Are online petitions worthwhile?

I find it ironic that AB Staff asks a question about online petition effectiveness when they are currently ignoring online petitions from their users to return to the old version of Answerbag.

AB Staff recently changed the AB format, in the middle of the night, without telling any of their users. They also continue to ignore the massive negative feedback they are receiving from their users and former users.

AB Staff has shown blatant disregard for the feelings of several loyal users. Instead, they try to copy other popular web sights in spite of strong objections. AB staff has forgotten about their users. Without their users, they may as well shut the website down.

I would advise AB staff to stop asking questions that they already know the answer to. Remember where the AB sight came from and the loyal users who made it so popular.

Shame on AB staff for asking such a question. The AB staffs main interest must be making money. Their answer to "Are online petitions worthwhile" is obviously "NO." Return the format to the older version.

Well I will tell you what I am hearing on AB this is from users. They are under the impression that your petitions aren't worth filling out or your survays because they don't see changes and don't feel you are listening. As far as other peoples I think folks generaly feel no one listens so what is the point.

A properly created online boycott/petition can have a positive impact. I created an online boycott of Verizon using a site called boycottowl.com located at http://www.boycottowl.com . The site allowed me to create the boycott, get the message out to other people who might want to join, and to communicate with the people who had joined. The net result was that Verizon contacted me as the boycott originator in an effort to end the boycott. I posted instructions for how I created/managed the boycott here - http://www.ehow.com/how-did_87534_did-organize-boycott.html . If a boycott/petition is clearly communicated and done so in a way that allows enough other people to learn about it and join, the target of the boycott/petition will eventually take notice, and even possibly act to rectify the situation that started the boycott/petition. The Internet can be a powerful tool for organizing and promoting issues of shared concern, and I have found that online boycotts/petitions can be successful.

nope :)

Depends on the type...

If it's an email petition (where you put your name, and xxxxxth person is to send it to a certain address)... Nope. See http://www.orangefrogproductions.com/ofp2m_faq_email.shtml#Email%20Petitions . There's a site in that FAQ that would be MUCH better.

If it's the type listed in the FAQ, sure. Just be aware that unscrupulous people could set up things like this to get email addresses, and other information from you in the guise of proving that you are you.

No. Nothing good has ever come of online petitions. Write your local congressman, or the party you're up in arms about instead.

about as useful as all the exercise equipment bought each New Year that is collecting dust in the garage by Valentine's Day

Yeah it's worth the paper it's printed on. See AB's redesign drama if you don't believe.

simply put: no.

I don't think so. A written petition with real signatures is sure to be more effective.