Looking for a second opinion here, because I might be hyper sensitive to politics these days...or my goal to avoid it.
I've been a BHA member for a couple years. I like them because they represent my values in preserving the outdoor heritage. Politically I consider myself an independent because no one party represents all my opinions. I vote based on specific issues and can swing in either direction depending on the topic. I'm generally anti-politics. Just don't enjoy talking about it (I know, yet I am).
I was surprised to see BHA bring politics up. They sent out a press release and emails lately talking about their member survey and I feel there's a slight manipulation or misrepresentation of the facts (comparing them to most political news these days). I feel like this eroded their credibility and my trust. BHA used a headline and opening statements that BHA members are "70 percent identify as Republican, Independent or unaffiliated (20 percent are Democrats)." That was the headline of a PR release and also one of the primary statements in the opening paragraph; and now an email they sent out. My initial take-away from it....wow, I'm surprised it leans so far Republican. What you remember is 70% Republican and 20% Democrats. Not a big deal, just surprising.
But then I read the details of the survey. The results were: 23% republican, 33% independent, 23% democrats and 16% none of the above. Gosh, that seems VERY different from the statement above that grouped 3/4 of people into one bucket and compared them to the other. Why not lead with a message of "highly diversified" or "More independents than other groups" or something that brings people together.
I don't know, but those headlines rubbed me the wrong way because the facts felt manipulated. Again, maybe I'm hyper sensitive to this because I'm generally anti-politics. I just don't like how news organizations have a bias and agenda; and now party affiliation was brought into an organization I care about and thought was neutral.
Thoughts?
I've been a BHA member for a couple years. I like them because they represent my values in preserving the outdoor heritage. Politically I consider myself an independent because no one party represents all my opinions. I vote based on specific issues and can swing in either direction depending on the topic. I'm generally anti-politics. Just don't enjoy talking about it (I know, yet I am).
I was surprised to see BHA bring politics up. They sent out a press release and emails lately talking about their member survey and I feel there's a slight manipulation or misrepresentation of the facts (comparing them to most political news these days). I feel like this eroded their credibility and my trust. BHA used a headline and opening statements that BHA members are "70 percent identify as Republican, Independent or unaffiliated (20 percent are Democrats)." That was the headline of a PR release and also one of the primary statements in the opening paragraph; and now an email they sent out. My initial take-away from it....wow, I'm surprised it leans so far Republican. What you remember is 70% Republican and 20% Democrats. Not a big deal, just surprising.
But then I read the details of the survey. The results were: 23% republican, 33% independent, 23% democrats and 16% none of the above. Gosh, that seems VERY different from the statement above that grouped 3/4 of people into one bucket and compared them to the other. Why not lead with a message of "highly diversified" or "More independents than other groups" or something that brings people together.
I don't know, but those headlines rubbed me the wrong way because the facts felt manipulated. Again, maybe I'm hyper sensitive to this because I'm generally anti-politics. I just don't like how news organizations have a bias and agenda; and now party affiliation was brought into an organization I care about and thought was neutral.
Thoughts?