Social media isn’t real life
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A new Washington Post-University of Maryland poll reminds us all that the stuff we see on Facebook and Twitter in many online comment boards is not how people at large may not actually be thinking…
By 78 percent to 22 percent, Americans believe it is “necessary” for people in their communities to stay at home as much as possible.
The spread is very similar among those of incomes below $50,000 (82-18), those of incomes of $50,000 to $100,000 (77-23), and those of incomes over $100,000 (71-29). It’s also much the same among rural voters (77-23) and non-college-educated whites (75-25), both demographics that tilt heavily towards supporting President Trump […]
Fifty-eight percent of Americans overall say current restrictions on businesses are “appropriate,” vs. only 21 percent who say they are “too restrictive.”
Here again, the spread is very similar among those of incomes below $50,000 (56-18), those of incomes of $50,000 to $100,00 (61-22), and those of incomes over $100,000 (60-25). And again, it’s much the same among rural voters (64-20) and non-college whites (54-28). […]
By 80 percent to 20 percent, Americans overall say it’s “necessary” for people in their communities to wear a mask when coming close to others.
And yet again, the spread is very similar among those of incomes below $50,000 (83-17), those of incomes of $50,000 to $100,00 (78-22), and those of incomes over $100,000 (74-25). It’s also much the same among rural voters (73-27) and non-college whites (76-24).
More here. Methodology is here.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 4:58 pm:
That’s somewhat heartening. Trollbotting on social media is through the roof, both actual fake accounts (foreign and domestic) and real people just posting rabidly like them. It’s almost like we learned no lessons about attempts to improperly influence the citizenry like this in 2016.
- Ok - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 5:03 pm:
Huh, to think, I thought I had 16 friends in real life.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 5:06 pm:
And those folks aren’t likely to return to restaurants and regular shopping until they have a reasonable level of safety. The way to fix the economy is to reduce the risk of the disease.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 5:09 pm:
Fifty-eight percent of Americans overall say current restrictions on businesses are “appropriate,” vs. only 21 percent who say they are “too restrictive.”
those polled in Iowa will have an entirely different landscape of “restrictions” to offer an opinion on, compared to say an Illinois resident.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 5:12 pm:
=== those polled in Iowa will have an entirely different landscape of “restrictions” to offer an opinion on, compared to say an Illinois resident.===
Which Iowans?
The ones infected due to meat plants… or who?
- njt - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 5:18 pm:
===The ones infected due to meat plants… or who?===
Most likely the ones who aren’t grasping that a national economic downturn in demand is what will keep things closed not having to wear a mask.
To the post, nice reminder to go out and unplug.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 5:19 pm:
Many posting on social media have a different agenda than freedom of access; their motives are political, as are the politicians who support their efforts.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 5:35 pm:
And when far right politics rule:
“The Wisconsin Supreme Court has struck down Gov. Tony Evers’ stay-at-home order.”
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 5:35 pm:
I wonder how much unrest this nation would see if all meat processing plants shut down.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 5:42 pm:
===I wonder how much unrest this nation would see if all meat processing plants shut down.
The way to avoid that is to institute best practices in those meat plants so virus transmission is limited. Magically saying poof, keep the meat processing plants open doesn’t address the threat to workers and the food supply.
- Pundent - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 5:44 pm:
=those polled in Iowa will have an entirely different landscape of “restrictions” to offer an opinion on, compared to say an Illinois resident=
It’s always interesting to what categories commenters here fall into. Although anecdotal the percentages seem to track with what I see here. Largely thoughtful and informed comments with a few outliers sprinkled in.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 5:45 pm:
“And when far right politics rule:”
It may be “far-right - but unlike IL, WI Supremes are elected in nonpartisan elections.
The Supreme Court is composed of seven justices, elected to 10-year terms in statewide, non-partisan April elections
https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/supreme/justices/index.htm
- Pundent - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 5:52 pm:
=I wonder how much unrest this nation would see if all meat processing plants shut down.=
Well maybe an open the economy patriot like yourself should take one of those jobs. I hear they’re hiring.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 5:57 pm:
Nonpartisan?
Wisconsin Republican lawmakers sued the Democratic governor’s stay-at-home order.
“The 4-3 decision was written by four of the court’s conservatives.”
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 6:13 pm:
pundent. I am in the corner of shut them down.
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 6:22 pm:
I wonder how much unrest this nation would see if all commenters addressed the clear and unambiguous results of this poll rather than their own personal fantasies.
– MrJM
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 6:34 pm:
The screaming super-minority gets the attention but the silent majority gets the scope of the problem. Without strong and cohesive national leadership from the world’s most powerful office, states have had to take on much of the burden alone. That’s unnerving.
- dbk - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 7:29 pm:
I agree with the clear and unambiguous results of this poll, although I follow social media, am on Twitter too many hours a day for my own good, and am generally information-obsessed.
Still waiting to see compelling arguments in favor of “open up” when the pandemic’s curve has yet to be bent downward in Illinois.
Note: “But our town/county/region has a lower incidence than Chicago” is not a compelling argument.
Pandemics by their nature spread outward, in waves, from urban to rural regions.
- JoanP - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 8:34 pm:
It’s really interesting that the *highest* percentage of people sayingo that stay-at-home is necessary are the folks with income under $50,000 - because they’re the hardest hit,
These are the folks losing their jobs, who have no cushion. But they see what’s needed.
- North Shore Joe - Wednesday, May 13, 20 @ 10:06 pm:
Public opinion is rapidly moving towards reopening more quickly than we are. Dems are shutting down and not offering any real alternative on how to live and feed your family, which will just cause more human misery in the end.
Within the next two weeks, take this poll again, and the numbers will be reversed. Mark my words
- Socrates - Thursday, May 14, 20 @ 9:30 am:
Opinion of Iowa residents vs opinion of Illinois residents reminds me of the Allegory of the Man in the Cave
- Rich Miller - Thursday, May 14, 20 @ 10:26 am:
===Within the next two weeks, take this poll again===
Y’all said that two weeks ago. Nothing.