from Hacker News

Who am I prepared to kill and who am I prepared to die for?

by samgilb on 10/14/23, 9:49 PM with 3 comments

• by JoeAltmaier on 10/14/23, 9:56 PM

  The 'truth' about what people think, is not determined by a poll. The one writing the questions directs the conversation exactly where they want it to go.

  E.g. Is DT doing A) well, B) very well or C) tremendously well. What kind of truth is that?

  Even asking about an 'issue' defines something as a divisive issue with a binary resolution. Which is nonsense most of the time. Is abortion A) bad or B) good?

  No, opinion polls are not getting us anywhere; they're just another way to create fake numbers and prove nonsense.

• by 082349872349872 on 10/15/23, 1:18 AM

  NB: a bit of a baity title for an article (ca. 2020) that discusses (with a bit of history) the reduction of opinion-holding to Manichaean dualism.

  Detim da belowt im ere da wowl, sasa kemang to xalte wit ke?