trott@olorin.DEC (Dale at TWO/A07, DTN:247-2146) (05/07/84)
[...]
A while back I did some business with a photo processing lab in Mystic, CT
called Mystic Color Labs. I was very pleased with their service and their
prices were very reasonable and everything was fine and dandy.
Recently they mailed me a rather interesting questionnaire that they said
would be "fun and interesting" to fill out. Well, being an open minded person
I decided to take a look at the thing. The first section of the questionnaire
contained a lot of questions about photographic techniques, opinions, and
equipment. I considered it "normal" for a outfit like Mystic to be interested
in this sort of thing so I started thinking about filling it out. I then
reached the second section of the questionnaire and to my amazement found
questions like "There's too much power concentrated in the hands of a few large
companies" (disagree strongly - agree strongly type of thing), "The purchase
and use of Marijuana should be legalized", "Communists should be prohibited
from running for mayor of this city", "Women should take care of running the
homes and leave running the country up to men", "The federal government should
encourage prayer in public schools", "There's too much sex on TV today", "I feel
like I get a raw deal out of life", "I like to be outrageous", and a host of
other equally ridiculous questions. They then go on to ask about your social
and economic class, age, marital status, education, hobbies, etc.
At the beginning of the second section there is somewhat of an explanation of
the questions, it read in part: "The following questions are part of a system
developed by SRI International (formerly Stanford Research Institute) to study
the values and lifestyles of American consumers..." "Your answers to individual
questions will not be analyzed but will be used to classify people into
consumer lifestyle groups to help us understand how consumer values and
lifestyles relate to the preceding [the "normal"] questions. Please answer all
questions in this section. The information you give will be kept in strict
confidence."
Personally I was insulted and angered by the questions and I wrote them a
rather strong letter telling them so and that this type of information was none
of they're g*ddamn business. My assumption was that they would like to gather
a rather comprehensive list of people and their "lifestyles" and values so
they can sell the list to other companies that could target appropriate
"consumers" with junk mail that advertises products that we can't live without.
You know, so the guy next door who thinks women should just take care of
running the home could get the latest copy of "The Bondage Emporium" and keep
up-to-date on the latest technological breakthroughs in whips and chains.
Seriously though, I think this questionnaire was an attempt to invade my
privacy and insult my intelligence. I find it hard to believe that anyone would
be foolish enough to complete this thing and return it. I for one do not go
revealing my values and moral beliefs to someone hundreds of miles away who
just happens to ask. The questionnaire however did have some value, it provided
myself and a few of my friends with a good laugh.
Has anyone else out there seen this ridiculous thing or something similar?
- Dale -
UUCP :{decvax, ucbvax, allegra}!decwrl!rhea!olorin!trott
ARPA :olorin%trott.DEC@DECWRL.ARPAmikey@trsvax.UUCP (05/16/84)
#R:decwrl:-774000:trsvax:70900006:000:968 trsvax!mikey May 16 13:09:00 1984 You didn't state whether the survey required your name, address, and blood type. I don't think it was that bad, if you didn't like it, don't answer it. I've known groups who in the past depended on the "Stanford Test". If it was the same thing, it's probably legit. Supposedly, these test are much more accurate at predicting behavior, honesty, and performance for potential employees than a polygraph, and although you may not know, are much less offensive. (Maybe Mystic was disguising a job offer!!!) Seriously, maybe the company was trying to get a much more detailed feeling of their customers and was doing serious market research. Personally, I think they should mail a letter requesting you to take the survey or even not send part two until you sent the first part in. And then of course, you may have already won $100,000!!! To find out, just complete the enclosed application!!! BTW, how do you know of the Bondage Emporium? mikey at trsvax