I have said this before....but I would like to know other thoughts.

IMO polls aren't accurate, whether for or against something. Not everyone in whatever group was polled. Polls can be slanted at any time depending on who you ask.

So why are polls used so much??? If anything they might be a suggestion, but I can't see how they are accurate.

A perfect example is the popularity of the president. Depends on who you ask whether for or against and depends on who is doing the survey.

Any thoughts on this?

It is the same thing as when they predicted that Dewey would beat Truman.

I think like you, polls are biased and a waste of tax payers money.

Hey TBRich

I actually only used the president as an example....it could be any polls. Do you take these as facts or guidelines or dismiss them all together or....?

so in my poopularty poll of myself...that is a yes from you???

I'm not looking to say someone is right or wrong here....I'm just curious as to how people see polls

now ya know me betta dan dat, I am always against the norm

Kim you are the queen of da poopularty

Rasmussen is the best...he does a 1500 sample of likely votes...everynight...so he uses a three day rolling average...he also breaks down the sample based on the % of white, black, hispanic, female, male, and independent voters...his poll has Obamacare at 38% approval...57% against...Obamas overall approval is 46%...the same as Zogby...Gallup on the other hand is over weighted in Dems and Black samples...hence...it's always a few points better for Obama then Rasmussen and Zogby...

OK Gio....so you follow polls depending on who does them??? If so, how do you, personally, decide who to trust?

based on sample size...how it's weighted...politically and demographicly...like I said...Rasmussen is probably the most accurate...he predicted that Obama would win by 6.5%...the final results were Obama 52.7% McCain 46.3%...1% other...pretty fuggin' accurate...

George Bush had two terms. Do I REALLY need to say more?

like I said....the presidents was an example. What about the Health care polls? Does any one based their debates or opinions based on those polls.

Or polls on any other subject for that matter?

the reason polls are used in such large numbers is the very reason you question them


a good pollster can take a poll and get it to come out almost anyway they wish


thus those that do not know any better follow the crowd (how do they do that) they listen to the polls and go with what the poll suggests is the way people think

just a thought

but hey

what do i know

good point Robin. I personally don't pay attention to them and I've never been polled. I'm just trying to understand why other don't buy into them or why others might rely on them...or whatever

so I take you it don't buy into polls??? Do polls affect your opinions at all?

right right....lol

could the 2 of you expand on the polls? Do you value them and if so what is the criteria you use?

You are absolutely correct for those who feel they have to be with the crowd because in their mind if there are a bunch of them, they must be right....lol

I have even used it myself to make a useless point against some who do this. Stating I am with the majority...lol

As for the OP,

I consider it a flash shot of the views on a certain day of a few people who happened to be available for the poll. That is all.

We all know how accurate that can be...lol

If I understand correctly...you don't hold them of any value like me

I guess I'm trying to understand why and what criteria someone uses that do believe them.

I personally don't trust them. You don't know who was polled and why they were chosen etc.

I can see using a poll to argue a poll....sort of fighting fire with fire I guess

It is like saying " I have more friends than you do, nany nany boo boo...lol