Posts not matching polls

[Helo]

This isnt a problem with forums thread! Just thought Id clear that up.

And yes this does belong here because I notice it here more than ANYWHERE else.

I see polls go up with topics like "Should abortion be legal?" and "Should homosexuals be allowed to be married/adopt kids?" basically on hot topics.

For the purposes of this example, Ill use "Should abortion be legal."

The thread itself will probably be a 50/50 split between people for and against. But the poll will be an overwhelming majority FOR abortion and VERY few that are AGAINST abortion.

Basically, the polls dont match the spilt of people that are in the thread the poll is on.

Why do you think this is?

 

[bumblebee62331]

Because more people will just vote and not reply. Only the people who want to debate or get involved will reply and some of the topics can get heated very quickly. Some people may have personal experience and not want to get into it, so they just vote. After a while, writing "I voted Yes" gets a bit boring

I generally just vote, unless I feel strongly about it or if someone in the thread has brought up an interesting point that I want to reply to. Usually I only read the first few posts. Sometimes the OP has questions in it, so I reply.

Using abortion for an example, you might pick "Yes I'm for it" when really you're not 100% for it - you just think it should be allowed in medical emergencies, but not as birth control. You will pick "yes" (if no "other" is there), then explain in your answer. It might come across as you not being for abortion.

There's a number of reasons why a poll doesn't match what people actually say. It's natural to expect that when they can only pick "Yes or No" but can elaborate in paragraphs in their answer.

 

[justanobserver]

Because more people will just vote and not reply. Only the people who want to debate or get involved will reply and some of the topics can get heated very quickly. Some people may have personal experience and not want to get into it, so they just vote. After a while, writing "I voted Yes" gets a bit boring

I generally just vote, unless I feel strongly about it or if someone in the thread has brought up an interesting point that I want to reply to. Usually I only read the first few posts. Sometimes the OP has questions in it, so I reply.

I agree. Some of the topics I dont have anything constructive to add to the discussion (or have enough knowledge on it) and some, it isnt going to do me any good to add any comments. Ther are a few topics that I feel deeply on but am not going to get drawn into a fight - some discussions nothing gets settled but bad feelings, harsh words, insults, flames, hurt emotions, anger, etc is the only thing that comes out and its not worth it. So myself on some issues, I will just vote and not comment.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

Why do you think this is?

Could it be that one mindset thinks that a popularity shift or "show" makes right and those that rest in the truth as it is don't concern themselves with winning or losing in an obscure and meaningless poll?

 

[DieHappy]

Some people aren't up to taking insults like "pro-back alley coat hanger abortion" and the like.

 

[£amb]

Most of the polls that are created ask a question that has been covered thousands of times. Most people are willing to reply to the poll, but not answer in the sense that they may have done so over and over and over again on other threads.