Speakeasy User Popularity Poll

The Speakeasy User Popularity Poll (commonly referred to as the SUPP) is an unofficial annual site event. Since its creation by Chevre in 2013, the SUPP has began around June 1st and finished in mid-June. The event serves to rank the active users of the MafiaScum Speakeasy on the basis of popularity and likability.

History

MafiaScum user Chevre elected to try the concept of the popularity poll on-site after seeing a similar one ran at the SurvivorSucks Clubs That Suck forum. A few modifications were made to the original format; Chevre chose to eliminate the comment aspect as he felt that would promote too much negativity. Participants were selected not by nomination, but by making at least one post in the Speakeasy during the month of May 2013. The inaugural run was opt-out; users had the opportunity to remove themselves from the poll if they so chose. The idea of teams was a last minute choice; participating users were permitted to join a team (themed around a precious stone) just for fun with no bearing on the results. The winner of the 2013 Speakeasy User Popularity Poll was quadz08, with DrippingGoofball finishing in second place.

To combat issues in the first poll, several changes were made for the 2014 SUPP. The ratings scale was shortened from 1 to 10 to 1 to 5. Additionally, an "indifference" rating was added; this rating counted as a 2 but would be marked in the results reveal. The poll was once again opt-out and teams were based on vegetables and produce. Faraday won the 2014 SUPP with chamber finishing as runner-up.

The 2015 SUPP once again changed the ratings; the 1 to 5 system was expanded to 0 to 10 and the "indifference" option was removed. Though the poll was opt-out again in 2015, this choice was met with opposition as more and more users were surprised to find themselves in the poll. Teams were based on chemical elements. Mina was the winner of the 2015 SUPP, and second place went to AngryPidgeon.

In 2016, the SUPP retained its 11-point rating system. Though the poll remained opt-out, Chevre sent a PM to each and every potential participant, allowing them to be notified of the event and opt-out if they so desired. The theme was creatures of the forest. There was a marked increase in hype and spirit with regard to the 2016 poll, as Chevre created individual avatars for each participant. Cheetory6 was crowned the winner, making him the first winner new to the poll since quadz08 in 2013. MattP was the runner-up.

In its most recent incarnation, the 2017 Speakeasy User Popularity Poll once again held strong to the 0-to-10 rating schematic. However, the poll finally made the switch from opt-out to opt-in, meaning that all users wishing to participate had to willingly indicate their desire to do so. This decision was met with criticism, as were other decisions, such as the assignment of random Pokemon for avatars and the small 6-person teams. The theme was Pokemon trainers. In a SUPP first, Cheetory6 became a two-time winner of the poll, winning in consecutive years. Chevre himself was the runner up.

Legacy

Though the SUPP started out with mixed appeal and criticism in 2013, many will say it has grown to be a much-anticipated yearly event. Nowadays, several users provide their own content for the SUPP, such as custom avatars and statistics analysis. It is now common custom for avatar bets to be formed dependent on the results of the SUPP, such as which teams will be eliminated first or who can most correctly predict the top ten. The site's main Discord server was initially established for discussion of the 2016 SUPP after successful Skype chats on the event in 2015. Terms resultant from the event include the "sclusey", or a bit of information given in the confidence and intimacy of a private digital locale, and the "meetbump", or the expected rise of a user's ranking due to their attendance of a meet shortly before the SUPP.

Despite Chevre's departure from the site in late 2019, the SUPP was held as usual in June of 2020, implying the event's extreme significance and importance to the site that extends beyond its creator.

Completed SUPPs

Year	Thread	Dates	Rating System	Team Theme	Winner	Runner-Up
2013	Link	May 25, 2013 - June 12, 2013	1 to 10	Precious Stones	quadz08	DrippingGoofball
2014	Link	May 27, 2014 - June 12, 2014	1 to 5 a	Vegetables and Produce	Faraday	chamber
2015	Link	May 25, 2015 - June 13, 2015	0 to 10	Chemical Elements	Mina	AngryPidgeon
2016	Link	May 25, 2016 - June 14, 2016	0 to 10	Creatures of the Forest	Cheetory6	MattP
2017	Link	May 25, 2017 - June 18, 2017	0 to 10	Pokemon Trainers	Cheetory6	Chevre
2018	Link	May 25, 2018 - June 16, 2018	0 to 10	Previous SUPPs	Errantparabola	Kison
2019	Link	May 27, 2019 - June 16, 2019	0 to 10	Ingredients in Macaroni and Cheese	the worst	Errantparabola
2020	Link	June 01 2020 - June 26, 2020	0 to 10	Upick	Equinox	Errantparabola

^aThe 2014 SUPP also included an "Indifference" option, which was given a weight of 2 but was marked separately.