Thread: Poll - Terrorism & Torture

  1. #1
    Registered User Kybo_Ren's Avatar
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    Poll - Terrorism & Torture

    Hey guys, I have a class assignment for AP Government & Politics -- I have to poll at least 75 people on a subject of my choosing (torture of terrorists).

    I thought it'd be a great way to get people of all demographics to respond with little effort


    Please note: this poll is to be as anonymous as possible. Please don't post your completed poll in this thread -- PM them to me.


    Survey:
    Code:
    1 - What is your ethnicity?
    a) Asian / Pacific Islander
    b) Caucasian / White (including Middle-Eastern)
    c) Hispanic / Latino
    d) African / Black
    e) Other
    
    2 - How old are you?
    a) Under 15
    b) 15 - 21
    c) 22 - 35
    d) 36 - 55
    e) 56+
    
    3 - To what religion do you belong?
    a) Islam
    b) Christianity (any, i.e. Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, etc.)
    c) Judaism
    d) Atheism
    e) Other (Agnostic, self-practicing, any unlisted religion)
    
    4 - Where is your primary place of residence located?
    a) US West
    b) US Midwest
    c) US Northeast
    d) US South
    e) Other (including regions outside the US)
    
    5 - Annual household income
    a) Under $25,000
    b) $25,000 - $70,000
    c) $70,000 - $125,000
    d) $125,000 - $200,000
    e) $200,000+
    
    6 - Convicted terrorists should be tortured as punishment.
    a) Strongly agree
    b) Agree
    c) Neutral
    d) Disagree
    e) Strongly disagree
    
    7 - It is acceptable to torture terrorist suspects for potential information.
    a) Strongly agree
    b) Agree
    c) Neutral
    d) Disagree
    e) Strongly disagree
    
    8 - It is acceptable to send terrorist suspects to foreign countries known for their abuse of detainees for "interrogation".
    a) Strongly agree
    b) Agree
    c) Neutral
    d) Disagree
    e) Strongly disagree
    
    9 - It is acceptable to detain terrorist suspects in Guantanamo Bay without regard to Geneva Convention rules or Constitutional rights of the accused.
    a) Strongly agree
    b) Agree
    c) Neutral
    d) Disagree
    e) Strongly disagree
    
    10 - The Bush administration has done a good job handling terrorist suspects, convicted terrorists, and terrorism in general.
    a) Strongly agree
    b) Agree
    c) Neutral
    d) Disagree
    e) Strongly disagree
    
    11 - Capital punishment is acceptable.
    a) Strongly agree
    b) Agree
    c) Neutral
    d) Disagree
    e) Strongly disagree
    
    12 - "An eye for an eye" is an acceptable penal doctrine.
    a) Strongly agree
    b) Agree
    c) Neutral
    d) Disagree
    e) Strongly disagree
    
    13 - The CIA's secret prisons (no public oversight, no reporting to Amnesty International) are acceptable.
    a) Strongly agree
    b) Agree
    c) Neutral
    d) Disagree
    e) Strongly disagree
    Please send your responses in this format:

    Code:
    1 - a 
    2 - b 
    3 - c 
    etc...
    Thank you


    [ discuss ]

  2. #2
    Devil's Advocate SlyMaelstrom's Avatar
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    You need an introduction to your poll explaining your definition of torture since it clearly holds a strong point in many of your questions. Torture can by anywhere between cutting a guy's finger off to touching a guy's Qur'an with your bare hands. Lack of explanation is what causes statistical manipulation and just plain old untruthfulness. Also, it's fair to mention that a few of your questions (at least question #9) are somewhat slanted and apparently not researched. There is no right way to answer a question that implies something that isn't true in the first place. While some of those imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay are entitled POW status and are subject to the rights of the Geneva Convention, many of the inhabitants -- specifically those admittedly acting for al-Qaeda, though one could still argue members of the Taliban should also not get POW status -- are known to simply not fit under the guidelines. If you plan on being subjective in your polling, it necessary to give explicit accounts in order to get accurate information. Either that or you can leave open-ended answers and sift through them all one by one.
    Last edited by SlyMaelstrom; 12-01-2006 at 12:43 AM.
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  3. #3
    Yes, my avatar is stolen anonytmouse's Avatar
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    For question number 13, I think you mean the ICRC rather than Amnesty.

  4. #4
    Reverse Engineer maxorator's Avatar
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    I understood like every 3rd word in the 9th question...

    And in Estonia, we are not frightened with those terrorist stories... have you seen Fahrenheit 9/11?
    Last edited by maxorator; 12-01-2006 at 01:40 AM.
    "The Internet treats censorship as damage and routes around it." - John Gilmore

  5. #5
    Hurry Slowly vart's Avatar
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    I understood like every 3rd word
    Don't worry, it's just another game they play in the USA close to the elections...

    Have you seen how they divide a world?
    a) US West
    b) US Midwest
    c) US Northeast
    d) US South
    e) US Center (including regions outside the US)
    All problems in computer science can be solved by another level of indirection,
    except for the problem of too many layers of indirection.
    – David J. Wheeler

  6. #6
    Devil's Advocate SlyMaelstrom's Avatar
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    E) says "Other", not "US Center" and I imagine the logic for most of the choices to be US based because the entire poll is subjected around US policies. Also, there isn't a major US election for two years, so I didn't quite get that point. Did you actually think a high school student is going around the internet recruiting voters from a community that consists of a fair number of non-US citizens?

    EDIT: Ick my internet connection is being screwy.
    Last edited by SlyMaelstrom; 12-01-2006 at 02:06 AM.
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  7. #7
    Hurry Slowly vart's Avatar
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    yeah, I see...
    All problems in computer science can be solved by another level of indirection,
    except for the problem of too many layers of indirection.
    – David J. Wheeler

  8. #8
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    edit: Oh, anonymous. Heh.

    11 and 12 don't really fit in with the other questions here.
    Last edited by Govtcheez; 12-01-2006 at 05:45 AM.

  9. #9
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    Well I'm pro-terrorist. I think terrorism is fine as long we all get along. I say no to torture unless the other person likes it. It is ok to move terrorists to other countries if they get to be served drinks and food like anyone else. Secret prisons are ok too as long we have directions. And I live in Portugal, US.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  10. #10
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    You're going to want to check US-Far East.

  11. #11
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    Yup. And I request asylum. There's a whole bunch of muslims here that don't like the fact I'm atheist... oh... wait... Republicans are in power. They won't like me either.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  12. #12
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    You can come hide out at my place. Michigan's a blue state

    Plus, I'm an atheist and my girlfriend's a deist, so you won't have to worry about us disturbing you Sunday mornings.

  13. #13
    S Sang-drax's Avatar
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    6 - Convicted terrorists should be tortured as punishment.
    WTF?? No!
    I really hope that almost everyone selects "e" on this one. Tortured as punishment?
    7 - It is acceptable to torture terrorist suspects for potential information.
    8 - It is acceptable to send terrorist suspects to foreign countries known for their abuse of detainees for "interrogation".
    9 - It is acceptable to detain terrorist suspects in Guantanamo Bay without regard to Geneva Convention rules or Constitutional rights of the accused.
    Same goes for these questions.
    Last edited by Sang-drax : Tomorrow at 02:21 AM. Reason: Time travelling

  14. #14
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    It's a silly poll, but there are people who will answer something besides E to those. That's kind of the point.

  15. #15
    Reverse Engineer maxorator's Avatar
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    NOONE IN THE WORLD IS WORTH TORTURING

    Got that you little bugger?
    "The Internet treats censorship as damage and routes around it." - John Gilmore

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