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Why are Internet petitions a bad idea?

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Internet petitions are most likely a bad idea.This is an arguable opinion, but you will see by the end of this article that there is a lot of room for the negative.However, if by signing an email opinion you could change a policy that would resolve world hunger, then we should all sign internet petitions.

Most petitions have no effect and many can cause harm.The following points will show you to take extra care before signing a petition on line to make your opinion heard.

  1. Email Harvesting.Often the survey or Internet Petition asks those that are signing to enter an email.They explain this is needed to make sure that you are a real person and not a computer program that is signing the petition.This is how the owner of the petition keeps you from `stuffing' the petition with multiple signatures.

    However, the petition itself could be a scam that is just being used to get people to enter email addresses so they can be marketed later.The spammer now has a legitimate email address and they know at least one subject that you feel strongly about.

  2. Redirection.Another tactic of the owners of the petition is to redirect you to a sales pitch.When you sign the petition and hit enter, your browser is redirected to a sales pitch that may or may not be related to the subject of the petition.
  3. Petition taker ignores results.How do you know that the results will ever be used?The petition may just be an attempt to get people to view a certain page on the internet.A good hint that this might be true is to count the internet ads that are placed on the petition page.This will indicate that the site is more interested in selling you an item than it is about your opinion of the poll or petition they are asking you to sign.
  4. Decision maker ignores petition.Also, the organization whether it is a company or elected official will most likely ignore the results of the petition.They may receive the petition, but you should question any organization that would base policy off of an internet petition.It is too easy to `stuff' the signatures.
    For instance, how many email address do you have?You may have an email for work.You may have another email that you use only with your friends.You may have another email that you use when surfing the internet so you don't give out your real email address.An email address used only for banking may be another good idea.
    How many free email addresses were you given when you signed up for your internet provider?You could sign the petition many different times without duplicating your email once.Additionally, if you own your personal URL you could create an infinite amount of email addresses at home.
    Because the petition is so easy to fraudulently sign, it is hard to believe anyone would take them too seriously.
  5. Complacence.Internet petitions give you the feeling that you have actually taken action on something and expressed your feelings to effect policy.People do this every day as they post their opinions in their own blogs.However, as shown above, these petitions in all likelihood are not being used.


You now may feel that you have done your civic duty.You no longer feel obligated to actually do something to effect the situation that you signed the petition for in the first place.Hence, you have been tricked into not doing anything at all concerning the situation you feel so strongly about.

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