Taking a survey. It seems like I’m continually being asked to complete a survey. My most recent one concerning my hospital stay last week. All the usual questions, the rating system, and an area for remarks. I get them from Amazon and many other retailers. In general I will fill them out although I admit there are times when I just ignore them altogether. I question whether anyone actually reads those things or if they are simply scanned and the “rating” compiled. Do they really make a difference?

I see the results of polls all the time on social media. I’ve never been asked to participate in any poll. No, just surveys aimed at possibly getting me to purchase their product once again or recommending it to others. Polls are designed to do what? Get an honest opinion on a particular subject. No, I don’t think that is the intent. The hope is to get positive feedback to present as evidence that whatever is a good thing. When the polls don’t go your way, you don’t report on that. I get it, it’s human nature after all and just good business.

There was a time when I would feel privileged if asked for my opinion. When a survey was mailed to me I felt an obligation to complete that, as a courtesy. That time has long since passed for me. Today I find them more of an annoyance than anything else. Funny though, I still feel a bit of a pull to fill them out, I guess it is just conscience that makes me feel that way. I’m from the old school in that regard. Also if fills that desire to just air your opinion, give your feedback on something. I find I’m far more inclined to complain, than to praise. Well, emotions move us to act, and being mad or upset is the stronger emotion. That is immediately obvious if you just read some social media postings. Lots of name calling, citing of “facts” and berating and belittling going on. Very little words of agreement.

Does your opinion make a difference? Does it matter? My feeling is only if it aligns with the majority opinion. It all depends upon what is being sold. Is it promises or products? Politicians are selling promises and take a lot of polls, or so I’ve read. They adjust their promises based on those polls. Manufacturers however are selling a product, they may or may not adjust that product based on a survey. I think that depends upon the cost of the modification to that product. If one product isn’t selling well, just produce another.