Posted on 10/01/2004 8:09:48 AM PDT by outlawcam
I was browsing through the posts today about the debate last night, and something jumped out at me that I wanted to bring up for discussion among fellow FReepers.
There are many people here (including me) who recognize polls as valuable tools. There are other people (including me) who recognize that polls can be used to manipulate public opinion. Why else would we FReep unscientific polls? Who else would possibly care what a poll says? Polls don't elect anyone, but votes do, yet we get into a frenzy to discredit those polls that don't agree with us, and we trumpet those that do.
We're in the midst of a battle against terrorists. This battle will take strong values and rational thinking to win. But in order to persuade others to utilize their brains, we appeal to their emotional sense of belonging by manipulating these polls. What does that say about us? What does that say about the voting population that can be manipulated in this way? What credibility do elections have if the difference between the votes candidates receive is based on that manipulation?
I'm of the opinion that polls are virtually never reported responsibly (doing so would take too much space for a regular paper). I also have come to realize that manipulating voters with polls is never right, even if it is in favor of the candidate I support; it does an injustice to our system of government. We are no longer self-governed, but we instead make choices based on what others can manipulate us to do or what we can manipulate others to do. Can that result even be considered self-government?
Therefore, I will never FReep another poll that deals with the candidates of a pending election again. I will, when the situation arises (and there are plenty of these available) reason with those who wish to entertain rational discussions, but I'm done with polls.
I would like to open this up for discussion. Who agrees with me, and who disagrees with me? If you disagree with my assessment of polls, please tell me why we FReep. If you disagree with my decision to not participate, but agree that polls are manipulative, please give me your assessment of the effect poll reports have on self-government.
Why FREEP Polls?
Because we can.
Why not freep a meaningless poll?
Why post vanities?
Oh, because it's against site rules.
I guess it makes some people feel good, while others do it to show the inherent fallacy of online polls...
It's entertaining.
Polls get reported as "news" by MSM,yet MSM is pure propaganda. Gotta fight back!
I presume it cannot possibly be against site rules, because there is a check box for vanities on the posting page, which I checked. If I did not follow procedures correctly, please inform me of the correct procedures.
I don't know, why did the Kerry campaign send out a mass e-mail with link to snap shot polls? Maybe because they know the weak minded will go with whoever they perceive to be "winning" and therefore polls are a good marketing tool.
And why is it doing anything improper if we go to a poll and vote for the candidate of our choice.
I like melons. I mean, we all do, but for me I think it goes much more beyond that.
You wouldn't believe how many idiots forward unscientific web polls to me and others showing something at odds with scientific polls accompanied by "See, I told you..."
Web polls are useless entertainment. The fact that some people use them to demonstrate some sort of consensus on any given subject shows how poor our public education system really is.
FReeping a poll is usually necessary to counteract the similar actions by other forums, like DU and others.
It's just another aspect of the "blogosphere" and nothing more.
The so-called "scientific" polls don't rely on people coming to them, so they are another matter entirely.
a lot of people who vote have the iq of a frog as evidenced by the mess in florida after the last election. they are easily swayed and you can believe me that if you don't then the demonrats will sway them.
What are you trying to accomplish by doing it?
Polls are a waste of time. They are rarely accurate. The pollers get the results they want by asking the group they know will give the answers they want. Rarely do you see an honest poll.
IMO..I like to make fun of how much the poll results swing to the LEFT.
What makes it necessary? What would happen in elections if we do not?
You summed up my opinion exactly. Great post. We should never underestimate ability of the sheeples to be unduly influenced by media propaganda tactics. Which in my mind is an adequate description of what most of these polls are.
I like to freep polls because it makes the Left nuts! Besides they do it too go take a look at democratic underground sometime.
Oh I know. I know. But what are they trying to accomplish? What are we trying to accomplish? If a poll comes back heavily slanted one way or the other, what will happen that has any consequence?
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