United States: The American Family Association has gone back on its promise to take the result of its poll on gay marriage to Capitol Hill.
But the AFA never counted on the power of the Internet. And once the URL to the poll escaped its intended audience, everything went haywire. As of Jan. 19, 60 percent of respondents -- more than 508,000 voters -- said,I favor legalization of homosexual marriage.With an additional 7.89 percent -- or 66,732 voters -- replying,I favor a 'civil union' with the full benefits of marriage except for the name,the AFA's chosen position,I oppose legalization of homosexual marriage and 'civil unions,'was being defeated by a 2-1 ratio.
Having tried to publicise the poll to their own supporters, and no-one else, they claim that the Evil Homosexual Conspiracy has done what they tried to do:
We're very concerned that the traditional state of marriage is under threat in our country by homosexual activists,said AFA representative Buddy Smith.It just so happens that homosexual activist groups around the country got a hold of the poll -- it was forwarded to them -- and they decided to have a little fun, and turn their organizations around the country (onto) the poll to try to cause it to represent something other than what we wanted it to. And so far, they succeeded with that.
Gay Marriage Poll Gets Annulled —Wired News, 22nd January 2004.
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...to cause it to represent something other than what we wanted it to.
I expect that's not a wholly unexpected stance from people who think that creationism is science.
However, for all the kids in the audience, may I just point out that the above approach is known as "getting in the fix" and is as unethical in poll-taking as it is in horse racing.