Fake polling is a disgrace

 Someone comes to your door or rings you up saying they're from the “Irish Research Agency”. (Substitute the appropriate country for where you live.) But they're not, they're from a political party which wants your vote. It's a lie.

 If the Russians were doing it, ref the infamous Internet Research Agency, there'd be skin and fur flying. Vlad, this means war. But in Ireland the revelation that all political parties , except Labour and the tiny ones, employed this sleazy tactic to gauge attitudes before an election seems to have burst into a void.

How  shocking is it that the political parties sent people out posing as pollsters? Are we horrified by this? Am I getting (more) hysterical in my old age? These frauds had fake identity material for their mythical research company issued by the people who want votes, want to run the country.

Maybe I just haven't noticed or been exposed to the level of outrage which should be felt. But it does make me wonder if this is another sign of, stand by, the contemporary moral decay.

As more and more regulations, standards, restrictions pop up in business and social life – be careful what you say so nobody could possibly be offended – at the same time there is a laxity towards basic good behaviour. Not to get too political, but the style of recent leaders in the US and UK has contributed to a sense that the truth doesn’t really matter. Truth is for losers, see how I can say whatever suits me and rise to the top!

“Such unethical behaviour will only reinforce the already widespread public perception that politicians and political parties are not to be trusted,” The Irish Times primly observed. 

In my professional life I teach ethical behaviour online. This means in everything from emails to Tik Tok posts. It’s just about doing the right thing, but surprising how often the right thing is not evident or accepted in this new age of mass communication. 

Another of my hobby-horses is correct grammar and punctuation, and this too gets back to respect for traditional ways of doing things, not out of a crusty allegiance to the past, but allowing everyone to understand how the game is played. It has to apply to business, where lying and cheating will – should – lead to failure and loss. But it’s also got to apply in everyday life. There is such a thing as society, and we live in it, and we should respect the people we deal with. 

 

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