BoM/TWS Message Forum

I don't always use the GP system, and the times I don't use it do tend to be those where I'm pretty sure that there aren't one or two dominant choices. This is mostly because I'm pretty sure no one will spend GPs in such a contest, so what's the point? But I used it in the past couple of polls because I knew I was mixing obvious with non-obvious choices, and wanted to give the non-obvious a chance. The one where the Kirkham option won is exactly the kind of situation that I wanted the GP poll to operate in and make a difference. No way that option would have won without GP boosts.

It's always a balancing act with making BoM choices. Do I write a branch that I'm especially interested in, even though I know it's something I doubt will be popular with readers? Do I write the easy and obvious popular choice, because I know that many readers will likely be invested? Do I make the choice myself, or do I throw it open to a vote?

Really, I can only "feel" my way forward, and mix it up so that over time there will be a balance. But that's the only way I think I can accomplish a balance. The solution to imperfect systems (like the GP system) is to sometimes use other systems, and those other systems include (a) my own choice; (b) Free Votes only; (c) commissions; (d) reader-contributed ideas that I like. And the GP system itself is designed to be somewhat wonky so that it occasionally throws out surprises.