Anyone have any idea how the little scrolling “Audience Reaction” is measured? CNN has one trendline for independents, republicans, and democrats, and I’m not sure where they’re getting those numbers.
Update 1: Dennis left a comment with this CNN link which gives a partial answer: “Voters watch the debate from Columbus, Ohio, and give their reaction to the responses in real-time.” But how this is done is not clear; nor is it stated how they gauge who is republican, democratic, or independent (presumably self-identification).
Update 2: Ernanio points out “They have a bunch of potential voters from OHIO seated in a room with a dial thingamaging on their hands that when rotated can go from 0 – 100 to show how much they are liking the candidates intervention.”
I am wondering the same thing …
It’s as if I’m reading an election poll that doesn’t divulge its methodology, sample size, or margin of error…
I just don’t know what the whole graph means. What exactly are they measuring?
Good question! I can’t stop looking at it, but WTF? Are there intercranial electrodes or what?
Is “intercranial” a word? I mighta just made that up.
Tim: exactly. Are these self-identified members of the live crowd? Microphones set up to listen to whispers? People on some website?
Haha, Larry. You can claim the trademark on that.
Maybe they’re all attached to those old “lie detector” contraptions.
what is it measuring though? like it seems flat constantly…
Maybe we should attach some of those lie detectors to both candidates…
i just noticed this little ‘audience reaction’ monitor too. What the hell?
I was in the kitchen, mixing a drink… Did I just hear the word “orgy”?!
The gray background makes the colors hard to see unless all 3 overlap, making the bar white. When they don’t (which is usually whenever red republicans or blue democrats are ‘happy’ or whatever the + means), it’s very difficult to see.
@Larry: Yes, both candidates think that an orgy would improve morale in this difficult economic time.
Hmmm… http://edition.cnn.com/video/live/live.html?stream=stream2
OK, so I’m not crazy and alone in wondering WTF that meter is.
Wait…are those McCain vital signs?
Still doesn’t say how they’re getting the reactions from them, though.
I think the republican reaction bar has flat lined.
@Larry: Haha, oh my. Maybe it’s the average blood alcohol level of each party?
@Ryan: You might be crazy, but if so, we all are.
I’m asking my wife the same thing? Also what makes the line go up and down.
@Shawn w: From the link that Dennis posted, it looks like “viewers in Columbus, OH” are driving those responses “in real time.” Not sure how they’re doing it, though. Little +/- buttons?
Haha… if they were, he’d be asystole and we wouldn’t be hearing about Kennedy’s hospital stay any more today.
Oh and intercranial is a word, but the electrodes would be “intracranial” – inter meaning between craniums and intra meaning inside the cranium.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one confused by that graph…
@James: “From the link that Drew posted…” -_-
@Jessica – Reminds me of a series of lines from House:
Actress: “Are you really a doctor?”
House: “Glioblastoma. Need more?”
Maybe that +/- buttons are up/low volume
@Dennis – Oops! I fixed it.
Wow, the 3 bars have really separated out now…
I think it’s a system like you can see here: http://www.opinion.co.uk/star.aspx
@James: Thanks!
Useless observations:
*Obama has what appears to be an orbicularis oculi (eye muscle) tic on the right side.
*McCain’s smirk reminds me of Bush’s.
Basically, from what I have seen, whoever talks is the bar that goes up, and when they stop it ends… They seem pretty useless.
So when all three lines are towards that top, that means that everyone’s pretty much saying “hey, go that guy!” right? And when they’re seperate, that means the three parties are disagreeing on whether what they’re saying is right nor not, right?
does it have to do with the inflection of their voice- time to watch the debate next week in Canada we announce an election and within 6 weeks are at the polls – Oct 14 for our election – we love US politics – pure entertainment – but realize how important a strong and competent US president is important to us as Canadians -
Go Blue!
This reminds me of that old Nintendo show “Wizard.”
whoa, there is yellow now?
Ha. I love House.
But I’m not a doctor… yet!
@BHodges: yellow is when red (repub) and green (independent) overlap. They’re using additive color synthesis… but still against this awful gray background.
@Dennis: Agreed.
@Derrick: Yeah, I think that’s the problem. Repubs like McCain. Dems like Obama. STOP THE PRESSES. Maybe they should make the independent bar brighter…
thx james.
Is there anything you or I can do to influence the levels?
@Jessica – what year of med school?
You guys are cracking me up.
@BHodges: Doesn’t look like it, unless you’re in Columbus OH. I sort of understand why they chose that, but they should be clear that “this is how Ohioans feel about what the presidential candidates are saying in Mississippi.” It would clear the air about their Audience Reaction bar.
I find that whenever these guys aren’t appealing to emotion, particularly outrage, they both flatline. Great.
@ James: Paramedic now, med school next fall.
@James re:@BHodges: Agreed on the need for clarification. Why do you think they chose Ohio? I gotta admit that I’m not as politically savvy as I should be. Is that an important state again?
Are they arguing who has more “bracelets?”
@James: Yeah, it’s depressing. I actually read a story where someone was quoted as saying something like “I’m intellectually with Obama, but my heart is with McCain, so that’s how I’m gonna vote.” Hooray people.
Good point, James. BTW, your “orgy” comment was funny. I have since learned what was said for real.
To everyone in here: I LOVE Obama and LOATHE McCain, but I have to admit—is this debate a draw, or what? Actually, I’m shocked and ashamed to admit this, but…it almost seems…like McCain is actually “winning”! I’m afraid. Very afraid.
Does McCain have a spray tan or is it just me…