Boycott the Vote!
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 20,550
I recognize that the intent of the logo was to promote voter participation.
However an unintended consequence of that initiative was to infringe upon the principle of voter anonymity.
The avatar should not have been set to default mode. It should have been set to an option to advertize and promote voter participation.
However an unintended consequence of that initiative was to infringe upon the principle of voter anonymity.
The avatar should not have been set to default mode. It should have been set to an option to advertize and promote voter participation.
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Originally Posted by Jaimito Cartero
In the US, when you go to vote, they give you a sticker that says, "I voted". You're not forced to wear it, but most citizens are *proud* to vote, and display it so. I guess from your reaction it's not the same up north.
As Canarsie has pointed out, you can turn this avatar off, so I don't see what the issue is.
As Canarsie has pointed out, you can turn this avatar off, so I don't see what the issue is.
For an American to set the standards for any democracy with respect to voting is a huge April Fools Joke. Your country set the standard for rendering the very concept of democracy meaningless with the 2000 Presidential vote where the candidate receiving the most votes lost! Not only that, the Supreme Court intervened to stop any true vote in a state that could have changed the final results...and led to a change in the ultimate results.
And now the world knows the scandal of turning over voting to private corporations that make machines that can be tampered with and leave no evidence trace!
Further, the USA is the only country that requires those wishing to vote to register the party they intend to support!
I suggest this decision by FT reeks of this same self-serving hippocracy. If you need stickers and stars to prove you're a good citizen, then go back to kindergarten. I stand by my original complaint that this is a violation of personal privacy and yet one more "enhancement" to FT that needs serious reconsideration.
I am going to vote today, but not for the FT board...but rather in my local civic elections. And I don't need a "good citizen" sticker to praise me for doing this... This is not Iraq or any country that requires your thumb to be ink stained to prevent double voting. This is plain insensitivity and stupidy.
And I still have not had an answer as to who's idea this was and when it was passed by the current TalkBoard.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,537
Originally Posted by Shareholder
For an American to set the standards for any democracy with respect to voting is a huge April Fools Joke. Your country set the standard for rendering the very concept of democracy meaningless with the 2000 Presidential vote where the candidate receiving the most votes lost! Not only that, the Supreme Court intervened to stop any true vote in a state that could have changed the final results...and led to a change in the ultimate results.
And now the world knows the scandal of turning over voting to private corporations that make machines that can be tampered with and leave no evidence trace!
Further, the USA is the only country that requires those wishing to vote to register the party they intend to support!
I suggest this decision by FT reeks of this same self-serving hippocracy. If you need stickers and stars to prove you're a good citizen, then go back to kindergarten. I stand by my original complaint that this is a violation of personal privacy and yet one more "enhancement" to FT that needs serious reconsideration.
I am going to vote today, but not for the FT board...but rather in my local civic elections. And I don't need a "good citizen" sticker to praise me for doing this... This is not Iraq or any country that requires your thumb to be ink stained to prevent double voting. This is plain insensitivity and stupidy.
And I still have not had an answer as to who's idea this was and when it was passed by the current TalkBoard.
And now the world knows the scandal of turning over voting to private corporations that make machines that can be tampered with and leave no evidence trace!
Further, the USA is the only country that requires those wishing to vote to register the party they intend to support!
I suggest this decision by FT reeks of this same self-serving hippocracy. If you need stickers and stars to prove you're a good citizen, then go back to kindergarten. I stand by my original complaint that this is a violation of personal privacy and yet one more "enhancement" to FT that needs serious reconsideration.
I am going to vote today, but not for the FT board...but rather in my local civic elections. And I don't need a "good citizen" sticker to praise me for doing this... This is not Iraq or any country that requires your thumb to be ink stained to prevent double voting. This is plain insensitivity and stupidy.
And I still have not had an answer as to who's idea this was and when it was passed by the current TalkBoard.
I find much of the other comments in your post to be knee jerk rhetoric. The phrase, "Making a mountain out of a mole hill" comes to mind.
#20
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold(OWE), QF LTG, MR Plat, IHG Spire, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,156
Could I just remind people that FT is not a country and therefore trying to suggest that elections should be done in the same way as would be carried out in the US of A is simply incredulous. For one, we are not all American! (I am well aware that some posters complaining are not American either)
Finally, could I remind some of you that in some western democracies, one is required to vote by law (Donkey votes however are accepted).
Personally I think the idea to publish who has voted is fantastic as it does mobilise the general community to vote. It’s not as if the board is publishing who you have voted for anyhow.
Finally, could I remind some of you that in some western democracies, one is required to vote by law (Donkey votes however are accepted).
Personally I think the idea to publish who has voted is fantastic as it does mobilise the general community to vote. It’s not as if the board is publishing who you have voted for anyhow.
#21
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
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Posts: 36,023
Originally Posted by Randy Petersen
...
I think it worthy to continue to get the vote out....
I think it worthy to continue to get the vote out....
#23
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, spg gold, hhdiamond
Posts: 1,594
Originally Posted by airbus320
Regretably, is is not a joke.
In democratic elections, public disclosure of who voted and who has not voted is probihited by law. Your vote and the fact that you even voted is considerated private. There is no disclosure of those who votes and those who choose not to vote.
While the 'voted logo' has probably the intention to rallying the voting population to get out and vote, this measure has the consequence of revealing to the public eye who has not voted. This measure is an invasion of my privacy....
and I therefore protest the use of this logo.
In democratic elections, public disclosure of who voted and who has not voted is probihited by law. Your vote and the fact that you even voted is considerated private. There is no disclosure of those who votes and those who choose not to vote.
While the 'voted logo' has probably the intention to rallying the voting population to get out and vote, this measure has the consequence of revealing to the public eye who has not voted. This measure is an invasion of my privacy....
and I therefore protest the use of this logo.
In N.Y. not only is whether you voted or not public information but so is your voter registration..ie republican, democrat, independent etc.
I do not agree with this policy and agree that it is an invasion of privacy, however you can't say that it is prohibited by law, at least in the U.S.
Last edited by nytango; Nov 13, 2006 at 10:49 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: FW, TX, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Programs: 2008 FT1 Fantasy Football Champion
Posts: 10,584
Originally Posted by Shareholder
Further, the USA is the only country that requires those wishing to vote to register the party they intend to support!
Originally Posted by shareholder
And I still have not had an answer as to who's idea this was and when it was passed by the current TalkBoard.
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BER
Programs: Hilton Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 15,757
Originally Posted by Teacher49
How do I get rid of the "I voted twice" avatar?
And when is that free turkey gonna arrive?
And when is that free turkey gonna arrive?
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 37,486
The current Talkboard was not consulted on this idea, but if we were I would have supported it 100%. All this talk about laws, democracy and privacy are just plain silly. Comparing this to presidential elections, or any other government election for that matter borders on insanity.
Who on earth cares whether or not you voted in the Flyertalk Talkboard election? Personally I think the avatar is great, and I am proud to show that I did my small part in helping make FT a better place.
Who on earth cares whether or not you voted in the Flyertalk Talkboard election? Personally I think the avatar is great, and I am proud to show that I did my small part in helping make FT a better place.
#29
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Originally Posted by Shareholder
For an American to set the standards for any democracy with respect to voting is a huge April Fools Joke. Your country set the standard for rendering the very concept of democracy meaningless with the 2000 Presidential vote where the candidate receiving the most votes lost! Not only that, the Supreme Court intervened to stop any true vote in a state that could have changed the final results...and led to a change in the ultimate results.
And now the world knows the scandal of turning over voting to private corporations that make machines that can be tampered with and leave no evidence trace!
Further, the USA is the only country that requires those wishing to vote to register the party they intend to support!
I suggest this decision by FT reeks of this same self-serving hippocracy. If you need stickers and stars to prove you're a good citizen, then go back to kindergarten. I stand by my original complaint that this is a violation of personal privacy and yet one more "enhancement" to FT that needs serious reconsideration.
I am going to vote today, but not for the FT board...but rather in my local civic elections. And I don't need a "good citizen" sticker to praise me for doing this... This is not Iraq or any country that requires your thumb to be ink stained to prevent double voting. This is plain insensitivity and stupidy.
And I still have not had an answer as to who's idea this was and when it was passed by the current TalkBoard.
And now the world knows the scandal of turning over voting to private corporations that make machines that can be tampered with and leave no evidence trace!
Further, the USA is the only country that requires those wishing to vote to register the party they intend to support!
I suggest this decision by FT reeks of this same self-serving hippocracy. If you need stickers and stars to prove you're a good citizen, then go back to kindergarten. I stand by my original complaint that this is a violation of personal privacy and yet one more "enhancement" to FT that needs serious reconsideration.
I am going to vote today, but not for the FT board...but rather in my local civic elections. And I don't need a "good citizen" sticker to praise me for doing this... This is not Iraq or any country that requires your thumb to be ink stained to prevent double voting. This is plain insensitivity and stupidy.
And I still have not had an answer as to who's idea this was and when it was passed by the current TalkBoard.
#30
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Central New Jersey
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Posts: 6,238
To be perfecty honest, until I saw Shareholder's post I didn't even notice it. Now that I do (notice it ), I don't see what the big deal is about. I voted, and if the fact that there is something making note that, causes someone else to vote... so much the better