a) Self-selecting polls show opinions only of those who choose to fill them out (and their robots). b) The results and entries are easily tampered with. c) They give people a false sense of action. d) I don't trust an organization with an agenda to run a poll or present its results fairly.
My online poll will demonstrate conclusively that 97% of those polled not only think that online polls are perfectly accurate but also agree that I am the most marvelous human being in the universe, just as soon as I can put up something that looks like a poll. In other words, I'm with you: This stuff is Diebold without the tech.
I think the petitions are even worse, they give more of an impression of "I took action!" When folks point me at them, I point them at their legislator's addresses, and remind them that legislators don't tend to check petitiononline.com when they're deciding how to vote.
I'm increasingly cynical about that though...I had a professor in grad school who was also a member of the state legislature. His decisions were often made by our class; he'd bring some piece of legislation before us, explain it, and we'd discuss and vote on it. Almost always, he'd vote with us when it came to the actual process. And from working in a lobbying office on the hill, I realize how much influence the aides have...they make much of the policy happen. I'm just embittered the whole process.
I don't think the legislators look at my communication and say, "I'm so glad to know what she's thinking!" But I think it can/does have some effect -- even if it varies depending on the legislator -- and it's better than petitiononline.com.
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Yep.
Date: 2003-12-18 01:10 pm (UTC)b) The results and entries are easily tampered with.
c) They give people a false sense of action.
d) I don't trust an organization with an agenda to run a poll or present its results fairly.
I did not fill this one out for these reasons.
no subject
Date: 2003-12-18 01:47 pm (UTC)"my bad..."
Date: 2003-12-18 07:36 pm (UTC)http://www.afa.net/petitions/SummarizePoll.asp
no subject
Date: 2003-12-18 10:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-12-22 03:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-12-22 03:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-12-22 03:25 pm (UTC)