le nubian, below is a new version of a ballot I think will work. How this voting process works, is that it is all up to you. You are free to use, or disregard any of the suggestions made by anyone in this thread, when finalizing your ballot. This proposal is your baby, so you get to design it your own way. I don't know if you know, but you have to finalize the language, before we can vote on it. At any rate, please feel free to take as is, take and modify, or completely ignore the following.

Updated Suggested Draft 2 of Spoiler Threads Ballot:

Item 1: When Spoilers 3: First Mutant Enemy, Now the World was opened, it was done so, with the understanding that the white font rules for it, and its successors, would be decided later. Proposed--the rules should be as follows: The rules are, there are no rules. All hardcore spoilage, all the time. No white font. No apologies.

(choose one)

____ Yes

____ No

____ No Preference

_________________________________________

Item 2: Proposed--We open a more restrained spoiler thread, to accomodate those who want to discuss some spoilers, but not others.

(Choose ONE type)

a) Traditional Spoilers Lite Thread: Guest stars, episode titles, writers, and preview speculation in black font. Exiting cast, TV Guide and other entertainment articles and their discussion white-fonted.

b) All White Font+Good Labels: All actual content must be in white font. Each item in a post must be labeled (in black font) with show name, and spoiler type.

Spoiler types are as follows:

* Lite (guest stars, episode titles, writers, and preview speculation)

* Plot Spoilers

* Casting Spoilers (regular cast comings and goings)

* Articles (interviews, entertainment press reports, and TV Guide level episode descriptions). When articles reveal other spoilers (typically, casting or plot spoilers) the label should note that, too. e.g. "Buffy/Article/Plot" rather than just "Buffy/Article"

c) Mixed Bag: Lite spoilers (Guest stars, episode titles, writers, and preview speculation) will be posted in black font. All heavier spoilers will be in white font, and labeled with show name and spoiler type (see labels in item 2b).

d) No new thread.

e) No Preference.

Thanks Cindy. I just got back into town so I'll work on this later this evening.

As I said earlier, if you go with Item 2 as written, then you will need a way to choose which option wins if no one option gets over 50% of the votes.

Or table the issue entirely if none gets more.

American table, not Commonwealth.

Folks, I had some time to think and reflect on Cindy's proposal and Cindy (you ROQ!!!1!! hard for formatting a proposed ballot - that was so helpful, you just don't know). Here is a suggested ballot, I'd like comments for 1-2 days and then put this to all buffista-land.

Item 1: When Spoilers 3: First Mutant Enemy, Now the World was opened, it was done so, with the understanding that the white font rules for it, and its successors, would be decided later. Proposed--the rules should be as follows:

All hardcore spoilage, all the time. No white font.

(choose one)
____ Yes
____ No
____ No Preference

_________________________________________

Item 2: Proposed--We open a second spoiler thread, to accommodate those who EITHER want to discuss some spoilers, but not others, OR do not want to discuss hardcore spoilers.

(Choose ONE type)

a) Traditional Spoilers Lite Thread: Guest stars, episode titles, writers, and preview speculation in black font. Exiting cast, TV Guide and other entertainment articles and their discussion white-fonted. Hard core spoilers are not allowed.

b) All White Font+Good Labels: All actual content must be in white font. Each item in a post must be labeled (in black font) with show name, and spoiler type (e.g. “Lost – new guest star!”). Suggested spoiler types are: Plot Spoilers, Casting Spoilers, Ep Title, Writers, Preview Speculation, Articles. Hard core spoilers are allowed, but white fonted as with anything else.

c) No second thread.

d) No Preference.

RE: Item 2, see my comment 3 posts up.

I think we should see how the votes play out and possibly have a revote.

By revote, you mean runoff? You should state that in the ballot. e.g., "If no one choice receives at least 50% of the vote, then we will have a runoff vote between the two options with the most votes."

Sure. I would suggest it, but I'd like to hear from the people who this thread most affects to see what the preference would be. I can amend the suggested ballot to reflect this but if people want more discussion, etc. that's okay with me too.

Too bad there's not a way to do that sort of thing instantly....

t runs away very fast