Election day question:

[partly]

Is it wrong to lie to pollsters? And if it is, why? And how wrong is it?

Pollsters bug the hell out of me. I've done the statistics courses and studied the concept of using soft science to gather information that can confirm but not verify an hypothesis, so I have an understanding of how polling works. Which, in the end, does nothing to help me feel better about what they are doing. Add to that the dicey way the questions are framed and the fact that there are precedents for using polls as ways to plant negative and misleading ideas about some candidates, and I'm even less inclined to like them.

Finally, I believe that people will lie when talking to pollsters. However, that may be my old cynical-self talking and that belief may have no basis in reality. So, I'm asking for general opinions:

Is it wrong to lie to pollsters? And if it is, why? And how wrong is it?


Oh. And go vote. Because, you see, no one can lie on a ballot.

Comments

[k-kinnison.livejournal.com]

The problem with polling is there is too many ways to change the results or do push polling and then us poll results to try and make everyone conform to your ideal.

A great example is polls regarding the Gay marriage ban, that is in a referendum in WI. There are people who are afraid if retaliation for expressing thier true veiws becaue some people are more radical on one side of the issue then the other

There are only a few polling companies I would be truthful to (Zogby's for one) they others can take thier survey's and shove it

crack van rec

[laceymcbain.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to let you know that this month The A-Team is featured as a small fandom, and I rec'ced one of your stories, Fear of Flying. You can find the rec at crack_van. Thanks!!

Re: crack van rec

[partly.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll have to check out the community!

Glad you liked the fic.