Poll can be annoying but effecive ways of gathering information. Using them correctly can and will make a big difference.

First you should know that polls are not a thing unto themselves. They are just regular threads but with extra info in top, namely the poll part. Voting on the poll does not count as a post so if a poll never receives any replies it will sink out of sight.

Don't think is them as the whole thing. Post your thoughts and opinions as you've always done but take a second to pull the lever too (so to speak). That will make tallying votes much simpler than just posting agree, disagree or whatever.

There is a balance to be found. Treat them as you normally did opionion type questions but ALSO vote. Simply voting is not enough. If we look at things this way, poll can be a valuable tool and not an annoying one.

Thanks.