A Poll About Polls

[Dover]

Do you trust the information provided by public polls?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

1. Almost the third, but I picked "other" instead.

I trust reputable polling companies to be reasonably good at picking samples of people, and I'm not sufficiently well informed to question their methodology, so I don't care about seeing that, but I am generally very sceptical of any poll unless I have a) seen the phrasing of the question asked, and b) seen a source that I consider reputable describe the pollers as reliable.

[Dover]

2. I'm guessing you meant that you almost picked the FOURTH

Would be curious which polling companies you consider reliable.

[Dover]

3. Would be curious how many people who chose #4 actually check

that information before integrating the poll's results into their perceptions.

_____


I am bothered most by this common response to polls (not included in the above poll):

"Yes I believe the polls, and think the American public IS as stupid as the poll results seem to indicate".

If I were manipulating public opinion, it would be very important to try and sell the perception that the majority believes certain things. That way, those who might dissent are left feeling isolated and marginalized. So I don't buy that most Americans (the majority) are "stupid", but that the poll was manipulated to get that result and this is pretty much what 'they' want us to believe about one another.

For instance, the newest poll posted in LBN suggests that the majority of Americans (those polled) believe Osama bin Laden will strike again on U.S. soil.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2470505&mesg_id=2470505

I don't believe the majority thinks that at all.