“I firmly believe that ALL human decisions are emotional.”
I agree. Decisions are emotional, but analysis can’t be or it’s useless dreck. I try, as much as possible, to keep my emotions off the polling threads and present the facts. I was one of the main culprits on the polling threads in 2006 insisting that the polls were wrong and the Pubbies would keep control of the House and Senate. I knew better. I’m a trained analyst and have had several graduate level probability and statistics courses. I know how to read a poll and judge a good poll from a bad poll (Rasmussen is good and Zogby is bad, BTW, even if you like Zogby’s current results.)
After 2006 I vowed that if I commented on polling threads I would get my emotions the heck out of the way and present the facts to the best of my ability the way I was taught. I take a lot of flak because I don’t tow the “Never fear, Mac’ll win 49 states,” party line, but then nobody forces me to be here.
Ok, we’re pretty much on the same page, although I must admit I am one of the “McCain will win 49 states” guys. But that is based on what I expect to happen, as opposed to what has happened so far (with the exception of the Palin choice).
Other than that, I have pretty much never taken polls seriously. Maybe I should more.