About an hour ago (715P CT), I received a phone call from a market research group representing Amtrak with an invitation to participate in a compensated focus group.
I declined on the grounds that 'I know too much' (not shared with the canvasser) and would simply distort the results. However, allow me to give the heads up that if you have recently completed an Amtrak trip (where else could the sample come from), they may be contacting you - just because I declined for the reason noted hardly means you, if contacted, need follow suit.
Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :
I'm curious to know why you feel that your opinion would distort the results when a survey should be inclusive of all types of people, whether pro- or anti-Amtrak. Having a little RR knowledge, holding RR shares, or CPA work for a RR 30+ years ago is hardly grounds for "insider knowledge" - or is there something else you're not alluding to? Hopefully your refusal is insignificant in terms of numbers of participants to not distort the very results you claim to want to not distort.
I further believe the people on this forum are intelligent and rational enough to make their own decisions on whether to partake or not, regardless of your example.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Compared to other forums I've paticipated in, I find this one to be populated by intelligent, reasonable, and interesting people who are most often able to disagree without being disagreeable.
I simply wish that our numbers were larger.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I agree, David. I like the fact that we can disagree, yet still be friends in the end. I'm not afraid to say that over on Trainorders, that is totally impossible. The moderator is such a jerk that he ruins all of the lively conversations. It's nice to hang out here.