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Saturday, February 27, 2010

are you polling my leg?

so... I get a call yesterday asking for my participation in a "brief" poll. It's Gallup - THE poll people. Having a FIL who's a statistics guru I actually kind of feel obligated to participate in a poll now and then - to have my voice heard... or maybe it's just that I spend ALL DAY with children and even the pollster is a break from "kid speak"

hmmm... now how to tell this story without getting all "political" on you...

okay - here... let's just list a few of the questions that I was asked...

Do You Approve of the Job that Barack Obama is doing as President?
Do You Have Health Care Coverage?
Do You have any health concerns?
then a bunch of questions about finances and whether or not we have trouble feeding our family, providing them shelter, taking them for health care...
What is your marital status?
Are you happy with your quality of life?
Is your quality of life improving?
How many children under 18 live in your house? (wait, this is funny in a minute)
Are you afraid to walk in your neighborhood alone after dark?
How tall are you?
How much do you weigh?
Have you ever given birth? (ummm... I guess the answer COULD have been no...)


So in the end I'm wondering exactly WHAT these people were trying to accomplish - since we all know that Obama and 26% of this country are all for the current form of reform - and a mere 74% are either opposed to health care reform in general or would like to see a different reform than is currently on the table.

oh wait, I went and got "political" didn't I? crap.

Just wait - they're calling you next I'm sure. Just don't buy into it when they say it will be "brief".

9 comments:

Kristina P. said...

Do they call cell phones? If not, I'm good.

Michelle said...

Was the answer no to the first question? I wish they would call me and ask open ended questions. Boy, would I have a lot to say.

S said...

You can ALWAYS bring a smile to my face with your stories. I hope you never run out of them!

Chelsi said...

You know, statistics is all about getting information that you can make say what you want, right? ;) I've fallen for that "It will be brief" line too many times. I think it's been brief ONCE!

Anonymous said...

Wait.... were these trick questions? Were you really supposed to answer with just a yes or no? Good grief...who makes up these things??!!

I'd love to come up with a poll of my own. "What makes you happy" kind of questions, you know? Because these kind of questions are just DEPRESSING!!

lori said...

how much do you weigh??? lol, really that doesn't seem relevant to me for a poll, maybe if they're trying to SELL you health insurance ( I know that IS one of the questions they ask because my husband does sell the stuff)


wv-insiarin, insane? sincere? pollster :)

TisforTonya said...

lori - the WV is really on one tonight - it says "catswar" which is somehow fitting for how I feel after spending my precious time on a brief poll - like I just survived a cat fight :)

LC said...

I love giving my 2 cents as long as I don't have anything better to do at the moment...

Barbaloot said...

I'm just impressed that you got a call from THE poll people. I should be so lucky:) And I'm glad to know that ALL people are getting called---not just one side:)