9605 Most Useful?

don't think I could pick just one in isolation - would have been better to allow selection of multiple options?

No Pigro that would not work, the whole idea is to identify the [B]most [/B]useful and so only one vote should, I hope, make people think more carefully about what really is the top of their list.

How about adding 'British friends and neighbours living in Italy'?

.

I don't think I can change the poll once people have voted, Alan, but if you feel that 'British friends and neighbours living in Italy' have been your most useful source of information and others feel the same I am sure they will say so in a post.

But Neilo, I have found that several of the options you have stated have been very useful, so I cannot vote in isolation either.
A

[quote=Nielo;90057]No Pigro that would not work, the whole idea is to identify the [B]most [/B]useful and so only one vote should, I hope, make people think more carefully about what really is the top of their list.[/quote]

well, it's your poll, and you know what you want to find out from it, so you are of course correct.

However, as devils advocate ... no one resource has been "most" useful to me in general over the past 5 years; different resources have been most useful for different situations, and I therefore find it impossible to rank them accurately in my head. Letting us choose our own 2 or 3 would allow the computer to do the ranking on an overall basis and would avoid artificially skewing results - if everyone had "italian neighbours" as #2 choice in your poll, then it would get 0 votes, and so the results would not indicate how useful neighbours actually are to us?

But Agnie the poll is the MOST useful not ‘very; useful and only one can be the MOST useful as it is a superlative.

If you would care to say which of the options you found very useful that is fine but does not answer the question. I’m sorry you feel you can not participate in the poll.

[quote=pigro;90062]well, it's your poll, and you know what you want to find out from it, so you are of course correct.

However, as devils advocate ... no one resource has been "most" useful to me in general over the past 5 years; different resources have been most useful for different situations, and I therefore find it impossible to rank them accurately in my head. Letting us choose our own 2 or 3 would allow the computer to do the ranking on an overall basis and would avoid artificially skewing results - if everyone had "italian neighbours" as #2 choice in your poll, then it would get 0 votes, and so the results would not indicate how useful neighbours actually are to us?[/quote]

Fair enough Pigro, I hope others will take the time to try and decide what has actually been most useful because we all know that all the options listed are useful but my aim was to find out what people found MOST useful. If you feel you can not participate then I am sorry and I hope you will open another, better poll which will give you and others a chance to discuss what they have found useful.

No poll can ever be scientifically accurate and I was only hoping to get people to [B]really think[/B] about this subject,

stupid me!:laughs:

I'm with Alan h- British neighbours & friends who have been there, done it & got the T shirt

Pigro.

Are you analysing the usefullness of a poll :laughs:
You have only just coverted me to accept its usefullness.:laughs:

I will be interested to see the results though......

Most useful, our estate agent and geometra, this forum, and very helpful our neighbour Mario (he who knows whats best for us). Its impossible for me to choose an overall winner, but will be interested in the results
A

After viewing the controversial comments regarding the terms and conditions of this poll, I begin to understand why the Italians find it difficult to elect a stable government.

Maybe a system of preferential voting should be used, such as we have in Australia, where no one can agree on the "best" leader. Under our system the person least likely to make a mess of things gets elected.
That, my friends is the true meaning of Democracy.

If anyone here is willing to arrange an expences paid trip to Italy for myself so that I can explain the advantages of Preferential Voting to the Italian people I would encourage them to contact me via this forum.
Phil.

[quote=Nielo;90064]
No poll can ever be scientifically accurate and I was only hoping to get people to [B]really think[/B] about this subject[/quote]
Hey, I did really think about it.

1. My estate agent was most useful prior to purchase in explaining the mechanics, avoiding the pitfalls etc.
2. My geometra was most useful in planning & supervising works we've done since purchase
3. My Italian neighbours have been most useful for all other day to day things

I still don't know how to choose which of the three was "most" useful overall - logically I'd have to say 1 (because without 1 there would be no 2 or 3). Practically, I'd have to say 2 (because if the works had been a disaster, I'd likely have sold the house again without having time to get friendly with my neighbours). Emotionally I'd clearly say 3 (because that was 'the dream').

So, to vote I'd have to put logic, practicality and emotion into order of importance on the biggest financial transaction of my life to date. And Mrs. P sometimes reads my posts, so I'm too scared to attempt that :-)

[quote=giovanni;90066]Pigro.

Are you analysing the usefullness of a poll :laughs:
You have only just coverted me to accept its usefullness.:laughs:

I will be interested to see the results though......[/quote]

hoist by my own petard again:masked:. But I did concede that it's Nielo's poll and therefore by definition the results that she gets will be useful to her. Anyway, I thought it was now tradition that any poll here must generate more argument about its design than about its results? Just upholding tradition. :laughs:

I am a great believer in polls that have a box that says "other":laughs:

[quote=pigro;90071]So, to vote I'd have to put logic, practicality and emotion into order of importance on the biggest financial transaction of my life to date. And Mrs. P sometimes reads my posts, so I'm too scared to attempt that :-)[/quote]

It is an anonymous poll Pigro; go on she'll never know! :laughs:

[quote=Nielo;90075]It is an anonymous poll Pigro; go on she'll never know! :laughs:[/quote]

are you kidding? SWMBO (she who must be obeyed) is also SWFOE (she who finds out everything)!

Just 'bumping' your poll for you :-)

Thanks Pigro but if it is going to die, then let it. It was a serious question asked in the wrong way in the wrong place and I wish I'd never bothered. I keep forgetting all the other agendas at play on these boards.

I dont think it is about other agendas Neilo, and I too have experienced the serious threads I have posted being hijacked!,( dont think this one was) I just think it is too difficult to make a choice on what is the most useful, it depends on what is really important to you at one given time, and priorities change with circumstances.
A

I have participated. answered "the internet" Which seems true in my case,its full of forums and travel info sites,and info on regions,so i would say thats a truefull answer....

Back to the poll;it's sad isn't it that so far the professionals we've all come across when buying in Italy are voted the least helpful! Surely the oppersit should be the case.

I too would like to cast a vote in favour of British neighbours and friends pariculary when they are using the same professionals as 'note sharing' can be very helpful.

We've met so many in Abruzzo who have done much to make our experience an enjoyable one even in times of stress!!

I admit it was an oversight to miss British friends and neighbours off the list as three people have said that is what they would have voted for.

I am interested to know how you have met other Brits, have you just bumped into them in the course of daily life or have you met a few via forums?

For my part I would say that although I have met a few people by chance encounter, by far the majority of the Brits I know and count as friends have been met through forums.