How to cast your vote
You will notice that, on your voting form, there is a list of things that may be varied and, below each one, seven numbers. The number currently being used is in the centre. If you are happy with this number, put a circle around it. If you feel that this number should be increased, put a circle around one of the higher numbers to the right. If you feel that this number should be decreased, put a circle around one of the lower numbers to the left. Then move on to the next variable factor on the form.
How your vote counts
How do we (the WCU) decide, looking at your votes, how much to change the system?
Probably best illustrated with a few examples. I will consider just one of the numbers that may be changed. The same system will be used for all of them. Lets assume that the current number is 100 and, to keep the maths simple, I'll assume that only a handful of people can be bothered to vote. Microsoft FrontPage is not very good at putting circles around numbers, so I'll indicate the votes in RED.
Example 1
Five people vote, and this is how they voted on the one example number.
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
40% of the voters want to increase the number.
20% of the voters want to decrease the number.
40% of the voters want to keep it the same.
There is no clear (50%) majority so the number does not change.
Example 2
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
50% of the voters want to increase the number.
This is just enough to enable it to change.
The average (of all of the voters) is 110 exactly.
110 becomes the new number.
Example 3
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
60% of the voters want to increase the number.
This should normally be enough to change it.
The average (of all of the voters) is 98.
This is lower than the current number.
No change.
Taffometer Variables
In spite of what we claim, after a couple of pints, nobody can be 110% Welsh. The five numbers which drive the Taffometer must all add up to 100%. Nevertheless the same system, as described above, is used to alter each of the Taffometer variables individually. If, after all of the voting, calculating, and adjusting has been done, the total is not 100% then all of the Taffometer variables will be scaled up or down in the same proportion. Suppose that the original Taffometer numbers ...
| 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 52 |
... are adjusted to these values ...
| 15 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 50 |
... then they will all be multiplied by 100 and divided by the new total (103), giving the new values ...
| 14.6 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 23.3 | 48.5 |
How to decide how to use your vote
Why am I telling you how to vote? It's your form and you can vote however you like. You can vote to improve your own chances, or your mate's chances, or to reduce the chances of somebody that you don't particularly like, or you can vote for whatever you consider to be in the best interests of Welsh Chess. It's your vote.
Nevertheless your vote will be more likely do what you want if you understand the system. If Welsh Chess is anything like Welsh Rugby we all like to think that we can pick a better team than the selectors can.
If you are one of the few who think that the system is absolutely perfect, you would be well advised to circle all of the centre number on your voting form. This will make it less likely that others will be able to change the system and, if they do succeed in changing it, it will reduce the degree of change.
If you think that the current system is less than perfect, it's probably because you disagree with recent team selection. Hopefully you will be able to download the data file used to select the team and to find out exactly why player A was selected, presumably against your wishes, ahead of player B.
If player B actually had a higher "Total Eligibility Rating" than player A, then your best bet might to change your rep on the selection committee. Bear in mind the possibility that player B had been selected but, having run out of holidays, he just wasn't available.
If player A has the higher TER, then you can find out why. It must be due to one, or more, of the following factors:
a) He has a higher ELO rating. Not much you can do here, except to persuade player B to improve.
b) He is more Welsh. If you believe this, your best bet is to try to reduce the Taffometer Reading Multiplier. This number gives Welsh players an advantage in the selection process and reducing it will give such players less of an advantage. If you think that player B is actually more Welsh, and the Taffometer has got it wrong, you can vote to increase the numbers which would influence the Taffometer in favour of Player B.
c) He is a junior. Reducing the "Junior Rating Multiplier" will reduce the advantage that promising juniors enjoy in the selection process. Or, if player B is the younger of the two, you can try to increase it.
d) He has been more active on the Welsh Chess scene. Reducing the "Activity Rating Multiplier" will reduce the advantage that extremely active players enjoy. Or you could just persuade player B to play more!
Once you have decided what your ideal numbers are, you can change the numbers in the data file used as part of team selection. You can find out what selection policy would have been if your new numbers had been used at the time. Maybe there will be lots of changes, including other unpleasant side-effects which you hadn't considered. Maybe you'll need to think again.
When you've finished thinking, fill in your form and use your vote!