…and this is a 
Please stop. You're driving me insane!
Category: Administrative
Posted on: October 13, 2008 6:46 PM, by PZ Myers
DO NOT SEND ME ANY MORE REQUESTS TO CRASH THE PBS POLL ON SARAH PALIN. I am receiving over 50 email requests per day to do it, and there are a dozen comments every day mentioning it. You don't see them because I've had to specifically add a filter to trash them automatically, and similarly, I've got an email filter that is killing all the messages direct to me. I know, the stupid poll has gone viral and there is email circulating all over the web asking people to vote on it, and everyone who sees it forwards it on to me, for some reason. It's been done. It is a thoroughly hacked poll already. Please read my previous plea, This poll is an ex-poll, OK?.
At this rate, I might just have to put up a permanent, big, bold banner across the top of Pharyngula that tells people to throw that email about the PBS poll away.
Comments
Posted by: Glen Davidson | October 13, 2008 6:54 PM
Hey PZ, can you post a link to crash the PBS poll on Sarah Palin?
Sure, I tease the lions, too, and it's getting harder to do with only one hand left.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/2kxyc7
Posted by: Chris Louth | October 13, 2008 7:06 PM
On the other hand, the AFA has a "do you think Obama is qualified" poll too: http://www.afa.net/petitions/pbspoll/takesurvey.asp
Go crash that.
Posted by: woody | October 13, 2008 7:08 PM
Over in the far-left, moon-bat blogosphere, we'd call that poll "freeped," in honor of the mindless drones at FreeRepublic who do nothing all day but drool cheetoh-juice and splooge on their undergarments in their attic-or-basement bedrooms in their parents homes...
Posted by: woody | October 13, 2008 7:10 PM
Over in the far-left, moon-bat blogosphere, we'd call that poll "freeped," in honor of the mindless drones at FreeRepublic who do nothing all day but drool cheetoh-juice and splooge on their undergarments dreaming of K-Lo in the attic-or-basement bedrooms in their parents homes...
Posted by: mcpickard | October 13, 2008 7:23 PM
For that AFA poll, there is like 4,000 or so in favor of Obama and something like 8 billion against...
Can faithful Pharyngula readers turn the tide?
Will I ever learn what a beef diaper is?
Stay tuned.
Posted by: Teresa | October 13, 2008 7:28 PM
I have a link to both the AFA poll and the PBS poll on my blog.
The AFA poll is, of course, intended to be heavily slantd against Obama since they only send out letters to their mailing list announcing it...
Posted by: John | October 13, 2008 7:44 PM
Total Votes: 52234719
LMAO
Posted by: Ichthyic | October 13, 2008 7:52 PM
Eric:
just...
STFU
thanks
Posted by: Hideki | October 13, 2008 7:57 PM
It's not dead, it's just pining for the fjords!
With apologies to John Cleese
Posted by: forksmuggler | October 13, 2008 7:59 PM
here's the link for the AFA counter poll:
http://www.afa.net/petitions/pbspoll/takesurvey.asp
Posted by: forksmuggler | October 13, 2008 8:00 PM
here's the link for the AFA counter poll:
http://www.afa.net/petitions/pbspoll/takesurvey.asp
Posted by: Owlmirror | October 13, 2008 8:19 PM
Actually, it's pining for the fnords.
Posted by: Buffalo David | October 13, 2008 8:28 PM
OOPPPSSS! Sorry!
Posted by: Psycho Atheist | October 13, 2008 8:33 PM
I'm showing the PBS poll as a 49% tie for each. Now either something's wrong with how I'm viewing it because I voted already, or some skullduggerry is afoot!
Posted by: dubiquiabs | October 13, 2008 8:34 PM
For FULL EMPHASIS:
This poll is no more! It's passed on! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet it's maker! It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! It's pushing up the daisies! It's metabolic processes [huh?] are now 'istory! It's off the page! It's kicked the bucket, it's shuffled off it's mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-POLL!!
Posted by: Psycho Atheist | October 13, 2008 8:42 PM
And yes I know it has been abused by both left and right. On re-reading my previous post (#16), I now realise that it might have just been ever so slightly over-subtle.
Whilst I am here, can anyone put this poor Scotsman's mind at rest and reassure me that there is absolutely no fecking chance of the Republicans stealing this election?
Posted by: The Chemist | October 13, 2008 9:11 PM
@Psychoatheist,
I have a strong feeling Obama will win, but it's just a hunch, it's still possible for the election to go to McCain. Sorry.
That said, PZ, there's totally this poll at PBS...
Posted by: Ichthyic | October 13, 2008 9:26 PM
can anyone put this poor Scotsman's mind at rest and reassure me that there is absolutely no fecking chance of the Republicans stealing this election?
nope.
but obama's lead is over 6 points, which IS pretty significant at this point in the race.
I see signs of rethuglican fatigue, as well.
a month ago, I would have called it a toss-up, with the rethugs maybe getting the edge in with some shady stuff.
now, I don't see anything the rethugs have on the horizon to overcome a 6 point lead at this point in time.
even all the "stealing" techniques employed previously by the right can't overcome a 6 point lead.
I've got obama at 80% to win at this point.
Posted by: Brian | October 13, 2008 9:46 PM
Psycho Atheist: You can't imagine how I wish I could.
That said, the signs are a hell of a lot more encouraging than they have been in recent elections. If the GOP does steal this one, they're going to have to work pretty hard.
Posted by: Pyrrhonic | October 13, 2008 9:53 PM
I am not sure if this was the case earlier, but at the AFA poll, if you vote yes, then you have to give them your name and e-mail address. Naturally, this would discourage many people from voting in their poll for fear of the retribution from the AFA.
Posted by: Ichthyic | October 13, 2008 9:56 PM
Naturally, this would discourage many people from voting in their poll for fear of the retribution from the AFA.
I never cease to find it ironic that in this country, the real intellectual terrorists; the people most of us really have to fear, are the one's cloaking themselves in the word "family".
Posted by: Pyrrhonic | October 13, 2008 9:57 PM
Nevermind. I apparently can't see well this evening.
Posted by: Bookworm_mom22 | October 13, 2008 10:32 PM
At the AFA site I put in fake info. (no way was I going to put in any real info.) and it let me vote.
Posted by: ndt | October 13, 2008 10:45 PM
I gave AFA my real name and a real email address (the same one I give Science Blogs). That address is posted on my blog so it already gets plenty of spam.
Posted by: Skeeve | October 13, 2008 10:48 PM
Sheesh....the AFA poll is a loss...there is no way it can be flipped.
Of course, it's like taking a poll in a Baptist Church and asking, "Is Jesus Lord?".
Posted by: Patricia | October 13, 2008 11:12 PM
Hot damn. I can just sit here and sip my sangria with a big slutty grin on my face.
I don't even know what poll PZ is talking about. *smirk*
Posted by: Ragutis | October 14, 2008 12:13 AM
Never say never, but things look really bad for McCain. Big conservative voices (Noonan, Buckley, Will, Kristol) are expressing disgust, disappointment, despair. Today Gov. Crist of Florida has seemingly given up on swinging the state back to red and withdrawn from campaigning for McCain. There's a rumor that the RNC is considering stopping all of it's McCain ads and shifting the $ to Senate and Congressional races. The way things look, Obama needs one swing state to win, while McCain would need to sweep them.
Unless Barack wears a turban to Wednesday's debate and starts ululating, cautious optimism for an Obama win would be appropriate. Go ahead and buy a bottle of champagne. The holidays aren't too far away if we get borked again.
Posted by: Ichthyic | October 14, 2008 12:23 AM
there is no way it can be flipped.
in case you hadn't noticed, you literally cannot vote "no" on that poll.
try it and see.
even just refreshing the poll will cast a dozen or so yes votes for you.
people, stop looking at this as a failure.
WE WON.
any time you can get the host of a poll to rig their own damn poll so obviously, you've won.
Posted by: Pikemann Urge | October 14, 2008 2:37 AM
It isn't 'crashing'. It's organized demographic preference redistribution.
Posted by: JimboB | October 14, 2008 9:39 AM
My apologies, PZ... I'm one of the many who thought this was a fresh poll. I'll try to pay more attention next time.
Posted by: shane | October 14, 2008 11:02 AM
I remember hearing once that if attacked by a shark you punch it in the nose.
Then what you say?
You poke it in the eye with your bloody stump.
Posted by: Sili | October 14, 2008 2:58 PM
Glad to hear you could filter them out automatically.
Sorry, that you can't filter them out of your head.
Posted by: Qwerty | October 14, 2008 5:10 PM
The REAL poll occurs in November and AFA members may not rejoice over the results.... Unless, more Diebold rigging?