Cautionary Tales: Online Polls Gone Wrong and the Lessons They Teach

Introduction
Online polls have become a ubiquitous part of our digital landscape, providing a platform for users to voice their opinions on a wide range of topics. However, these seemingly simple tools can often lead to unexpected and controversial outcomes. This article explores some notable examples of online polls that spiraled out of control due to various factors, such as spam voting, public sentiment, or the nature of the questions asked.

Twitter Poll Controversies

Elon Musk's 'Step Down' Poll

Elon Musk conducted a Twitter poll asking users if he should step down as CEO of Tesla. The poll, designed to gauge public opinion, resulted in a majority voting for him to step down. This outcome sparked significant discussions about the impact of social media on corporate leadership. While Musk himself stated he would abide by the results, this move ultimately did not lead to his resignation. Instead, it highlighted the potential for social media-driven polls to influence public perceptions and corporate decisions.

Rotten Tomatoes' Best Movie of All Time Poll

Rotten Tomatoes hosted a poll to determine the best movie of all time. Unfortunately, the poll was inundated with votes from users trying to influence the results, leading to a chaotic outcome that did not reflect genuine public opinion. This incident raised serious questions about the integrity of online voting systems, prompting discussions on the reliability of such polls and the need for more robust measures to prevent manipulative voting behavior.

The Tragic Death of Harambe and a Poll Gone Wrong

The Cincinnati Zoo Poll

Following the tragic death of Harambe, a gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo, a poll was created to determine whether he should be honored with a memorial. The poll garnered significant attention and led to a backlash, with many finding the suggestion trivial and disrespectful. This example highlights the sensitivity of online polls, especially when involving serious and traumatic events. The poll exposed the potential for such mechanisms to either heal or exacerbate public wounds, serving as a stark reminder of their potential misuse.

The Deadpool Fan Controversy

IGN's Best Superhero Poll

IGN ran a poll to determine the best superhero, but the poll quickly became hijacked by die-hard fans of Deadpool. These fans resorted to spamming the voting system to ensure that Deadpool would win. As a result, the poll's reliability and fairness came into question, leading to widespread complaints about the effectiveness of the poll. This incident underscores the vulnerability of online polls to manipulation and highlights the importance of built-in safeguards to prevent such issues.

The Legendary Macalester Redux Controversy

Taylor Swift's Live Performance Poll

One of the most infamous incidents involving an online poll occurred in mid-2012 when Taylor Swift was at the height of her career. A promotional contest was run by Papa John's Pizza and Chegg, where participants were supposed to vote for their chosen school to win the opportunity for a live performance from Taylor Swift. Things went awry when the 4chan community, infamous for pranks, urged users to vote for Horace Mann School for the Deaf. As a result, the poll results were manipulated, and Horace Mann School for the Deaf topped the leaderboard. Although Taylor Swift did not perform at the school due to the timing of the event, the incident highlighted the potential for online polls to be infiltrated and manipulated for humorous or malicious purposes.

Conclusion:
Regardless of the system, whether online or otherwise, transparent and fair elections should be paramount. While online polls can be a useful tool, they are susceptible to breakdowns or illegal tampering. As such, we need robust systems that cannot be easily manipulated to ensure the integrity of such polls. Only then can we harness the power of online polls to reflect genuine public opinion without causing unintended and negative consequences.