It is logical to compare the internet to TV when attempting to assess its potential impact. However, this ignores what may be a much more important relationship: the internet and the telephone. Here are some important facts to cogitate on: 1. Politicians have become absolutely dependent on polls. 2. Polls in prior elections have almost wholly depended on telephone sampling (random digit dialing - RDD), etc. 3. Efforts to block free access to the electorate by blocking unsolicited telephone calls have virtually failed, with regard to polling and research. The research industry has a powerful ally in the politicians who depend on them. 4. Internet survey research is exploding in popularity while telephone research is in a malaise. 5. The speed and low cost of internet polling has the politicians on a collision course with many who read this page. Money talks! This will be fascinating. Y2K election or not. I wouldn't hazard a prediction, but a head in the sand tends to expose other tender parts of the anatomy.:>)
Slashdot Mirror
It is logical to compare the internet to TV when attempting to assess its potential impact. However, this ignores what may be a much more important relationship: the internet and the telephone. Here are some important facts to cogitate on: 1. Politicians have become absolutely dependent on polls. 2. Polls in prior elections have almost wholly depended on telephone sampling (random digit dialing - RDD), etc. 3. Efforts to block free access to the electorate by blocking unsolicited telephone calls have virtually failed, with regard to polling and research. The research industry has a powerful ally in the politicians who depend on them. 4. Internet survey research is exploding in popularity while telephone research is in a malaise. 5. The speed and low cost of internet polling has the politicians on a collision course with many who read this page. Money talks! This will be fascinating. Y2K election or not. I wouldn't hazard a prediction, but a head in the sand tends to expose other tender parts of the anatomy. :>)