Are these boards a representative sample? (1 Viewer)

[ashurbanipal]

I'm curious to know whether people on these boards think that they are a representative sample. Taken as a whole, do the regulars here adequately represent the American electorate? Or, is there a skew one direction or the other? If someone who knew nothing about American politics came to these boards and read through enough posts, would they be able to come away with a good idea about how the American public feels, or not? Would they come away thinking that American political sentiment is more liberal or conservative than it actually is?

I know we discuss politics in countries and regions other than the United States. But it seems that predominantly, that is the domain of discussion, and there aren't enough poll options to do more than one country at a time anyway.

 

[Jerry]

I'm curious to know whether people on these boards think that they are a representative sample. Taken as a whole, do the regulars here adequately represent the American electorate? Or, is there a skew one direction or the other? If someone who knew nothing about American politics came to these boards and read through enough posts, would they be able to come away with a good idea about how the American public feels, or not? Would they come away thinking that American political sentiment is more liberal or conservative than it actually is?

I know we discuss politics in countries and regions other than the United States. But it seems that predominantly, that is the domain of discussion, and there aren't enough poll options to do more than one country at a time anyway.

See DP stats here.

We lean heavily in Male-Undisclosed Party; with Undisclosed gender- Independent coming second.

There are almost as many Conservatives as there are Liberals and Independents put together.

 

[ashurbanipal]

I've looked at those before, but I think those stats answer a slightly different question than what I'm after--I'd like to know what people's perceptions are.

 

[AcePylut]

See DP stats here.

We lean heavily in Male-Undisclosed Party; with Undisclosed gender- Independent coming second.

There are almost as many Conservatives as there are Liberals and Independents put together.

Not so sure about that last statement... looks pretty equal to me re: liberal/very lib as opposed to conservative/very conservative.

Political Leaning
Centrist 12
Private 29
Slightly Liberal 36
Slightly Conservative 37
Very Liberal 39
Very Conservative 43
Moderate 47
Liberal 69
Conservative 80
Independent 103
Undisclosed 194
Total members counted: 689

 

[mpg]

Most of the polls that I see here have results that seem fairly typical of the American public. Look at this one.

http://www.debatepolitics.com/history/12882-clintion-good-bad-11.html#post374270

 

[Jerry]

I've looked at those before, but I think those stats answer a slightly different question than what I'm after--I'd like to know what people's perceptions are.

On what, specifically?

 

[Jerry]

Not so sure about that last statement... looks pretty equal to me re: liberal/very lib as opposed to conservative/very conservative.

Political Leaning
Centrist 12
Private 29
Slightly Liberal 36
Slightly Conservative 37
Very Liberal 39
Very Conservative 43
Moderate 47
Liberal 69
Conservative 80
Independent 103
Undisclosed 194
Total members counted: 689

I took that from the last collum: Members with Group Memberships displayed (ranks)**

Liberals + Independants = 50
50 - 42 Conservatives = 8

8, IMO, is "almost as manny" in "There are almost as many Conservatives as there are Liberals and Independents put together".

I could have misread it, however.

 

[ashurbanipal]

On what, specifically?

On exactly what I asked--namely, are these boards a representative sample?

 

[Nexus]

I can't say because I haven't been here long enough but my initial impression is that it is more balanced than a majority of the forums I've seen.

 

[Navy Pride]

See DP stats here.

We lean heavily in Male-Undisclosed Party; with Undisclosed gender- Independent coming second.

There are almost as many Conservatives as there are Liberals and Independents put together.

That is because a lot of democrats are ashamed to be labeled as Liberals whereas Conservatives are proud of their conservatism......

 

[Navy Pride]

Not so sure about that last statement... looks pretty equal to me re: liberal/very lib as opposed to conservative/very conservative.

Political Leaning
Centrist 12
Private 29
Slightly Liberal 36
Slightly Conservative 37
Very Liberal 39
Very Conservative 43
Moderate 47
Liberal 69
Conservative 80
Independent 103
Undisclosed 194
Total members counted: 689

I would be interested in where the 194 stand................I would be willing to bet there are a lot of Liberals there........

 

[Navy Pride]

I don't know how accurate most polls are here........Most of the people that post here in DP are either hard core left or right, myself included leaning to the left that is why I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of this poll......

http://www.debatepolitics.com/polls/13058-all-things-being-equal-most-ideal-way-child-raised.html

 

[Billo_Really]

I'm a liberal, and these boards got me skewed!

 

[SixStringHero]

I don't know how accurate most polls are here........Most of the people that post here in DP are either hard core left or right, myself included leaning to the left that is why I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of this poll......
http://www.debatepolitics.com/polls/13058-all-things-being-equal-most-ideal-way-child-raised.html

Navy, you turned into a liberal now? :shock:

 

[Navy Pride]

Navy, you turned into a liberal now? :shock:

Those are fighting words my friend.......

 

[Gardener]

Well, right off hand, I would say this board if quite well balanced. There are intolerant right, intolerant left, dogmatic partisan right, dogmatic partisan left, liberals (but only a few true liberals), conservatives (more true conservatives than true liberals), moderates, libertarians -- the whole gamut.

 

[Doremus Jessup]

I think it is pretty well balanced, but I see more posts from crazy right-wingers. That might have to do with some of them being post whores though. :lol:

 

[Navy Pride]

I think it is pretty well balanced, but I see more posts from crazy right-wingers. That might have to do with some of them being post whores though. :lol:

Well there are also people here who are Liberals and claim yo be moderates but there posts give them away.....

 

[Befuddled_Stoner]

No, I doubt that this forum is a representative sample, simply due to the fact that we pay enough attention to politics to form an opinion on the issues. From what I gather, the average American doesn’t really give much of a **** about politics.

Based upon 2000 census figures, 42.45% of the U.S. population voted in the 2004 election.

But taking into account that selection bias, I’d guess that the forum isn’t too skewed in either direction.

It may be that I’m a liberal, but it seems like the rabidly crazy conservatives are more vocal than their liberal counterparts...Oh, hey there Navy_Pride; didn’t see your posts until just now. How’s it going?

 

[CaptainCourtesy]

If someone who knew nothing about American politics came to these boards and read through enough posts, would they be able to come away with a good idea about how the American public feels, or not?

If someone who knew nothing about American politics came to these boards and read through enough posts, that person might think that Americans are extremely partisanly divided, with both sides rarely agreeing, often fighting and namecalling, with each side rarely taking responsiblilty for these behaviors nor able or willing to discuss coming to a common ground.

Just my :twocents:.

 

[Captain America]

I guess that would depend on where you live. I can only speak for the area I live in and I would have to say no. For example, there are a few extreme rightwing whackos on this site. In fact, three or four. You would NEVER see bafoons like that walking around where I live. I would be embarassed if anyone thought those people were representative of our country.:3oops:

 

[Kandahar]

I don't think the boards are too far to the left or right, compared to the overall American population. However, this board does tend to be considerably more intelligent than the population as a whole, so some bias is inevitable. In the "real world," you'll find a lot more people like Jamesrage and KidRocks, and a lot fewer people like GySgt and Kelzie.

With that said, the boards do tend to skew on certain issues where the American electorate skews based on education level. Gay marriage comes to mind.

 

[Trajan Octavian Titus]

I'm curious to know whether people on these boards think that they are a representative sample. Taken as a whole, do the regulars here adequately represent the American electorate? Or, is there a skew one direction or the other? If someone who knew nothing about American politics came to these boards and read through enough posts, would they be able to come away with a good idea about how the American public feels, or not? Would they come away thinking that American political sentiment is more liberal or conservative than it actually is?

I know we discuss politics in countries and regions other than the United States. But it seems that predominantly, that is the domain of discussion, and there aren't enough poll options to do more than one country at a time anyway.

No, we're ALL far more informed and interested in politics than the average citizen, I'd say. But in relation to people being Liberal/Conservative I'd say we represent the general voting population fairly accurately.

 

[Trajan Octavian Titus]

I guess that would depend on where you live. I can only speak for the area I live in and I would have to say no. For example, there are a few extreme rightwing whackos on this site. In fact, three or four. You would NEVER see bafoons like that walking around where I live. I would be embarassed if anyone thought those people were representative of our country.:3oops:

Ya we also have these Communist nut jobs and fringe left useful idiots too. I would start a resistance movement if those people were representative of our country. :lol: :2wave:

 

[Volker]

However, this board does tend to be considerably more intelligent than the population as a whole, so some bias is inevitable. In the "real world," you'll find a lot more people like Jamesrage and KidRocks, and a lot fewer people like GySgt and Kelzie.

I lived a while in America, sometimes I like to make fun of Americans myself, but to insinuate the average American is less intelligent than Kelzie is an insult to Americans I do not want to tolerate.