Independent Media Centre Ireland     http://www.indymedia.ie

‘KILKENNY PEOPLE Hunting Poll pointless’- It's rigged for sure.

category kilkenny | animal rights | opinion/analysis author Friday November 28, 2008 11:28author by Bernie Wright - Association of Hunt Saboteursauthor address PO Box 4734. Dublin.1author phone 087 2651720

Polls irrelevant, Yes or no -hunting is animal abuse.

The AOHS have contacted (Laura Keys) at the Kilkenny People newspaper who have confirmed that online opinion polls are open to mass voting by lobby groups.
We alerted our supporters to the vote online but realise that as this poll is running for a week till Tuesday it means nothing in terms of real analysis.

The votes in favour of ‘foxhunting being discontinued’ have fluctuated from over 80% in favour to just below 50% at other times. Its like a game show, excuse the pun, and the site itself easily allows repeat voting, it is readily open to abuse which makes it all irrelevant. The newspaper have now confirmed they are well aware of the mass-voting aspect.

“For this reason I think it's pointless to participate in these "polls".
They are totally unscientific, are easily rigged, and only really exist to drive traffic to the sites to boost their advertising revenue.

The votes in favour of ‘foxhunting being discontinued’ have fluctuated from over 80% in favour to just below 50% at other times. Its like a game show, excuse the pun, and the site itself easily allows repeat voting, it is readily open to abuse which makes it all irrelevant. The newspaper have now confirmed they are well aware of the mass-voting aspect.

“For this reason I think it's pointless to participate in these "polls".
They are totally unscientific, are easily rigged, and only really exist to drive traffic to the sites to boost their advertising revenue.
I think it is best if people actually vote for the opposite of what they think, then the polls are exposed for how meaningless they are. In fact, we have just gone to the poll and voted numerous time IN FAVOUR of foxhunting, and I would recommend everyone does the same.

Anyway, the people who run them can easily see if people are voting multiple times by looking at your IP address. So they could expose one side or the other as "cheating" if they really wanted. But I think they probably don't really care, because having large numbers of hits is the main thing for them, so they have figures to show advertisers how popular their site is.”

We do acknowledge the existence of more accurate market research, however most questionaires are compiled with somewhat leading questions and set answers.

Bernie Wright
Press Officer.AOHS.
087 2651720

Related Link: http://www.huntsabsireland.org

Comments (7 of 7)

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author by lulupublication date Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:52author address author phone

No question, foxes are a pest, you'd need a hen-house like Fort Knox to save your hens, but it's abhorrent to have a gang of cavaliers riding promiscuously round the countryside with their pack of unleashed dogs, which could be a danger to any small living creature.

author by SABWATCHpublication date Sat Nov 29, 2008 13:04author address author phone

Well, thats nothing new coming from both sides of the debate.But glad to hear the ARTs getting peed off with polls.Sheesh one little poll doesnt go in their favour and the whole thing is rigged against them.Considering that they have had virtually more air time coloum space andsympathetic press people than the fox hunters over the years that is abit rich of Bernie .Sounds more like a spoilt child arguement than a grown womans arguement to me.

author by Mark Cpublication date Sat Nov 29, 2008 14:00author address author phone

Although I applaud the work of Hunt Sab Ireland, I think I'm in agreement with SABWATCH above, especially after reading on your site about the Irish Times Poll:

"After a slow start the Irish Times poll to ban fox hunting is now 54% in favour of a ban. Nice one!!"

Why is this a "nice one" and the Kilkenny People one not?

Mark.

author by catladypublication date Sun Nov 30, 2008 01:34author address author phone

Perhaps because the Irish Times poll didn't allow for the same person to vote over and over again??? Just a thought.....

Nice to have you back sabwatch. May you pass endless more pointless hours trolling your life away.

author by SABWATCHpublication date Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:55author address author phone

Hasnt been renewed in months! And that IT poll was last year,two enteries in the blog as well.
Oh well ,guess that shows how much activity there is in hunt sabbing here.A bunch of letters and a protest once a year in Waterford.With that sort of support and activity I guess that says more than any poll on how effective or pouplar this is in Ireland.
I think the shoe lace collectors society have bigger membership and following than the ARTs in this country.

author by Kelsey Gibbs - Nonepublication date Mon Dec 22, 2008 09:33author address author phone

Hunting is pointless because your killing living creatures for your entertainment. It absoloutly disgraceful!

author by Daniel Mahonpublication date Tue Dec 23, 2008 11:26author address author phone

"Hunting is pointless because your killing living creatures for your entertainment."

Ummmmmmm.... I think the point is the entertainment no?


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