New Policy- Phone Polls [Archive] - Simple Living Forums

View Full Version : New Policy- Phone Polls

Yossarian

4-29-13, 9:14pm

iris lily

4-29-13, 9:45pm

We usually screen calls with caller ID but my son is on an overnight field trip so I answered an anonymous call. It was a pollster. I almost hung up, but it occurred to me that the way politicians figure out what people care about is these polls. Any they pander to these views. So I sucked it up and sat through a 10 minute survey. And I think that is my new policy.

I love taking polls! As long as it is a real poll and not the "give-us-your-opinion-and-give-us-money to carry out your ideas" variety. I get regular mailings from the Democratic party like that. I delight in giving them my opinions on their topics and then sealing it up and mailing it off without a donation.

redfox

4-29-13, 10:57pm

I love taking polls! As long as it is a real poll and not the "give-us-your-opinion-and-give-us-money to carry out your ideas" variety. I get regular mailings from the Democratic party like that. I delight in giving them my opinions on their topics and then sealing it up and mailing it off without a donation.

I do precisely the same thing, IL, and I tend towards the D side! I detest sham surveys.

razz

4-30-13, 8:13am

Perhaps someone here could answer a question that I have.
Since so many people have switched from landlines to cellphones, how can any phone survey be accurate? Aren't all these calls based on phone listings based on landlines?

To original post, I simply advise that I am not interested and hang up. Of course, now the medium is the email contact a for survey or a chance of winning a draw if you phone them to answer a survey.

SteveinMN

4-30-13, 9:17am

Since so many people have switched from landlines to cellphones, how can any phone survey be accurate? Aren't all these calls based on phone listings based on landlines?
I went mobile-phone-only about a decade ago, but ported my landline number to the mobile phone. So I do get phone survey calls and all the rest of the junk that landline numbers get -- at least, I think I do. Because of all the junk calls, I no longer answer calls from numbers not in my phone's address book. In fact, the phone doesn't even ring. They can leave a voicemail if it's truly important.

And, yes, the move from landlines to mobile does have an impact on phone surveys. But I think people would be surprised at how bad most surveys are at sampling sufficiently to make even somewhat solid conclusions. Even Consumer Reports' car reliability ratings, which many people swear by, are a landmine of bad science presented as fact. You really can't draw any conclusion from a survey until you know the questions they asked, who they asked, and how they amassed the raw data.

Mrs-M

4-30-13, 10:13am

Policy (in our home), "NOT INTERESTED".

jennipurrr

4-30-13, 10:21am

All I ever seem to get are the robo-calls. I will NOT vote for anyone who sends me a robocall no matter what side they are on. I think it is a disgusting technique. I left some races blank in the last election due to that issue.

I wouldn't mind participaiting in a poll if it were a true poll.

A friend of mine from college works in the governors office and I asked her about a new state law and she signed me up on some sort of mailing list :/ On the state level most of the politicians here are horrendous on both sides of the aisle, so I just try to vote for the best combination of least corrupt/incompetent/embarrassing. Usually its a 2 out of 3 ain't bad thing.

Mrs-M

4-30-13, 10:27am

Number 1 (UNO) turn-off for me Re: phone polls, the last question is always, "how much do you make", or, "what is your annual earnings", or, "what group closely exemplifies what you make each year". NOYB!

Gregg

4-30-13, 11:28am

All I ever seem to get are the robo-calls. I will NOT vote for anyone who sends me a robocall no matter what side they are on. I think it is a disgusting technique. I left some races blank in the last election due to that issue.

I had a similar attitude in the last election. Turns out I got robo calls from every single candidate. I was ticked enough to email the ones I supported otherwise and then just voted. We had a few open offices that were pretty critical so I didn't feel right about leaving blanks, but the thought definitely crossed my mind.

ToomuchStuff

4-30-13, 12:21pm

..., but it occurred to me that the way politicians figure out what people care about is these polls. .

AKA, they are out of touch with their constituents/reality, and they need to know how to market your vote.

Best line I heard for polls or survey's:
caller: Can I have you answer a few questions?
the called: Do you get paid for asking these questions?
caller: It is my job, yes.
the called: Do I get paid for answering them?
caller: uhm........
the called: Don't seem fair, does it? click.