October 22, 2006
Ad populum

A few days ago a polling company called the wrong person. When they first called on Wednesday night I put them off with some story of unicorns and damsels in distress and being about to leave the house. I never expected them to actually call back on Thursday, but when they did I figured that sort of persistence deserved at least some reward, so I consented to answer their questions. Imagine my bemusement when I found that I was to be polled on my broadcast & print media reading/listening/viewing habits.

I have nothing against TV, radio stations, or newspapers. I just happen to be completely oblivious to them. Which led to approximately fiften minutes of me saying "No".

Pollster: Which of the following radio stations have you listened to in the last four months: KARP?
Me: No.
P: KNISH?
M: No.
P: KILT?
M:: No.
P: KREME?
M:: No.
. . .
Pollster: Please name all of the radio stations you have listened to in the last four months.
Me: They're online only, but at work I listen to Indie Pop Rocks and The Atlantic Sound Factory.
P: . . . Are those internet radio stations on the FM or AM band?

This process was repeated for newspapers and television shows/stations. On its own, this exchange isn't all that humorous. What did tickle me was my inclusion as a "representative" sample of the Bay Area. According to faulty statistics, several thousand people consume absolutely no convential media of any kind and rudely eat crunchy celery while speaking on the phone.

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Posted on October 22, 2006 10:06 PM
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