The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

This is brilliant!!!!!!!!!!

maybe the information aesthetics kids would also be interested in that kind of data

Fabbo. Thanks Rob.

Have I got this right? You want to create a Pol-Idol voting system to determine which candidate would be most popular amongst the populace of countries that don’t have a vote in the actual election. Why? Please explain Charles, Rob whoever.

What ever country you live in, would you want non-residents influencing your democratic vote (beyond the extent it already happens geo-politically)? Smacks of imperialsim to me – the point about democracy is that people are free to voe and get the rulers they want – not those that other countries want, e.g. Hamas. And what about the manipulation possibilities that are rife in online votes, if I ran someone’s campaign I’d love to get the other ccandidate cast as the one those lovely people from (insert despotic nation of your choice) want to rule our country.

Me grumpy? Must be all these damn proposals I’m getting today!

can we have a vote on that?

Hello all,

Joey here.

I am the friend of Charles’ who had the idea. Just to make clear Rob, there are some guys who are already working on developing it. They recently ran http://www.10questions.com and have developed a platform for doing similar things. They should have something to show within a few weeks.

In reference to the last comment. you ask why?

The US, and indeed the majority of countries, influence the lives of people in countries other than their own without the citizens of those countries getting to vote. That is imperialism. So if this is a form of imperialism then it is an internet imperialism. The most democratic sort i’ve come across so far. The largest constituency to date get a say. If it is unfair then it is only so because of the limitations of connectivity/access and questions over the long term sustainability of the internet itself.

The realisation of this idea does nothing to take from the right to vote of those within the US. They still have the power to vote how they wish. If it does work out that this global voting influences how they vote then fantastic! (US) citizens considering global opinion and potential consequences, and therefore the wider significance of their vote: bring it on. The alternative is “We vote without giving a damn what the rest of the world wants.” It is merely providing valuable information. Decisions are made by making the best use of all the information available to you.

I put the US in brackets above because it could be any country. If it were Zimbabwe it would be great to see the world condemn Mugabe. If it were the UK, where I live, I would happily take on board who the rest of the world would think a better leader for our country. If it were Iceland, hardly anyone would consider it of great importance to vote. I think it is fair to say that more people would vote in this example, the US elections, than any other. That bears evidence to the fact that we all know it is important for us even if we don’t live there. Yet we all wait upon the results impotent and disenfranchised. Not any more!

In a world where we better understand the global consequences of local action I am excited that the internet has the potential to seriously challenge the hegemony of the nation state and instead look toward a more universal suffrage that better represents the interests of the human race as a whole: good idea/bad idea? I think I know which side of that fence I am on.

I hope that helps answer why I think why.

As for the potential to manipulate, there are many concerns there. I look to my techie friends to find the best solution. It’s not possible to rig real elections after all!

Joey

And for the record Joey, in reference to real “rigging” you should talk to our IT guy because he is the most devious bastard alive and I mean that in a good way 🙂

Sarcasm comes across in type just fine Joey, it’s probably the fact I’m American and “us lot” don’t get it (according to my Limey pay masters)

Feeling abit of an outsider John? 🙂

Yours and the British Constabulary 🙂

Hi Paul, of course it won’t be representative especially, as you already indicate, the sort of person who would bother to do it is the sort of individual who would naturally lean towards a particular party – however [1] presumption is always dangerous and we could be in for a funny surprise and [2] regardless of all that, it would give the World [or certain people within the World] the chance to feel their voice has to be acknowledged in the US – even if it serves no purpose whatsoever.

If we only do what we believe will make a fundamental difference, then we would never get anything off the ground – which is why I view this excercise as ‘seeding change’ rather than delivering it … and in the World that we live in today, I think that’s worth the effort.

Hi guys,

I wasn’t saying “don’t do it”, more “if you’re going to do it, then try to make it as good as possible”.

Will be fun and interesting whatever, but would be great if it was fun, interesting and – a point Rob likes to dwell on- insightful.

Perhaps some considerations Joey is addressing?

Paul.

Hi

I didn’t read the post but I did take the photo!
Check out the rest of my stuff
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulhitz/

thanks
paulhitz

i know it must feel good to have someone use your photo paul, but this is a shit blog so its nothing worth feeling too smug about.

good fucking point paul, let me kick the stealing shit when i see him. at least he linked it to you, when he steals my stuff he likes to pretend its his but i am working at the ultimate level 🙂

Rob and I have been asked to speak at some global market researchers conference so I sense this could become a central focus of our talk. That and everything that’s wrong with the discipline 🙂

And creatives get all the awards.

We have to work for our money and praise.