But why SHOULD they?

I think the show's own view should matter. How we ought to vote depends on what kind of show it is. Sure, some people would like it to be purely about dancing ability, but it ... isn't. It's not that show.

I think there is an argument, though, if the way people are voting produces a result they ought to regard as "perverse". For example, I think most viewers would think it perverse if a danger getting better made it more likely that they'd be eliminated. I think that would offend most people's sense of what was right.

That can happen. Indeed, if there is (as some have suggested) an significant "anti-judge" vote - people voting to save whoever is lowest with the judges - then it could have just that "perverse" effect. Someone with low scores gets better, they judges mark them higher, they no longer get the anti-judge vote, and out they go.

However, it seems likely that most people want two different things from a show like this. On the one hand, they want to see some good dancing; on the other, they want to see likeable people discovering a new ability or interest, working at it and improving, even if they don't become as good as people who started off much better.

The judges are there to ensure the first of those; the voters try to arrange the latter; and if the ones of middle ability lose out, perhaps that's how we get the result closest to what people want.

(Even on that way of thinking an automatic anti-judge vote would be "perverse", but a vote for likeable people who make enjoyable progress wouldn't be.)
Last edited by Veri : 21-11-2006 at 06:22

From the people I've spoken to, I'm sure if it is a straight 'anti-judge' vote as such. Most people know that in a competition situation and where marks and a leader board are involved some is going to be top and someone is going to be bottom (whatever they try to tell us at sports days these days, sometimes people do have to loose!) - it's the way they are put at the bottom (or even bottom) of the leader board people seem to take issue with.

If someone is at the bottom, having tried their best and had fairly good comments and not been slaughtered by the judges then fair enough. If on the other hand they have made a go of it, but are dancically challenged so it wasn't pretty but they are given an horrendous time then that is when the sympathy vote seems to come into play.

Of course, this is only based on a very small sample of the viewers - about 10 ! - so I can't vouch for it's accuracy!

i think while the judges are being unfair to certain people on the show you will have people voting for their favourite.

Its pretty obvious that the judges have their favourites. ie someone can get great comments and low scores and then once a favourite comes on the judges are giving them better scores for a worse dance.