Voting FAQ: Difference between revisions

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<ul><li style="list-style-type:none">'''Note''': ''We are currently standardizing the terminology used in our documentation. In some the following terms used interchangeably.''
* ''Album and Release''
* ''Moderate and Edit''
'''Release''' ''and'' '''Edit''' ''are now standard.''
</ul>

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This pages answers [[Frequently Asked Questions|FrequentlyAskedQuestions]] about voting on addition, changes and deletions of [[MusicBrainz]] [[Metadata|MetaData]]. See [[How Voting Works|HowVotingWorks]] for some more detailed documentation.
This pages answers [[Frequently Asked Questions|FrequentlyAskedQuestions]] about voting on addition, changes and deletions of [[MusicBrainz]] [[Metadata|MetaData]]. See [[How Voting Works|HowVotingWorks]] for some more detailed documentation.


If that still doesn't help, please find us in one of the [[MusicBrainz Forum|MusicBrainzForum]]<code><nowiki></nowiki></code>s or via the [http://www.musicbrainz.org/support/contact.html contact page]. If you would like to update the content of [http://wiki.musicbrainz.org/VotingFAQ this page] on the wiki, feel free to do so but please do not add questions without answers.
If that still doesn't help, please find us in one of the [[MusicBrainz Forum|MusicBrainzForum]]<code><nowiki></nowiki></code>s or via the [[Contact Us|ContactUs]] page. If you would like to update the content of [[MBWiki:VotingFAQ|this page]] on the wiki, feel free to do so but please do not add questions without answers.


==FAQ==
==FAQ==
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Since the database is going to be huge and mistakes are going to be made, there are several mechanisms in place to check as much stuff as we can every step of the way.
Since the database is going to be huge and mistakes are going to be made, there are several mechanisms in place to check as much stuff as we can every step of the way.


When you propose a change, it is entered in the database provisionally, and will be voted on by other editors. A change will remain provisional for a period of seven days before the change becomes permanent. In that time, everyone who checks the moderation pages gets to vote for or against it. If a change is voted down, it is discarded and the data reverts to the original.
When you propose a change, it is entered in the database provisionally, and will be voted on by other editors. A change will remain provisional for a period of seven days before the change becomes permanent. In that time, everyone who checks the edits pages gets to vote for or against it. If a change is voted down, it is discarded and the data reverts to the original.
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See [[How Voting Works|HowVotingWorks]].
See [[How Voting Works|HowVotingWorks]].


Firstly, the moderation is entered into the system. Next, the system works out whether this moderation should be auto-moderated or not (see above, 'What moderations get "auto-moderated"?'). If yes, then the moderation is immediately applied, and the moderator credited (their "moderations approved" count goes up by one). End of story.
Firstly, the edit is entered into the system. Next, the system works out whether this edit should be auto-applied or not (see above, 'Which edits get "auto-applied"?'). If yes, then the edit is immediately applied, and the editor credited (their "edits approved" count goes up by one). End of story.


Otherwise, the moderation is left "open", any associated data is marked has having moderations pending, and voting begins.
Otherwise, the edit is left "open", any associated data is marked has having edits pending, and voting begins.


Each time a user looks at [http://www.musicbrainz.org/moderate.html the main moderation page], the system fetches a list of all mods which are open (i.e. still in the voting process), and on which this user has not yet cast a vote. The web server then shows them the first (i.e. oldest) few moderations. The user then casts their votes on those moderations (Yes, No, or Abstain), and they go around the loop again.
Each time a user looks at [http://www.musicbrainz.org/moderate.html the main edits page], the system fetches a list of all edits which are open (i.e. still in the voting process), and on which this user has not yet cast a vote. The web server then shows them the first (i.e. oldest) few edits. The user then casts their votes on those edits (Yes, No, or Abstain), and they go around the loop again.


If you vote 'No' to an edit, it's helpful if you also leave a note as to the reason why. This
If you vote 'No' to an edit, it's helpful if you also leave a note as to the reason why. This
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* acts as a point of departure for a discussion as to what the correct edit should be.
* acts as a point of departure for a discussion as to what the correct edit should be.


Every now and then (actually, every hour on the hour), the "[[ModBot]]" ("Moderation Robot") wakes up. It's the [[ModBot]]'s job to see how voting is going for each open mod, and decide if each of those moderations should stay open for more voting, or be closed and applied, or be closed and rejected. The [[ModBot]] also checks for moderations which the original moderator has asked to be deleted, and deletes them.
Every now and then (actually, every hour on the hour), the "[[ModBot]]" ("Moderation Robot") wakes up. It's the [[ModBot]]'s job to see how voting is going for each open edit, and decide if each of those edits should stay open for more voting, or be closed and applied, or be closed and rejected. The [[ModBot]] also checks for edits which the original editor has asked to be deleted, and deletes them.


For each open moderation, exactly one of these things applies (checked in order):
For each open edit, exactly one of these things applies (checked in order):
* if the moderation is marked as "to be deleted", then the moderation is deleted (i.e. it is "undone", and then marked as "deleted").
* if the edit is marked as "to be deleted", then the edit is deleted (i.e. it is "undone", and then marked as "deleted").
* if the moderation has failed some dependency or other, then it is rejected with an appropriate status (e.g. "Failed Dependency", "Failed Prerequisite", "Internal Error" etc). In these cases, the [[ModBot]] often adds a note to the moderation explaining what happened.
* if the edit has failed some dependency or other, then it is rejected with an appropriate status (e.g. "Failed Dependency", "Failed Prerequisite", "Internal Error" etc). In these cases, the [[ModBot]] often adds a note to the edit explaining what happened.
* if the moderation has expired, and at least one non-abstain vote has been cast, and there are MORE "yes" than "no" votes, then the moderation is applied.
* if the edit has expired, and at least one non-abstain vote has been cast, and there are MORE "yes" than "no" votes, then the edit is applied.
* if the moderation has expired, and at least one non-abstain vote has been cast, and there are FEWER OR AS MANY "yes" than "no" votes, then the moderation is rejected ("Failed vote").
* if the edit has expired, and at least one non-abstain vote has been cast, and there are FEWER OR AS MANY "yes" than "no" votes, then the edit is rejected ("Failed vote").
* if there are NO "no" votes, and at least THREE "yes" votes, then the moderation is applied (i.e. this can happen before the moderation has expired. This is known as a "unanimous yes").
* if there are NO "no" votes, and at least THREE "yes" votes, then the edit is applied (i.e. this can happen before the edit has expired. This is known as a "unanimous yes").
* if there are NO "yes" votes, and at least THREE "no" votes, then the moderation is rejected, "Failed Vote" (i.e. this can happen before the moderation has expired. This is known as a "unanimous no").
* if there are NO "yes" votes, and at least THREE "no" votes, then the edit is rejected, "Failed Vote" (i.e. this can happen before the edit has expired. This is known as a "unanimous no").
* otherwise, the moderation stays open, and voting continues
* otherwise, the edit stays open, and voting continues


In practice this means that voting works like this:
In practice this means that voting works like this:
* if your moderation manages to get at least THREE unanimous votes (all yes, or all no) before the moderation expires, then it is approved or rejected as appropriate.
* if your edit manages to get at least THREE unanimous votes (all yes, or all no) before the edit expires, then it is approved or rejected as appropriate.
* when the moderation expires, if at least one vote has been cast, then the mod is either applied (if more YES than NO) or rejected.
* when the edit expires, if at least one vote has been cast, then the mod is either applied (if more YES than NO) or rejected.
* otherwise (if the mod expires, and there are no votes cast yet), then the mod stays open until the first person votes either "yes" or "no" - that single vote then decides the fate of the moderation.
* otherwise (if the mod expires, and there are no votes cast yet), then the mod stays open until the first person votes either "yes" or "no" - that single vote then decides the fate of the edit.


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* '''No Vote''' means ''I don't want to vote'' (yet).
* '''No Vote''' means ''I don't want to vote'' (yet).


Long answer: The "New Moderations" page only shows you things you haven't voted on yet. If you ''abstain'' on a moderation, that's counted as a vote, and you won't be shown that moderation again. On the other hand, if you use "No Vote", that's just as if the moderation hadn't been shown to you - a vote from you is ''not'' inserted into the database, and thus the moderation in question will remain in your "not yet voted on" list (as a result you'll probably be shown that moderation again on the next page). Using "No Vote" is exactly the same as leaving the ''yes'', ''no'' and ''abs'' options all deselected.
Long answer: The "New Edits" page only shows you things you haven't voted on yet. If you ''abstain'' on a edit, that's counted as a vote, and you won't be shown that edit again. On the other hand, if you use "No Vote", that's just as if the edit hadn't been shown to you - a vote from you is ''not'' inserted into the database, and thus the edit in question will remain in your "not yet voted on" list (as a result you'll probably be shown that edit again on the next page). Using "No Vote" is exactly the same as leaving the ''yes'', ''no'' and ''abs'' options all deselected.


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[[Category:To Be Reviewed]] [[Category:FAQ]] [[Category:WikiDocs Page]]
[[Category:To Be Reviewed]] [[Category:FAQ]] [[Category:WikiDocs Page]]

Revision as of 20:38, 26 April 2007

Frequently Asked Questions: General FAQ · Account FAQ · Editing FAQ · Introduction to Voting


Purpose

This pages answers FrequentlyAskedQuestions about voting on addition, changes and deletions of MusicBrainz MetaData. See HowVotingWorks for some more detailed documentation.

If that still doesn't help, please find us in one of the MusicBrainzForums or via the ContactUs page. If you would like to update the content of this page on the wiki, feel free to do so but please do not add questions without answers.

FAQ

What's this voting business?

Since the database is going to be huge and mistakes are going to be made, there are several mechanisms in place to check as much stuff as we can every step of the way.

When you propose a change, it is entered in the database provisionally, and will be voted on by other editors. A change will remain provisional for a period of seven days before the change becomes permanent. In that time, everyone who checks the edits pages gets to vote for or against it. If a change is voted down, it is discarded and the data reverts to the original.


How does the voting process work exactly?

See HowVotingWorks.

Firstly, the edit is entered into the system. Next, the system works out whether this edit should be auto-applied or not (see above, 'Which edits get "auto-applied"?'). If yes, then the edit is immediately applied, and the editor credited (their "edits approved" count goes up by one). End of story.

Otherwise, the edit is left "open", any associated data is marked has having edits pending, and voting begins.

Each time a user looks at the main edits page, the system fetches a list of all edits which are open (i.e. still in the voting process), and on which this user has not yet cast a vote. The web server then shows them the first (i.e. oldest) few edits. The user then casts their votes on those edits (Yes, No, or Abstain), and they go around the loop again.

If you vote 'No' to an edit, it's helpful if you also leave a note as to the reason why. This

  • helps new users to learn how to make better edits in future, and
  • acts as a point of departure for a discussion as to what the correct edit should be.

Every now and then (actually, every hour on the hour), the "ModBot" ("Moderation Robot") wakes up. It's the ModBot's job to see how voting is going for each open edit, and decide if each of those edits should stay open for more voting, or be closed and applied, or be closed and rejected. The ModBot also checks for edits which the original editor has asked to be deleted, and deletes them.

For each open edit, exactly one of these things applies (checked in order):

  • if the edit is marked as "to be deleted", then the edit is deleted (i.e. it is "undone", and then marked as "deleted").
  • if the edit has failed some dependency or other, then it is rejected with an appropriate status (e.g. "Failed Dependency", "Failed Prerequisite", "Internal Error" etc). In these cases, the ModBot often adds a note to the edit explaining what happened.
  • if the edit has expired, and at least one non-abstain vote has been cast, and there are MORE "yes" than "no" votes, then the edit is applied.
  • if the edit has expired, and at least one non-abstain vote has been cast, and there are FEWER OR AS MANY "yes" than "no" votes, then the edit is rejected ("Failed vote").
  • if there are NO "no" votes, and at least THREE "yes" votes, then the edit is applied (i.e. this can happen before the edit has expired. This is known as a "unanimous yes").
  • if there are NO "yes" votes, and at least THREE "no" votes, then the edit is rejected, "Failed Vote" (i.e. this can happen before the edit has expired. This is known as a "unanimous no").
  • otherwise, the edit stays open, and voting continues

In practice this means that voting works like this:

  • if your edit manages to get at least THREE unanimous votes (all yes, or all no) before the edit expires, then it is approved or rejected as appropriate.
  • when the edit expires, if at least one vote has been cast, then the mod is either applied (if more YES than NO) or rejected.
  • otherwise (if the mod expires, and there are no votes cast yet), then the mod stays open until the first person votes either "yes" or "no" - that single vote then decides the fate of the edit.


What's the difference between "Abstain" and "No Vote"?

Short answer:

  • Abstain means I don't know.
  • No Vote means I don't want to vote (yet).

Long answer: The "New Edits" page only shows you things you haven't voted on yet. If you abstain on a edit, that's counted as a vote, and you won't be shown that edit again. On the other hand, if you use "No Vote", that's just as if the edit hadn't been shown to you - a vote from you is not inserted into the database, and thus the edit in question will remain in your "not yet voted on" list (as a result you'll probably be shown that edit again on the next page). Using "No Vote" is exactly the same as leaving the yes, no and abs options all deselected.

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