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Poll: Should we ban opinion polls close to a vote?

PS: We’re aware of the irony of polling about polling.

THIS MORNING HAS seen more opinion polls on the upcoming same-sex marriage vote.

They all say pretty much the same thing, that support for the Yes side has slipped but still maintains a healthy advantage among voters.

Those in favour of the same-sex marriage have argued that such polls are unhelpful because they may lead complacency.

Others argue that polls are helpful in allowing parties to see what areas and demographics they needs to target.

After the recent UK election, when pollsters incorrectly predicted a stalemate, there have been some calls for election polling to be banned close to an election. What do you think of that idea?

Today’s poll, Should we ban opinion polls close to a vote?


Poll Results:

Yes, a week before polling day. (2206)
No, polls serve a valuable purpose. (1739)
Yes, more than a week out. (1334)
No, but there are too many polls. (1239)
Don't know (411)

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45 Comments
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    Mute mart_n
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    Jun 20th 2012, 2:47 PM

    The sad thing is that this ‘artist’ will probably garner quite a following because of his idiotic actions.

    80
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    Mute Sharon McCarthy
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:01 PM

    And spraying paint on a stencil – while it may make a statement on a concrete wall – is hardly art. You are right Mart_n, gobsh*tes will think this is a statement of something other than vandalism.

    51
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    Mute colm connolly
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:07 PM

    Agree with the first point but Sharon I completely disagree about your point on stencils not being artistic

    23
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    Mute Yvonne Byrne
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:22 PM

    Why would any artist desecrate another artist work?

    75
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    Mute Ann Reddin
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:31 PM

    Stencils are not art – by any stretch of the imagination. Hope the wonker gets fined at least 10 000 euros for this and a prison sentence. As for the security guard shouting you cant take photographs, pity he wasnt doing his job in the first place and this act of vandalism wouldnt have happened.

    23
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    Mute Carol C.
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    Jun 20th 2012, 9:09 PM

    What if the artist made the stencil? And there is no clear definition of what is and is not art, thats half the fun!

    5
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    Mute mrnobody
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:49 PM

    He should be jailed for cultural assassination. He has destroyed a piece of world heritage

    27
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    Mute Stephen Chinaski
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:56 PM

    Yeah, come on! Who cares about Picasso! Them bankers took our jobs! Grrr!

    On a serious note; I’d argue that stencils are a form of art. The stencil has to be designed by the artist just like any other artform. Think of them as the storyboards to a film. It’s all part of a process.

    I obviously don’t condone vandalising works like this, but it’s an interesting phenomena all the same.

    13
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    Mute Emmie
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    Jun 20th 2012, 4:14 PM

    Stencils are art! Someone has to come up with the idea, cut the shape and choose an appropriate medium on which to place it. It is born out of creativity, the definition of art in my opinion!nnOh. Plus this guy was a moron.

    13
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    Mute Nivag Yeoh
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    Jun 20th 2012, 5:14 PM

    Have a glass of water.

    11
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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jun 21st 2012, 8:14 PM

    Lickee likeee wayupnorth. Hey that sounds good

    2
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    Mute wayupnorth
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:09 PM

    The Journal.ie with more irrelevant Americana …

    6
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    Mute wayupnorth
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:25 PM

    I clicked on the link in order to comment. Yeah. The story came through on Twitter.

    6
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    Mute Nivag Yeoh
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:28 PM

    Where’s that lad Picasso from again?

    31
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    Mute Ann Reddin
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:34 PM

    Andalusia Spain

    20
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    Mute Ann Reddin
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:36 PM

    That bit of sarcasm Nivag went right over my head – lol

    24
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    Mute Nivag Yeoh
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:42 PM

    (I know, Ann. Was being a bit sarcy)

    16
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    Mute wayupnorth
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:44 PM

    ‘The act was carried out by “young Mexican-American artist Uriel Landeros”’ — this is not a story about Picasso. It’s some sort of protest by a “young Mexican-American artist”. Who gives a shit? There are important things going on in this part of the world. But the USA ranks very highly with the Journal.
    There again, maybe you’re a life-long Picasso enthusiast … along with the “editors” of the Journal. ;)

    6
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    Mute Nivag Yeoh
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:57 PM

    Give it a rest, wayupnorth. You’ve made a boo-boo, stop digging.

    42
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    Mute wayupnorth
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    Jun 20th 2012, 4:10 PM

    LOL You wish.

    4
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    Mute Nivag Yeoh
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    Jun 20th 2012, 4:18 PM

    OK, keep digging then. You look smarter with every post.

    35
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    Mute wayupnorth
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    Jun 20th 2012, 4:24 PM

    Stop projecting.

    4
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    Mute wayupnorth
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    Jun 20th 2012, 4:26 PM

    All the Irish (and other) Picasso enthusiasts can relax. “most of the damage to the more than 80-year-old artwork has been fixed.”
    http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-06-19-Picasso%20Vandalism/id-76d0305087114f5d97c50df31835aecc

    Wasn’t that exciting?

    6
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    Mute Emmie
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    Jun 20th 2012, 4:38 PM

    I personally couldn’t care less. But thanks for the update.

    8
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    Mute Kevin Elliott
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    Jun 20th 2012, 4:40 PM

    Well it took 40 mins of your day up apparently

    14
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    Mute Nivag Yeoh
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    Jun 20th 2012, 5:01 PM

    Cheers, wayupnorth. You can toddle off back to your usual insular xenophobe haunts now, thanks.

    15
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    Mute wayupnorth
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    Jun 20th 2012, 5:06 PM

    I don’t like American arse. If that bothers you, too bad.

    6
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    Mute wayupnorth
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    Jun 20th 2012, 5:07 PM

    Correction – lick, not like.

    7
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    Mute Eoin Norris
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    Jun 20th 2012, 6:45 PM

    I am personally really disappointed with the guy who forced wayupnorth to click on this link and make more than ten comments each stupider than the last. It’s appalling that people are forced to click links and comment like that. Tyranny.

    9
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    Mute wayupnorth
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    Jun 20th 2012, 8:25 PM

    You’ve got it all wrong I’m afraid. :)
    I commented because I WANTED to. See? Doing my own thing. Not copying anyone, either here or in the USA. And no amount of puerile sarcasm will change that.

    3
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    Mute Nivag Yeoh
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    Jun 20th 2012, 8:35 PM

    Is there some that can sit with you ’til the ambulance arrives, wayupnorth?

    3
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    Mute wayupnorth
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:47 PM

    “Additional reporting by AP” – is that accurate? Or is the whole thing just quoted from AP?

    3
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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Jun 20th 2012, 3:51 PM

    Hi ‘wayupnorth’.

    “Additional reporting from AP’ means just that – that some of the information in the story comes from the Associated Press service, and some from other sources.

    As for important things going in in this part of the world, I’m sure if you peruse the rest of the site, particularly the ‘Irish’ section, you will find something more to your taste. This story is of interest to some of our readers, if not you in particular.

    Thanks for reading,
    Emer

    62
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    Mute wayupnorth
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    Jun 20th 2012, 4:15 PM

    Other sources? The whole thing seems remarkably similar to here

    http://www.businessinsider.com/video-watch-some-jerk-vandalize-a-picasso-in-texas-2012-6

    So what “other sources”?

    3
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    Mute wayupnorth
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    Jun 20th 2012, 4:16 PM

    ah, that one is quoting YOU. I see.

    2
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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Jun 20th 2012, 4:19 PM

    Yes, it is the same story. Business Insider have permission to reproduce stories from TheJournal.ie.

    41
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    Mute Nivag Yeoh
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    Jun 20th 2012, 4:42 PM

    Chortle

    28
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    Mute wayupnorth
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    Jun 20th 2012, 5:02 PM

    So ‘Business Insider’ quotes ‘the Journal’, which is quoting ‘AP’.
    Sounds pretty incestuous and time-wasting. And unoriginal.
    (But Nivag Yeoh is amused. Clearly not a journalist. Ho hum …)

    7
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    Mute Nivag Yeoh
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    Jun 20th 2012, 5:10 PM

    oooh, don’t forget yer shovel if ya want ta go to work!

    19
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    Mute Kevin
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    Jun 20th 2012, 6:30 PM

    Why not unsubscribe? Nobody forces you to read this stuff!

    7
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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jun 21st 2012, 8:11 PM

    Meouwwww Emer!

    2
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    Mute Race Lover
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    Jun 20th 2012, 5:26 PM

    I wonder if he can apply for artist tax exemption in this country after that stunt?

    1
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