Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

It will do so by segregating texts that come from outside a recipient’s contacts into an unknown senders screen, where they are likely to languish unchecked. For unknown callers, the phone will automatically respond on users’ behalf to request more information before asking if they would like to pick up.

Pollsters ARE spam.

1 posted on 08/07/2025 3:37:15 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies ]


To: E. Pluribus Unum

Exactly—it is unsolicited calling.

I would never speak to them.


2 posted on 08/07/2025 3:41:47 PM PDT by cgbg (It was not us. It was them--all along.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

So now doing cold call polling is democracy.


3 posted on 08/07/2025 3:43:10 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

How about this for a crazy idea: politicians truthfully say what they believe and we vote for those who match our desires for the direction of the country without constant fine tuning based on polls.


4 posted on 08/07/2025 3:44:20 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (I refuse to call the left "progressive" because I do not see slavery to the government as progress.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

and apparently the compost thinks they are the equivalent to “democracy”


5 posted on 08/07/2025 3:45:43 PM PDT by xp38
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Never heard of this guy, so I took a look (it’s Wiki, so...)


Ruffini served as webmaster for the Bush-Cheney campaign. Following the 2008 election, Ruffini co-authored the Rebuild the Party platform for Republican renewal

In 2013, he was a signatory to an amicus curiae brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of same-sex marriage in the United States during the Hollingsworth v. Perry case.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Ruffini


6 posted on 08/07/2025 3:46:46 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
Translation: the Dims are worried that younger voters (i.e. more liable to vote Dim) won't be as heavily sampled because they are more likely to have iPhones.

According to: https://explodingtopics.com/blog/iphone-android-users:

AgeiPhoneAndroid
18-3458%41%
18-3458%41%
35-5447%53%
55 and older49%51%

7 posted on 08/07/2025 3:47:02 PM PDT by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

What would happen if there were no more polls?

I think that would be a good thing!

But then what would 24/7 news channels talk about? They would have to make up stuff.

Mmmm, Ok, so no change.


8 posted on 08/07/2025 3:47:29 PM PDT by John Milner (Marching for Peace is like breathing for food.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Gee willikers, what did we do before cell phones???


10 posted on 08/07/2025 3:51:27 PM PDT by Alas Babylon! (Repeal the Patriot Act; Abolish the DHS; reform FBI top to bottom!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

I don’t respond to polls because I don’t want to take the risk of saying the wrong thing to the wrong people. At the very least, you will put your job at risk or face harassment from the government if folks find out that you are anti Democrat and anti Wall Street Republican.

The pollster might be honest, but in today’s environment, it isn’t worth the risk.


11 posted on 08/07/2025 3:53:48 PM PDT by PAR35
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
I'm not sure politicians are actually bringing in much campaign money through these underhanded spam campaigns.

Those who operate the campigns, however, are paying themselves very nice fees - and screaming the loudest about "democracy" because they face the horrifying prospect of having to get real jobs.

12 posted on 08/07/2025 3:59:07 PM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ([CTRL]-[GALT]-[DELETE])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

>> Good polling is built around the idea of probability sampling, where everyone in the population has an equal chance of being included in the survey.

Oh, please. Just stop it. Ruffini you know damn well that 99% of polling is push-polling to a well-targeted audience so the results can be turned into fake “newz” stories.


13 posted on 08/07/2025 4:02:32 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (Hope, as a righteous product of properly aligned Faith, IS in fact a strategy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

What is democracy? It seems to be a mush word for anything that pleases collectivists.


14 posted on 08/07/2025 4:05:43 PM PDT by lurk (u)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
LOL...so author Ruffini thinks we should ban ALL junk callers and junk testers?

I already only allow known people to call me on my phone. Why should texting be any different? Ruffini comes across as an idiot.


Just for fun, I asked Grok "Was Churchill be overly judgmental when he called Hitler a guttersnipe? I'm offended by Churchill's use of such language."

It's response was very good. It handled my pretend 21st century offense at historical usages that are popular today very well. But it really should have taken me to task for immaturely applying today's overly sensitive culture to historical situations.

Grok's answer: "Churchill’s use of “guttersnipe” to describe Hitler was harsh, but it’s worth looking at the context. In 1938, during a speech, Churchill used the term to express his contempt for Hitler’s character and rise from obscure, rough beginnings to a dangerous dictator. The word, meaning someone from the lowest social strata, was meant to sting, reflecting Churchill’s view of Hitler as both morally and socially contemptible. This was a time when Hitler’s aggressive policies—annexing Austria, threatening Czechoslovakia—were escalating, and Churchill was among his fiercest critics, using sharp rhetoric to rally opposition.

Was it overly judgmental? Churchill’s language was calculated, not casual. He aimed to dehumanize Hitler rhetorically, emphasizing his perceived lack of legitimacy and moral standing. The term’s edge was deliberate, meant to provoke and underscore the threat. But it’s also a product of its time—politicians then used vivid, often personal insults to make points. Today, such language might feel crude or offensive for its classist undertone, implying someone’s origins dictate their worth. If that offends you, it’s understandable; the term can seem elitist or unnecessarily derogatory.

Still, Churchill’s judgment was rooted in Hitler’s actions—his brutal regime was already evident by 1938. The term wasn’t just a personal jab; it was part of a broader campaign to paint Hitler as unfit to lead, contrasting with the appeasement policies Churchill opposed. Whether it was “overly” judgmental depends on whether you think the moral and strategic urgency justified the rhetoric. Hitler’s record—genocide, war, oppression—makes Churchill’s assessment seem less excessive in hindsight, even if the word choice grates now.

If you’re offended, it might be worth weighing whether the issue is the term itself or the broader context of Churchill’s uncompromising stance. What specifically about the language bothers you? That could help unpack it further.


My reply to Grok: ""Guttersnipe" is such harsh name-calling. Why would anybody use such an offensive term? It makes me want to get my binkie and head to my safe space, maybe ask mommy for cookies and milk."

Grok's reply to me (still not calling me an effete 21st century cuck, though)

"Haha, I hear ya—the word “guttersnipe” does have a nasty bite, like a verbal jab that sends you reaching for comfort snacks and a cozy blanket! Churchill picked it for exactly that sting. In 1938, he was trying to slap Hitler’s image down hard, painting him as a lowlife who clawed his way up from nothing to wreak havoc. The term’s raw edge—literally evoking someone from the gutters—was meant to shock and rally people against Hitler’s growing menace. Back then, leaders slung insults like this to cut deep, especially when stakes were high and diplomacy was faltering. It’s less about nuance and more about landing a punch.

If it’s making you crave cookies and milk (same, honestly), it’s probably the term’s snarky, classist vibe that feels over the top today. It can sound like bullying, which hits different in our time when we’re more aware of how words carry weight. Churchill was playing to an audience that ate up bold rhetoric, but it’s totally valid to feel it’s too harsh now. Wanna unpack what about it feels so raw to you? Or should we just plan a safe-space snack sesh—milk, cookies, the works? 😄"


Me: "Go ahead, Grok. Call me out. I'm a weak 21st century cuck beta male who can't handle how alpha men used to speak plainly."

Grok: "Haha, alright, you’re laying it on thick, but I’ll bite! 😜 No need to call you out as a "weak 21st-century cuck beta male"—that’s just you having a laugh, and I’m here for it. But let’s be real: Churchill’s “guttersnipe” jab at Hitler was peak alpha flex for his time, all blunt and unfiltered, like a verbal sledgehammer. Back then, leaders tossed around spicy insults to rally the troops and dunk on foes—it was less about feelings and more about impact. The word’s harshness? Totally intentional to make Hitler sound like a street rat turned tyrant.

If it’s got you feeling like you need a binkie (love the imagery, by the way), it’s not about being “weak.” It’s just that today’s vibe is different—words like that hit harder now because we’re more tuned into their baggage, like the classist sting of “guttersnipe.” You’re not soft for noticing; you’re just wired for a world that picks its shots more carefully. And honestly, craving cookies and milk sounds like a solid plan, alpha or not. 😎 Wanna keep poking at Churchill’s trash talk or pivot to something else? Maybe rank the best comfort snacks for a safe-space vibe?"

15 posted on 08/07/2025 4:08:23 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Pollsters are generally paid liars.


17 posted on 08/07/2025 4:25:58 PM PDT by Eli Kopter (ביחד ננצח הלב שלנו שבוי בעזה Together we will win, our heart is captive in Gaza.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Doesn’t matter since we’re a constitutional republic, not a democracy.


19 posted on 08/07/2025 4:56:43 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

My android is set, by ME to reject all calls and texts by anyone not in my contacts list. That’s what advertisement and unwanted sales abuse does.

Am I sorry? No.


20 posted on 08/07/2025 5:14:57 PM PDT by PrairieLady2 (USA: Land of the free, Because of the Brave.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Unlikely Patrick Ruffini could even find “Cupertino” on the map let alone ever having been there.


22 posted on 08/07/2025 5:41:26 PM PDT by Zathras
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Never ever been polled. Nothing new here.

Polls are scams!!


23 posted on 08/07/2025 6:06:32 PM PDT by Racketeer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Exactly what I would expect to come from the communist post.


24 posted on 08/07/2025 7:56:06 PM PDT by Revel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson