I think I was push-polled yesterday

[JHB]

I received a call from a phone-poller yesterday (Sunday 6/10). I was in the middle of something else, but considering the number of times I've groused that this or that poll "never asked me", I stayed for it.

It was mostly about state-level issues (New Jersey), politicians, and (party) politics. It was all pretty general, but after a dozen questions or so it seemed to veer towards more loaded framing, with Democratic members of the legislature being associated with an assortment of RW hot button issues (e.g., gay marraige, needle exchange programs), and the Republicans, in juxtaposition, were concerned with hearth and home issues (my phrase, not theirs) i.e., eliminating corruption and waste in government, improving schools, lowering the average resident's tax burden, etc.

At that point something clicked and I asked who was funding this poll. The person on the other side of the phone wasn't exactly expecting that question and didn't have the answer immediately (not that I really gave her much time to find it). I told her "This sounds like a push-poll" and (having better things to do anyway) hung up.

Anyone else have this sort of experience? Either in the past or currently?

[SheilaT]

1. Yes. I've been push-polled on occasion.

One time, several years ago, I was against whatever it was they were trying to get me to say, and I kept on repeating my opposition. It was very frustrating.

Very often the person on the other end of the line does not actually know who's paying for the poll. This is true even in consumer polling, the "What kind of toilet paper do you prefer" poll. A lot of the time you can figure out who or what organization is behind it.

Back before last November's election, I got a robo-call poll at my place of work, and learned to my extreme anger that when I pressed the button to show my support for a woman's right to choose, it was treated as an anti-choice selection. I was quite outraged at that one.

[Gormy Cuss]

2. The interviewer in a legitimate polling firm would have an answer ready for that question

The answer may not have been the name of the client, but the interviewer would have a scripted response to that question along with about a half dozen other ones that are frequently asked like "How long is this going to take?"

At the very least it was a poorly trained interviewer but it's likely that it was also not a legitimate poll.

[lpbk2713]

3. I never respond to phone polls.

You never know what their *real* purpose is.

[blueworld]

4. Even in NJ now?

All the years I lived there I was never push-polled, but since moving south, I get dozens of calls for each election. Like you, I also ask who's funding the poll, and rarely do I get an answer other than "I don't know". Initially I refused to participate if they couldn't tell me, now I screw with their heads instead. It's fun.

Last one (either Giuliani or Newt sponsored) was particularly good - the guy actually started arguing with my answers. After asking me important questions about race, color, personal habits, abortion & number of marriages, he got to my religious preference (multiple choice). I selected "other", & was asked why. I quoted Arlo Guthrie's parents: "either I belong to all religions or to none". The guy blew a fuse! "Is that even POSSIBLE"?, "Yes, I think so".

Everybody needs a hobby.:hippie:

[annabanana]

5. I was push polled once by a bored young woman who had

been hired to ask the questions. The calling had apparently been contracted to some boiler room or another. I started asking her questions about the questions... you know "How on Earth would someone answer that question, asked in that way in any other way?" She was bright enough to allow that the questions were slanted. I then told her that she was "push-polling" and explained what that was.

I allowed as how "everybody's gotta make a living", and that I didn't hold her personally responsible for the questions she was asking... But I did ask her to remember these questions the next time she heard a politician claim that "65% of people believe this or that" if the results didn't seem to make logical sense.