Former Polish prime minister opposes online voting, says Internet users are all watching porn

Sure, electronic voting has had its fair share of troubles, but there's no denying that it's the wave of the future -- and we're always intrigued by plans like the one being floated in Poland right now that would allow citizens to vote online from their homes, since that seems like a great way to increase participation. Of course, some people are just never going to get it, and it looks like former Polish prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski is the latest Luddite curmudgeon to risk your ire, saying that he's not exactly thrilled with the idea of a "young person sitting in front of a computer, watching video clips and pornography while sipping a bottle of beer and voting when he feels like it." Kaczynski went on to say that as a whole, Internet users are "the easiest group to manipulate, to suggest who to vote for" -- which probably means that in addition to not using a cell phone or having a bank account (true!), he's never actually been on the Internet either. Tell you what, Minister: you come in here and successfully manipulate a Mac vs. PC flamewar, maybe we'll talk. Deal?

[Blake @ Mar 12th 2008 1:52PM]

Oh Trekkie Monster...and your porn-ridden antics.

[Khris @ Mar 12th 2008 1:46PM]

I can see it now.....it'll make millions!!

Porngadget!!

[Dah Cheet @ Mar 12th 2008 2:29PM]

READY!

Kudos for the Avenue Q reference, Engadget.

[Deputy Doffoos @ Mar 12th 2008 3:45PM]

No one ever has described us so good!!

[superfresh @ Mar 12th 2008 4:38PM]

He, of course, had to be Polish.

So a guy shouts across the river to a former Polish prime minister, "Hey! How do I get to the other side of the river?!"

The former Polish prime minister shouts back, "You ARE on the other side of the river!"

[ty.cornwall @ Mar 12th 2008 1:50PM]

At first I took offense as a Internet user being easy to manipulate... But maybe I am.

[Magnulus @ Mar 12th 2008 3:29PM]

Zing!

[Ayman @ Mar 12th 2008 3:12PM]

LOL
"Whats that internet you want me to do what with my genitalia?"

[JPack @ Mar 12th 2008 4:06PM]

Internet. They have that on computers now?

[Mike S. @ Mar 12th 2008 4:32PM]

Not gonna lie, I was a bit disheartened as well.

[Matt @ Mar 14th 2008 11:28PM]

If we're so easy to manipulate maybe that's why we all love spam mail...
"OMG, dude, grow your tool 4 inches with this great stuff I found."
"You're so smart, you should have degree ATM."
"Buy ROLEX for cheap."
They're manipulating us into improving our lives!
/begin online_program_for_Rolex_enlargement

[Aytunc @ Mar 12th 2008 1:50PM]

i found the perfect running mate for McCain,
they can both get angry at damm youngsters.

what a douche...

[Magnulus @ Mar 12th 2008 1:49PM]

Ready, normal people?!

[moe @ Mar 27th 2008 2:06PM]

I see what you did there

[Dah Cheet @ Mar 12th 2008 2:30PM]

Whoops, replied to the wrong post.

[Lazerface @ Mar 12th 2008 5:28PM]

Ready!
Ready!
Ready!

Let's Hear it!

[anton @ Mar 13th 2008 6:52AM]

The internet is for porn!

[Conor McCann @ Mar 12th 2008 1:50PM]

Are you saying that all internet users DON'T watch porn?

[Tim @ Mar 12th 2008 1:52PM]

I am suprised a guy who is so closed minded on certain issues is even allowed to vote, let alone speak ill of a viable method of doing so.

[CosterMonger @ Mar 12th 2008 2:51PM]

Electronic Voting needs to be verified, secured, and audited.
It would be very easy for a controlling party to manipulate the results, or for potential "bot-nets" to control the vote.

but were all just voting for puppet governments anyways - right?
Dystopia Today!

[CosterMonger @ Mar 12th 2008 2:57PM]

woops, I didn't mean to click here

@Tim the previous comment is not directed at you

[webon @ Mar 12th 2008 1:52PM]

"young person sitting in front of a computer, watching video clips and pornography while sipping a bottle of beer." in my shorts, having a pice of rock solid cold pizza, reading some tech blog, yeah hes got me pinned down pretty damn right.

[phanbouy @ Mar 12th 2008 1:52PM]

PC vs Mac? You mentioned a Mac?? BIAS!!!!11

[CraigJ @ Mar 12th 2008 3:18PM]

Bias that goes to 11? That's one more!

[Joe @ Mar 12th 2008 1:54PM]

Sure, people on the internet are easy to manipulate. But you can say that same sentence without "on the internet" and it is still just as accurate.

[Dan @ Mar 12th 2008 1:56PM]

Well said

[caleb @ Mar 12th 2008 4:08PM]

...on the internet

[Sora267 @ Mar 12th 2008 5:48PM]

Heheh, it's like the "in my pants" game!

"I saw your mom....on the internet!"

[Joe @ Mar 12th 2008 7:26PM]

The problem is partisans of one side or the other sitting down with computer illiterate people and telling them how to vote or simply voting for them. (Yes, this happens with "normal" voting, but it takes more effort and in many places there are helpers from both sides where the actual vote takes place.)

[maveric101 @ Mar 12th 2008 9:07PM]

actually, i would say that generally heavier internet users are more intelligent than the average person. the internet just allows even more opportunities to be manipulated.

[maveric101 @ Mar 12th 2008 9:08PM]

actually, i would say that generally heavier internet users are more intelligent than the average person. the internet just allows even more opportunities to be manipulated.

[maveric101 @ Mar 12th 2008 9:26PM]

damn. sorry about the double post, the page froze on the reload.

[NHAnimator @ Mar 12th 2008 1:55PM]

Ladies and Gentlemen: President Jenna Jameson

[whatishalo? @ Mar 12th 2008 1:55PM]

Yup, glad I own a MAC! I cannot be manipulated on the internet. Only PC users are vulnerable to manipulation [sic].

[Jorvay @ Mar 12th 2008 1:58PM]

Yeah, but at least I have more USB ports when I get manipulated using my PC.

[Skinz @ Mar 12th 2008 2:02PM]

So what your saying is that a Mac isn't a computer??? Oh that's right, it isn't, it's a piece of fruit!!

[Miranda Kali @ Mar 12th 2008 2:08PM]

UBUNTU!! haha. No,I jest. PC....(for now)

[phanbouy @ Mar 12th 2008 2:22PM]

Yup, glad I own a MAC! I cannot be manipulated on the internet. Only PC users are vulnerable to manipulation.

oh wait you were impersonating me ;*(

[Seth Porter @ Mar 12th 2008 2:30PM]

Macs rulez!!!, lololz I R TEH FLAMEWAR!!!!

Heh, just kidding.

[ScareyJ @ Mar 12th 2008 2:48PM]

Well, the Mac did save us in Independence Day by uploading the virus to the alien mothership.

[phanbouy @ Mar 12th 2008 3:27PM]

LOL @ScareyJ! Yeah leave it to Roland Emmerich to film the Dumbest Computer Scene Ever. Hey, notice that 10,000 BC got a 7% on the Rotten Tomatometer?

[caleb @ Mar 12th 2008 4:10PM]

So what your saying is that a Windows PC isn't a computer??? Oh that's right, it isn't, it's a hole cut into an exterior wall of a building and replaced with glass!!

[phanbouy @ Mar 12th 2008 4:38PM]

caleb, i think you missed the "[sic]". he's doing parody, and on your "team" by the looks of it. calm thy flamebait good sir.

[Tor Slettnes @ Mar 14th 2008 6:12PM]

Actually [sic] means "Spelling Intentionally Crippled". You may have wanted to say something like "Sensibilities Intenionally Crippled" instead - so that would be.... oh wait.

Never mind. :)

[d0n0van @ Mar 12th 2008 2:01PM]

Are you lonely? Have you spent half your life in bars pursuing sins of the flesh? Are you sitting in a bean bag chair naked eating Cheetos? Do you have the urge to get up and send me a thousand dollars

[Patuxentbball @ Mar 12th 2008 2:53PM]

Tater Salad FTW

[Hmmm @ Mar 12th 2008 2:01PM]

Hmmm. Is he related to the polician/general that opposed German tanks with horses?

[mj @ Mar 12th 2008 2:05PM]

Of course the biggest irony is that this guy is not in any sort of relationship, porn is precisely what he uses the internet for. hahah.. old fart!

[Umeadi @ Mar 12th 2008 2:06PM]

Weird...because I'm drinking beer, and watching porn right now, OMG!

[elbrando @ Mar 12th 2008 2:07PM]

Wow, this post has it all! Porn, beer, muppets, flame-bait, e-voting, name-calling, misspellings, pithy comments about the post, and much more.

It's like all blog postings got boiled down to this. Neato!

I can't wait until somebody gets called a Nazi or Hitler in the comments...