# People who base their voting decisions on campaign ads are idiots **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 31, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-base-their-voting-decisions-on-campaign-ads-are-idiots/558975 "2010-10-31T15:42:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-base-their-voting-decisions-on-campaign-ads-are-idiots/558975/41 "2010-11-02T16:35:06Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I have heard (no cite for this) that most negative attack ads are actually not designed so much to get you to vote for the other guy, as they are to get you to not vote at all. I.e., it’s not so much that they want, “What?! He supports baby-raping?! I’m voting for his opponent!” as they want, “Ugh, I’m sick of the mud-slinging. These guys are both crooks. I’m staying home.” > > I don’t know how true that is, or if true, how effective. I feel like I heard about this on a radio talk show discussion, likely on NPR, but I can’t remember exactly. I’ll tell you, that nearly worked on me for my state representative race. I usually vote third-party when the major party candidates start slinging as much mud as they did in this race. With the redistricting that will necessarily happen during this session, I couldn’t in good conscience refrain from voting for the incumbent Dem in that race. She’d better ramp up her performance and her campaign tone if she wants my vote again in 2012, though. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Presidente](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@El\_Presidente](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Presidente)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-base-their-voting-decisions-on-campaign-ads-are-idiots/558975/42 "2010-11-02T18:08:06Z")
I’ve never voted based on a campaign ad, but I sure find them fun! I will take it even one step further. It’s not even the attack itself that influences the idiots: it’s the ability of the campaign manager to find the absolute worst photo of the opponent possible to make them look either evil or look like idiots. Stupid people vote based on looks. For instance: Pat Browne v The Golem: [http://www.patbrowneforsenate.com/pdf/Browne4.pdf](http://www.patbrowneforsenate.com/pdf/Browne4.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-base-their-voting-decisions-on-campaign-ads-are-idiots/558975/43 "2010-11-02T19:15:28Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Two years ago I got tons of calls but oddly enough I only got one or two this year. I guess whomever doesn’t think that my district has any close elections. We’ve had a few local calls, but most of the robocalls we’ve received have been for statewide races like the Senate or for statewide ballot measures. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-base-their-voting-decisions-on-campaign-ads-are-idiots/558975/44 "2010-11-02T19:51:13Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > I wish there was a “none of the above” option. There is in **Nevada** , Baby! And I _used it!_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-base-their-voting-decisions-on-campaign-ads-are-idiots/558975.md?page=2)