Participating in polls

[thyme4change]

As you all may know - I live in AZ, which is one of the most important states in the 2024 election. I am already getting daily (or more) calls - I don’t answer most of them, but I did get a text and decided to go look at the poll.

It asked several questions - like:

Trump will stop all illegal border crossings and…(it went on and on about how tough he will be at the border). Does that statement make you more or less likely to vote for him?

Followed by questions like:

During Biden’s presidency X tons of fentanyl has been brought over the border, enough to kill 2 billion people. Does that statement make you more or less likely to vote for him?

I answered everything with the attitude that Biden could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and I still wouldn’t vote for Trump.

I generally take a farther left stance than I do in real life because my state is historically very Republican, and I want to make sure someone is saying the opposite opinions.

So, was that even a poll? Or was it just a clever way to get someone to click through?

Do you ever do polls? How truthfully do you answer? What message is important for you to get across?

[billisonboard]

That won't fit my definition of a "poll".

EDIT: though I guess it is technically what is called a "push poll". Invalidates any results.

[bean29]

I don't do them b/c over the phone you have no idea who is really behind it.  Is it a Republican Group misleadingly saying they are Democrat or Vice Versa, is it someone just mining for information?

Same with on-line polls, and almost every one I see ends by asking for a donation.  The questions seem to lead you to a conclusion that you have to vote for said party or the Country will no longer exist.

I have to go through Mom's e-mail every few days (I try to do it daily, I last did it Wednesday.  When I looked today she has 3 Messages from Trump- America Destoyed, Deep State Attcking him, Fate in hands of corrupt Democrat Judge yada yada yada. 1 from Vivek Ramaswamy (Corrupt Deep State), 1 from Kari Lake, 1 from US Chamber Action (Not sure but I think they line up on Democrat Side).  Yesterday: 1- from Sheriff Lamb (Gun Stuff, idk why mom, she never has been interested in open carry, concealed carry or any kind of gun issues), 1 from Mike Lee (Prevent Illegal Alines from Voting, 2 from John Kennedy (one that he endorses Kari Lake?? the other asking for $$, 1 from Vivik Ramaswamy, 2 from Kari Lake, 1 from Rudi Giuliani (Deep State Censored him off radio??, and Anonomous Republican Donors offering a 15x or 10x (both in same e-mail) for donations.  

I go in as often as I can and delete the requests for money.  Mom says she ignores/deletes/does not donate, but then her CC statement will have the same donation made 3x in a row.  Mom has dementia and forgets things. I tried blocking the e-mails but they keep coming.  Apparently they just create a new e-mail addy for every e-mail so that they can keep sending their leading e-mails/requests for $$.  I contacted WIN-Red and told them Mom had Dementia and asked them to stop.  They told me to delete her account.  I did.  The messages continue non-stop. A few Democratic ones sneak in there, so I kind of feel all of them have a self interest to keep the campaign laws in their favor.

I really wish we had a lime of 4-6 months for campaign season instead of endless campaigning.

ETA:  I also go through mom's mail.  Lots of polls with leading questions and at the end they ask for $$.  Either about Illegal Aliens or often about Social Security Cost of living increase, or saving social security.  I figure I never heard a bigger BS reason to pay attention in my life.  SS is still going broke, they are not going to send out money just b/c they did a survey, and seniors want more $$.

[mollyanna58]

I have fun replying to the emails I receive from Trump and his minions.  I am sure no one reads my replies, but I enjoy expressing my opinions of him.

[djAdvocate]

May 17, 2024 11:46:22 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

As you all may know - I live in AZ, which is one of the most important states in the 2024 election. I am already getting daily (or more) calls - I don’t answer most of them, but I did get a text and decided to go look at the poll.

It asked several questions - like:

Trump will stop all illegal border crossings and…(it went on and on about how tough he will be at the border). Does that statement make you more or less likely to vote for him?

Followed by questions like:

During Biden’s presidency X tons of fentanyl has been brought over the border, enough to kill 2 billion people. Does that statement make you more or less likely to vote for him?

I answered everything with the attitude that Biden could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and I still wouldn’t vote for Trump.

I generally take a farther left stance than I do in real life because my state is historically very Republican, and I want to make sure someone is saying the opposite opinions.

So, was that even a poll? Or was it just a clever way to get someone to click through?

Do you ever do polls? How truthfully do you answer? What message is important for you to get across?

that is what is called a PUSH POLL.  and no, it is not used for anything other than raising money.

[Opti]

May 20, 2024 1:56:54 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

May 17, 2024 11:46:22 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

As you all may know - I live in AZ, which is one of the most important states in the 2024 election. I am already getting daily (or more) calls - I don’t answer most of them, but I did get a text and decided to go look at the poll.

It asked several questions - like:

Trump will stop all illegal border crossings and…(it went on and on about how tough he will be at the border). Does that statement make you more or less likely to vote for him?

Followed by questions like:

During Biden’s presidency X tons of fentanyl has been brought over the border, enough to kill 2 billion people. Does that statement make you more or less likely to vote for him?

I answered everything with the attitude that Biden could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and I still wouldn’t vote for Trump.

I generally take a farther left stance than I do in real life because my state is historically very Republican, and I want to make sure someone is saying the opposite opinions.

So, was that even a poll? Or was it just a clever way to get someone to click through?

Do you ever do polls? How truthfully do you answer? What message is important for you to get across?

that is what is called a PUSH POLL.  and no, it is not used for anything other than raising money.

Good to know. I always think of such things as agenda pushing. And I doubt the truth of the statements in general. For example from the above, how would you know how much Fentayl came across the border unless it was actually seized there? I do not know where it tends to come from, but I guess some TV shows have made me guess most of it is made in the US.

[djAdvocate]

enough fentanyl to kill a billion people is not particularly informative, either. usage patterns are helpful to know. they never mention that. ever.

[djAdvocate]

pollsters are very careful to phrase questions in such a way as to produce an unbiased result.

a question like "Does the fact that Joe Biden is eating his own grandkids impact how you feel about him as a presidential candidate" is not designed to elicit a neutral response.

the most well known version of this is "If it could be shown than John McCain fathered a black child, would that impact your feelings for him as a candidate?" if you are not familiar with that example, look it up.

[thyme4change]

May 20, 2024 1:56:54 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

May 17, 2024 11:46:22 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

As you all may know - I live in AZ, which is one of the most important states in the 2024 election. I am already getting daily (or more) calls - I don’t answer most of them, but I did get a text and decided to go look at the poll.

It asked several questions - like:

Trump will stop all illegal border crossings and…(it went on and on about how tough he will be at the border). Does that statement make you more or less likely to vote for him?

Followed by questions like:

During Biden’s presidency X tons of fentanyl has been brought over the border, enough to kill 2 billion people. Does that statement make you more or less likely to vote for him?

I answered everything with the attitude that Biden could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and I still wouldn’t vote for Trump.

I generally take a farther left stance than I do in real life because my state is historically very Republican, and I want to make sure someone is saying the opposite opinions.

So, was that even a poll? Or was it just a clever way to get someone to click through?

Do you ever do polls? How truthfully do you answer? What message is important for you to get across?

that is what is called a PUSH POLL.  and no, it is not used for anything other than raising money.

They didn’t ask for any money - but they probably already guessed my answer would be hell no!

[djAdvocate]

May 20, 2024 8:09:05 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

May 20, 2024 1:56:54 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

that is what is called a PUSH POLL.  and no, it is not used for anything other than raising money.

They didn’t ask for any money - but they probably already guessed my answer would be hell no!

i always get asked for money for taking those "surveys".

but the point is not just to raise money, but to alter your perceptions of how things are.

not that it works for you.  

[thyme4change]

May 20, 2024 8:12:20 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

May 20, 2024 8:09:05 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

They didn’t ask for any money - but they probably already guessed my answer would be hell no!

i always get asked for money for taking those "surveys".

but the point is not just to raise money, but to alter your perceptions of how things are.

not that it works for you.  

I am way more mailable than I hoped. I just try to keep my thinking cap on during certain inputs. Others, I just let wash over me. I use selective bias just as much as Trump supporters do - which is most of the time.

[djAdvocate]

a thought occurred to me this morning. i get dozens of emails from the GOP every day, due to my past affiliation. they are always saying how horrendous Biden is, etc. the impact these emails have on me is considerable. it worries me how the general public will assess them.

then i realized that they probably do what i do, which is to ignore them.

the other thing i realized is that the NEWS- the actual NEWS is what people will pay attention to. Dow hitting 40k? that will register with the 10% that run the country and own 80% of all stocks. inflation numbers? those might make it through the outer shell of the electorate. gas prices? everyone sees that, but mostly working class people. anyone making six figures or more ignores gas prices, pretty much. Trump becoming a convicted felon? that is going to get about the same notice as gas prices, imo.

[djAdvocate]

to put it another way, i need to step out of my partisan echo chamber, and breathe the fresh air of reality. and the reality is that things are going pretty well for Biden and the Democrats. and that will probably prevail in 6 months.

[billisonboard]

May 20, 2024 7:16:45 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

pollsters are very careful to phrase questions in such a way as to produce an unbiased result.

a question like "Does the fact that Joe Biden is eating his own grandkids impact how you feel about him as a presidential candidate" is not designed to elicit a neutral response.

the most well known version of this is "If it could be shown than John McCain fathered a black child, would that impact your feelings for him as a candidate?" if you are not familiar with that example, look it up.

Legitimate pollsters certainly do. This is why you should always see or ask for a link when someone cites a poll result. You can check out the pollster and legit pollsters will even provide a link to the raw poll data.