So now I'm a datapoint...
Jun. 29th, 2006 09:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamsharkJust got called by someone with a voice that sounded like a bad speech synthesizer, but who was almost certainly a live human being, to take part in a poll. The polling service was something like "Minnesota Opinion Survey," or something equally unmemorable, and she wouldn't say who the poll was actually for. Usually I refuse those things, not wanting to be a pawn for some group that won't identify itself, but I went ahead and did it. I assume it was commissioned by one of the two major political parties in Minnesota, since she started by asking who I favored for Minnesota governor and senator, and how likely I was to vote. And there was no mention of 3rd-party candidates, only Republican and Democrat.
Then there were a bunch of issues questions to be answered on a scale of 1-5 (where 5 is strongly agree, 1 is strongly disagree). I answered like a cartoon liberal Democrat on practically everything: "Gay and lesbian couples should have the same rights as hetersexual married couples." - 5. "I am more likely to vote for a candidate that has a strong faith in God." - 1. And so on.
Despite the 1-5 scale I think I answered either a 1 or 5 to almost every question. The only question I refused to answer was "Do you consider yourself a strong Democrat?" The questioner couldn't explain what "strong Democrat" meant, and I really couldn't guess. Oh, yeah, I also declined to answer the question, "When do you make your decision on who to vote for in an election?" I said it depends on the election, but that wasn't acceptable. The question that annoyed me the most is the one where they ask, "Which are the 3 most important issues to you in the November election?" followed by a list of about 10 answers, NONE of which are on my list of most important. They were not accepting volunteered answers. Somewhat to my surprise, I found that what I wanted to say was:
1) government secrecy and erosion of individual liberties
2) the fact that my government is engaging in and publicly defending torture
3) the increasing gap between the rich and the poor
None of these were on the list. I finally settled for health care, Iraq and education. Actually, health care belongs in my top 3, I just didn't hear it the first time she went through the list.
No matter which party was running the poll, I suppose it was a good idea to slog through the thing to register my stereotypical educated urban Democratic point of view. But somehow I feel dirty. My views were so TOTALLY predictable, given my demographic info. I hate to have my illusion of individuality shattered so relentlessly.
Then there were a bunch of issues questions to be answered on a scale of 1-5 (where 5 is strongly agree, 1 is strongly disagree). I answered like a cartoon liberal Democrat on practically everything: "Gay and lesbian couples should have the same rights as hetersexual married couples." - 5. "I am more likely to vote for a candidate that has a strong faith in God." - 1. And so on.
Despite the 1-5 scale I think I answered either a 1 or 5 to almost every question. The only question I refused to answer was "Do you consider yourself a strong Democrat?" The questioner couldn't explain what "strong Democrat" meant, and I really couldn't guess. Oh, yeah, I also declined to answer the question, "When do you make your decision on who to vote for in an election?" I said it depends on the election, but that wasn't acceptable. The question that annoyed me the most is the one where they ask, "Which are the 3 most important issues to you in the November election?" followed by a list of about 10 answers, NONE of which are on my list of most important. They were not accepting volunteered answers. Somewhat to my surprise, I found that what I wanted to say was:
1) government secrecy and erosion of individual liberties
2) the fact that my government is engaging in and publicly defending torture
3) the increasing gap between the rich and the poor
None of these were on the list. I finally settled for health care, Iraq and education. Actually, health care belongs in my top 3, I just didn't hear it the first time she went through the list.
No matter which party was running the poll, I suppose it was a good idea to slog through the thing to register my stereotypical educated urban Democratic point of view. But somehow I feel dirty. My views were so TOTALLY predictable, given my demographic info. I hate to have my illusion of individuality shattered so relentlessly.
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no subject
Date: 2006-06-30 03:41 am (UTC)K.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-30 04:08 am (UTC)I'm not sure I think you could ever be TOTALLY predictable...
no subject
Date: 2006-06-30 12:48 pm (UTC)Minnesota Opinion Survey
Date: 2006-08-06 11:36 pm (UTC)