Holocaust denial poll - all forum participants invited

[FluffyPersian]

I generally prefer anonymous surveys for sensitive issues, but one reason to make this public is to check whether many new JREF members are responding around the same time. If Nick sees that response pattern, he might want to check and see whether CODOH is sending people over.

 

[ddt]

(1) Different participants define "active" differently, which would decrease the validity of the results. For example, I thought "active" meant that one had posted in the thread and responded accordingly, whereas it's others who posted more than I classified themselves as non-active.

I noticed too there were voters who considered themselves "not active" while they had posted in the current GHDD thread, so maybe this term needs some clarification for future polls like this one. FWIW, I considered myself "active" on account of primarily past activity - I hadn't posted there for many months until yesterday.

 

[BaaBaa]

I chose 'not active', despite that I post a bit there- adding to the dialogue or demonstrating points is being active. Saying, "nyeah! Hitler sucks!", not so much.


Also, Hitler sucks!

 

[Nick Terry]

Nick, if you're planning on using the results in a publication, you might want to define "active" or, more simply, leave out the word altogether. There are two reasons for that: (1) Different participants define "active" differently, which would decrease the validity of the results. For example, I thought "active" meant that one had posted in the thread and responded accordingly, whereas it's others who posted more than I classified themselves as non-active. (2) Defining the term would increase participation among those who are moderately active, who might hesitate to respond if they're unsure what category they fall into. You'd be surprised at how minor issues like this affect participation.

Of course, your primary interest may be in the lurkers, in which case the above isn't important.

ETA: Is there a reason you used revisionism for the pro side and denial for the anti? I doubt it will make a difference, but I'm curious.

Aha! One thing that I am interested in is self-definition. People will define themselves differently as 'active participants' based on memory and self-perception, and on subjective factors like the passage of time. It's especially relevant when the thread has been split into two. The mix of responses is interesting for that reason, although it's not something I'd dwell on.

It should be stressed once again that the formatting mirrors the Apollo Hoax poll, and it's also too late to change things.

I used revisionism for the pro side since that's the term they themselves most often use, and denial for the anti side since that's the term everyone else most often uses.

 

[BravesFan]

I was active in the Holocaust Denial Thread and honestly, it wore me down. I made me so mad every day that I ,very recently, gave up. The "revisionist" are such terrible people that honestly It made my quality of life worse so I stopped
posting there.

 

[SpringHallConvert]

I was active in the Holocaust Denial Thread and honestly, it wore me down. I made me so mad every day that I ,very recently, gave up. The "revisionist" are such terrible people that honestly It made my quality of life worse so I stopped posting there.

This is a normal reaction for someone who has had their religious convictions challenged/shaken. First comes the shock, then the indignation, then the anger, then the frustration, then the resignation, and then finally the acceptance that spreading the gospel is a rather tiring affair.

 

[uk_dave]

This is a normal reaction for someone who has had their religious convictions challenged/shaken. First comes the shock, then the indignation, then the anger, then the frustration, then the resignation, and then finally the acceptance that spreading the gospel is a rather tiring affair.

Project much?

 

[Liszt]

This is too restrictive.

What about...

"See nothing wrong with Holocaust Revisionism, but think that it is factually inaccurate"?

(Two lots of course, one for people who participated in the thread etc.)

The word "wrong" in the originals could mean "it mustn't be done" or "they get it wrong"

 

[uk_dave]

The word "wrong" in the originals could mean "it mustn't be done" or "they get it wrong"

Or it means 'incorrect', you know, like an exam answer.

 

[Liszt]

Or it means 'incorrect', you know, like an exam answer.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ambiguous

 

[Nick Terry]

This is too restrictive.

What about...

"See nothing wrong with Holocaust Revisionism, but think that it is factually inaccurate"?

(Two lots of course, one for people who participated in the thread etc.)

The word "wrong" in the originals could mean "it mustn't be done" or "they get it wrong"

It means incorrect as in factually inaccurate.

 

[Liszt]

well, I'll vote then. Although a bit of a sliding scale might have been nice.
("what do you mean nice?")

 

[Horatius]

ETA: Is there a reason you used revisionism for the pro side and denial for the anti? I doubt it will make a difference, but I'm curious.

As nick has said, he used the terms the people themselves apply to their own position. This eliminates one excuse for the "revisionists" not responding to the poll, "I can't vote, since I don't support "denial"!"

 

[uk_dave]

well, I'll vote then. Although a bit of a sliding scale might have been nice.
("what do you mean nice?")

A place in France.

 

[RobDog63]

Thanks Nick for giving me the opportunity to express my opinion this way, as I don't have the confidence in my debating skills to enter the holocaust denial thread "proper".

 

[bluesjnr]

Thanks Nick for giving me the opportunity to express my opinion this way, as I don't have the confidence in my debating skills to enter the holocaust denial thread "proper".

Lack of any debating skills is a prerequisite for some participants.

I understand your reticence though, that thread makes me want to throw up.

 

[bluesjnr]

("what do you mean nice?")

Well that just takes the biscuit!

 

[Dogzilla]

I would disagree. If you're going to support something as as vile as Holocaust denial, you should have the courage to admit it. In any case, the active Holocaust deniers are anonymous since they are hiding behind pseudonyms that can't be traced back to real people.

That may be your opinion but that doesn't change the fact that people are more likely to participate in an opinion poll and to answer questions honestly if they believe they will remain anonymous. That's one of the first things they teach you in poll school.

 

[Nick Terry]

That may be your opinion but that doesn't change the fact that people are more likely to participate in an opinion poll and to answer questions honestly if they believe they will remain anonymous. That's one of the first things they teach you in poll school.

Does poll school cover internet forum polls?

The evidence from internet forum polls, whether they are anonymous or not, is that a tiny fraction of the active membership will bother to answer a poll, especially on a large forum with many sub-forums such as JREF. Of the 29,544 JREF members, only 2,697 are currently rated as active, a not untypical ratio for internet forums which have been going as long as JREF - people move on, lose interest, or simply lurk. It's rare to see a forum poll here which reaches even 10% of the active membership. The Stundies are polled anonymously every month and the results tend to be decided by about 100-150 people, about 5% of the active membership, and about 0.5% of the overall membership.

There have been other anonymous polls here; feel free to look them up.

 

[Walter Ego]

In Your Heart You Know He's Reich

That may be your opinion but that doesn't change the fact that people are more likely to participate in an opinion poll and to answer questions honestly if they believe they will remain anonymous. That's one of the first things they teach you in poll school.

Assuming your real name is not Dogzilla, you are anonymous. If you're going to be a cheerleader for Hitler & Company, have the courage to use your real name.