On the (f)utility of polls/surveys .... [View all]

... MGM did a survey, and learned that 85 percent of everyone questioned on whether they'd like to see a movie called Movers and Shakers with our stars in it said they would. That was very high. Later, they did another survey that revealed that about 70 percent of the people questioned had no idea what "movers and shakers" meant. But we stayed with it. Since 70 percent of the people questioned didn't know what it meant, let me define it here. Movers and shakers are the people who get big things done in the world; and, since our movers and shakers didn't get anything done, it was an ironic title. I later learned that 75 percent of all people questioned didn't know what "ironic" meant.

-- from Charles Grodin, It would be so nice if you weren't here ... (Vintage Books, 1989)