To think AIBU polls are pointless due to demographic?

[Pewterschmitt]

I was thinking about this earlier, since the app doesn’t allow people to vote, the votes are almost meaningless as only a certain section of MN users will be voting.

Desktop users of MN are predominantly older which will also sway the voting % meaning it’s hardly a good barometer of what the general view is, it also explains why many times the comments will be very different to what the vote looks like.

The demographic breakdown of app vs DT users is easy to access if you put in a request btw before anyone jumps on that point

So AIBU to think that the poll results on here aren’t worth much and MN should allow app users to vote too?

How is it ageist bullshit to say that age impacts views?

Its perfectly obvious that views chnage as you Mature and gain more knowledge and life experievce. Surely you don't think the same as you did when you were 16 or 21 do you!

Desktop users of MN are predominantly older which will also sway the voting % meaning it’s hardly a good barometer of what the general view is.

Not getting the results you want on certain polls, so you spout a nasty ageist generalisation?! Also, as some posters have said, age is fuck-all to do with an overall result for most polls.

Bore off eh?!

Did you seriously just suggest there is a massive difference between 21 and 16? And you would mature MASSIVELY and gain lots of knowledge and life experience during those 5 years?! WTAF? 😂

Oh my god. Do you... do you mean... that Mumsnet polls aren't... aren't scientifically robust?

FUCKING HELL

I don't think I will ever recover from the shock.

Ah, it’s just a bit of fun. I often vote against the consensus just because the OP is quite clearly being emotive/manipulative/economical with the truth.

I’d read that as saying there’s a massive difference between 16 (or 21) and 40 / 50 plus 🤷‍♀️

Not as a massive difference between 16 and 21.

I didn’t say age doesn’t affect your views - I said it was ageist to suggest that ‘older users’ are skewing the ‘general view’. Well what age is considered the ‘general view’? 30? 40? Are only these demographics considered worthy?

Do you not realise that age does not determine opinion, views or politics. But I'm assuming that you are young and therefore stupid... As a 65 year old I use a desktop, a lap top, a tablet or the smartphone depending on where I am. People are different. But stupidity never ages.

I'm another one who always uses MN on my phone but has never used the app.
Also ..does it really matter?? I mean it's not like we're voting in a general election?

😂

Exactly right @CryCeratops , I don't know how old the other poster is so just giving examples of younger ages

But absolutley @PurpleButterflyWings there is a huge difference between someone about to do their GCSEs and someone who is a uni graduate for example although not what I meant.

The ageist bullshit is annoying.

But surely no-one thinks there's any real value in an AIBU poll? It's all just froth

Well I agree with you OP, it must sway the results to some degree.

When are app users going to get to vote in AIBU polls @MNHQ? I feel very left out.

So you think old people shouldn't be allowed to vote on MN? What age would you choose as a cut-off?

You don't have to enable voting - you could rely instead on what people post, though you'd have to spend time tallying up the BUs and NBUs.

I’m 34 and didn’t know there was an app.

OP is there no separate data for the mobile site as opposed to desktop version? Does the former just come under the umbrella of the latter? If so I'm quite surprised that 78% of users are in the age bracket you quoted, given how many younger users of MN there must be based on the posts made. I spend far too many hours of my life on MN but would too embarrassed to have the app on my phone 😂 Anyone else?!

The app is rubbish, I only use the website

I mainly use my iPad, only use phone if out, app s rubbish

Desktop users of MN are predominantly older which will also sway the voting % meaning it’s hardly a good barometer of what the general view is, it also explains why many times the comments will be very different to what the vote looks like.

You may be taking: this website/ the internet / internet polls / statistics in general / British statistics (delete as personal preference allows)
rather more seriously than they are intended or have any right to claim 😏

And voting is a quick and easy expression of opinion, comments are for those who actually have an argument to make.

@Pewterschmitt I’m in my mid-20s and use the Mumsnet website on my phone. I don’t use the app. I bet you’re older than me!

It's like a Cosmo quiz. It's for fun. No, it's not statistically significant. This isn't news to anyone.

My life was dramatically different between 16 and 21. At 16 I was doing my GCSEs and AS Levels. At 21 I was at university and living away from home. I matured and learned a lot.

Which generation is currently the most illiberal? Hmmm.