Editing 2305: Coronavirus Polling
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | This comic | + | {{incomplete|Created by an ONLINE POLL. Explanations are needed for each poll. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
− | + | This comic, another comic in the [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] related to the {{w|2019–20 coronavirus outbreak|2020 COVID-19 pandemic}}, compares opinion polling of COVID-19 related topics to polling of other, unrelated topics. Opinion among Americans is remarkably unanimous on necessary measures concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, at least as asked in the polls (different people may have different ideas of what they consider "big sporting events" or "damage to the economy"). To put this unanimity in perspective, polls on other topics are shown with similar but slightly smaller high percentages of unanimity but on extremely uncontroversial questions{{Citation needed}} like liking apple pie or Tom Hanks, or the importance of elections to democracy. | |
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− | To put | ||
The title text refers to the chapter "How To Win an Election" in Munroe's book ''[[How To|How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems]]'', in which a similar set of near-unanimous survey questions are shown for prospecting candidates to support, or, alternately, oppose, thus guaranteeing their popularity or lack thereof. To see what this politician's speeches might have looked like, we can look at FiveThirtyEight's "perfect stump speeches" that espouse only opinions held by a majority of [https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/republican-stump-speech/ Republicans] or [https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/democratic-stump-speech/ Democrats]. | The title text refers to the chapter "How To Win an Election" in Munroe's book ''[[How To|How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems]]'', in which a similar set of near-unanimous survey questions are shown for prospecting candidates to support, or, alternately, oppose, thus guaranteeing their popularity or lack thereof. To see what this politician's speeches might have looked like, we can look at FiveThirtyEight's "perfect stump speeches" that espouse only opinions held by a majority of [https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/republican-stump-speech/ Republicans] or [https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/democratic-stump-speech/ Democrats]. | ||
− | The polls cited in this comic are all linked at | + | The polls cited in this comic are all linked at http://xkcd.com/2305/sources. |
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|86% | |86% | ||
|"Stay-at-home orders are responsible government policies that are saving lives" rather than "an over-reaction" | |"Stay-at-home orders are responsible government policies that are saving lives" rather than "an over-reaction" | ||
− | |Due to the easy spread of COVID-19, many US states enacted "{{w|stay-at-home order}}s | + | |Due to the easy spread of COVID-19, many US states enacted "{{w|stay-at-home order}}s, which require residents to stay at home, except for "essential" tasks or working in "essential" businesses. The definition of "essential" has varied from state to state. |
|- | |- | ||
|85% | |85% | ||
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|91% | |91% | ||
|Opposition to resuming big sporting events | |Opposition to resuming big sporting events | ||
− | |{{w|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports|Sporting events have been largely cancelled}}, with only a few sporting leagues remaining open. | + | |{{w|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports|Sporting events have been largely cancelled}}, with only a few sporting leagues remaining open. |
|- | |- | ||
|85% | |85% | ||
|Trust in local health officials and health care workers | |Trust in local health officials and health care workers | ||
− | |Health officials have been providing guidelines for how to "reopen" the United States. | + | |Health officials have been providing guidelines for how to "reopen" the United States. Meanwhile, health care workers have been lauded as heroes for their work to save people affected by COVID-19, often at their own risk of infection. |
|- | |- | ||
|93% | |93% | ||
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|81% | |81% | ||
|Americans should continue to social distance even if it means continued damage to the economy | |Americans should continue to social distance even if it means continued damage to the economy | ||
− | |Due to various factors, the world economy has entered a {{w|Coronavirus recession|global economic recession}}. This poll question indicates that many Americans are more concerned | + | |Due to various factors, the world economy has entered a {{w|Coronavirus recession|global economic recession}}. This poll question indicates that many Americans are more concerned about defeating the virus, even at significant damage to the American economy. |
|- | |- | ||
! colspan="3" | Other polls | ! colspan="3" | Other polls | ||
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|81% | |81% | ||
|Enjoy apple pie | |Enjoy apple pie | ||
− | |{{w|Apple pie}} is an unofficial symbol of the United States and is considered one of America's favorite desserts. | + | |{{w|Apple pie}} is an unofficial symbol of the United States and is considered one of America's favorite desserts. |
|- | |- | ||
|76% | |76% | ||
|Feel positively about kittens | |Feel positively about kittens | ||
− | | | + | |Who doesn't like {{w|kitten}}s? |
|- | |- | ||
|84% | |84% | ||
|Have a favorable impression of Tom Hanks | |Have a favorable impression of Tom Hanks | ||
− | |{{w|Tom Hanks}} is | + | |{{w|Tom Hanks}} is a universally beloved actor, famous for his many starring roles, including in ''{{w|Forrest Gump}}'', ''{{w|Apollo 13}}'', ''{{w|Saving Private Ryan}}''. In March 2020, Hanks announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19 in Australia. He would recover from the virus. |
|- | |- | ||
|89% | |89% | ||
|Fair elections are important to democracy | |Fair elections are important to democracy | ||
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|86% | |86% | ||
|Feel positively toward Betty White | |Feel positively toward Betty White | ||
− | |{{w|Betty White}} is | + | |{{w|Betty White}} is a beloved actress who was 98 years old at the time of publishing. She is known for her many television roles, including in ''{{w|The Mary Tyler Moore Show}}'' and ''{{w|The Golden Girls}}''. |
|- | |- | ||
|86% | |86% | ||
|Do not trust Kim Jong-Un to do the right thing | |Do not trust Kim Jong-Un to do the right thing | ||
− | |{{w|Kim Jong-Un}} is the dictator of {{w|North Korea}} at the time of publishing | + | |{{w|Kim Jong-Un}} is the dictator of {{w|North Korea}} at the time of publishing. Kim, along with his predecessors, is considered an enigmatic leader and unpredictable. |
|- | |- | ||
|64% | |64% | ||
|Concerned about "murder hornets" | |Concerned about "murder hornets" | ||
− | |The {{w|Asian giant hornet}}, nicknamed the "murder hornet", is a large hornet native to Asia. It was found in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States in late 2019, but its discovery was widely publicized May 2020. The murder hornet was given its nickname due to its painful sting, and its predation of honey bees | + | |The {{w|Asian giant hornet}}, nicknamed the "murder hornet", is a large hornet native to Asia. It was found in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States in late 2019, but its discovery was widely publicized May 2020. The murder hornet was given its nickname due to its painful sting, and its predation of honey bees. |
|} | |} | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | + | [Caption at the top] | |
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− | + | It's hard to get people to agree on '''''anything''''' in polls. | |
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− | + | But we agree about the coronavirus. | |
+ | |||
+ | Here's how Americans feel about COVID-19, along with other topics that get similar levels of agreement for comparison. | ||
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+ | [Smaller caption] | ||
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+ | Compiled with help from HuffPost polling editor Ariel Edwards-Levy. Sources: xkcd.com/2305/sources | ||
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+ | [Left column] | ||
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+ | Recent coronavirus polls | ||
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+ | *'''86%''' say "stay-at-home orders are responsible government policies that are saving lives" rather than "an over-reaction" (ABC/Ipsos) | ||
+ | *'''85%''' oppose reopening schools (NPR/Marist) | ||
+ | *'''91%''' oppose resuming big sporting events (NPR/M.) | ||
+ | *'''85%''' trust local health officials and health care workers (Axios/Ipsos) | ||
+ | *'''93%''' are trying to maintain 6-foot distances while in public (Axios/Ipsos) | ||
+ | *'''81%''' say Americans should continue to social distance for as long as is needed to stop the Coronavirus even if it means continued damage to the economy (Politico/Morning Consult) | ||
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+ | [Right column] | ||
− | + | Other polls | |
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− | + | *'''81%''' enjoy apple pie (HuffPost/YouGov) | |
− | + | *'''76%''' feel positively about kittens (HuffPost/YouGov) | |
− | + | *'''84%''' have a favorable impression of Tom Hanks (Ipsos 2018) | |
− | + | *'''89%''' say fair elections are important to democracy (Pew) | |
− | + | *'''86%''' feel positively toward Betty White (Ipsos 2011) | |
− | + | *'''86%''' do not trust Kim Jong-Un to do the right thing (Pew 2019) | |
− | + | *'''64%''' are concerned about the emergence of "murder hornets" (YouGov) | |
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
− | [[Category:COVID-19]] | + | [[Category: COVID-19]] |
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category: Food]] |
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category: Animals]] |
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category: Comics featuring real people]] |
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category: Comics featuring politicians]] |
− | [[Category:How To | + | [[Category: How To]] |
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