I wasn't around when it was coded so staff votes aren't visible, but I think some of the reasons and considerations that lead to that are still here. Many people take cues from mod votes and end up voting similarly either because they give more weight to staff opinion (thinking if they're a mod, they must know what they're talking about) or some people even think their vp may be lowered if their opinion differs from the staff members they had already seen commented. I know when I was a regular member and a staff member voted on my battle and it was obvious they voted for my opponent, I always thought "shit, now everyone's going to vote for him" and sometime, the results confirmed that assumption. Most of the time when I vote, I try to comment indirectly saying things like "one was this".."one had better jabs"..etc, even though I believe direct expos are much better for actually helping the battlers understand how their verses were perceived. I just don't want to sway the battle when it's obvious who I voted for. But anyone who's battle I vote on can always ask me privately who I voted for and what ratings I dropped and I will tell you.
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