participate partially.
• 4 (21%) - I will consider quitting or not participating in the first place.
• 0 (0%) - I will participate fully, without anonymity but I hope certain people don't find out.
• 8 (42%) - I will participate fully, without anonymity and I don't care who knows it.
• 1 (5%) - Other.

Inhibited: 26% - 52% (Some of these may prefer anonymous posting regardless.)

Uninhibited: 42%

If LessWrong had a method that you thought was good to ensure you can still experience flow* in discussions while also maintaining quality on the blog, would you welcome beginners who are interested in becoming more rational and refrain from using the word "elitist" to describe LessWrong? (poll id 35)

• 15 (79%) - Yes.
• 2 (11%) - No.
• 2 (11%) - Other.

Conclusion:

Most people taking the poll don't identify as "elitists" and think it is likely to make a bad impression to call ourselves "elitists". About 21% of people feel strongly enough about this that they would consider quitting or not joining in the first place. Up to 52% feel inhibited about participating in a group that is described as "elitist". An overwhelming majority (79%) would welcome beginners to the site and refrain from using the word elitist to describe the site if there were a good way to ensure that they still experience flow in discussions and maintain quality on the blog (or some combination of those).

See Also:

Kindly's criticism of my poll.