LETTER: The Destin Log is fraudulent
Now that I have your attention, I don’t necessarily agree with this headline. But I do have some problems with what the Destin Log is doing. Based upon my conversation with the editor today, he is well aware of my concerns.
The headlines of this paper, relative to the content of the articles, are often misleading. Just as my headline is misleading for this article, so are many of the headlines of the Destin Log. Typically, they are too sensationalized and biased often fanning the flames of controversy over certain things going on in our community. In addition, the online version of the paper encourages the reader to vote on a reader’s poll called “What do you think?” In a feeble attempt for accuracy and to keep a person from voting numerous times, the poll uses a “tracking cookie” to try to prevent multiple votes.
Most readers that are not computer gurus simply vote one time and that is it. If they try to vote a second time, they cannot unless they know how to remove the tracking cookie. Later the editor may or may not publish the results of the poll.
What most people don’t know, is that it is very easy to trick their system and vote many times. In fact, it is easy to vote hundreds of times. Moreover, you can program a computer to do this automatically 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Log knows that this happens daily on their polls but simply says that everyone has an equal opportunity to do this.
So what I am hearing is the accuracy of this poll is not as important as the number of hits it generates on the Web site. This sells more ads and papers thus increasing revenues for the paper. How many readers know that their vote is absolutely worthless unless they have the ability to vote multiple times? It then becomes a technology game or who has the most time to spend jamming in votes.
I think these polls are highly misleading. If polls cannot be conducted accurately, hence one vote and only one vote, they should not be used at all. The editor admits that this is technically possible but would be more expensive. If the Destin Log or any news organization continues this practice, they should be required to have a disclaimer such as “attention, some people will be able to vote only once whereas others can vote hundreds of times.” An alternative would be to state “this poll is not accurate and is for the sheer entertainment of the voters and to increase traffic on our Web site.”
In closing, remember the old saying by southern politicians, “On election day go vote and vote often.” This practice is well and thriving at the Destin Log website.
To read our take on the polls, click here.
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WHAT DO YOU THINK?
See the controversial poll on the right hand side of the page.
