Reduced image shows part of the Vote.com web page.

Vote.com Hits a New Low

by Ken Sanes
Sept. 27, 2001

Vote.com hit a new low earlier this week with an image of a gun pointed directly at visitors to its web site. The image supposedly illustrated a poll that Vote.com was taking on whether pilots should carry guns. In reality, it is just another example of the way some in the media are exploiting the current crisis and trying to emotionally manipulate people in order to make their work more exciting.

One of those who was offended by the image is reader Martin Galyean who says he sent a protest letter via email to Vote.com and the two people behind it, Eileen McGann and pollster and Fox pundit, Dick Morris. 

Galyean says he told them in the email:

"I find the image your staff chose to display along with the vote concerning arming pilots on vote.com to be incredibly inappropriate. If you consider that the average person voting on your site is highly unlikely to be a hijacker or terrorist, your displaying the muzzle of the gun pointed directly at the viewer is unconscionable and extremely emotionally manipulative."

According to Galyean, he received the following reply signed only "Vote.com staff":

"We appreciate your concerns, however we feel that the graphic in question is not inappropriate. It is designed rather to catch the user's eye in a dramatic fashion. It is a picture of a gun but there is no shooting, violence, blood or graphic elements in the picture. We will however remain alert for additional comments from our users concerning this graphic and will reevaluate our position if needed."

But this graphic clearly doesn't only catch the user's eye. It takes an entertainment technique used to enhance violent imagery and transfers it to a real and very dangerous situation. Its effect is to make people feel like they are a target, thereby ratcheting up the anxiety that millions of people are already experiencing.

People need to experience genuine concern over our current situation so we can mobilize our institutions to do what needs to be done for our security. But we don't need irresponsible media companies turning this into a violent video game just to make things more exciting.

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Vote.com has notified Reform that it has removed the inappropriate image described in the column.

Note: Here is another image from Vote.com that appears to show Saddam Hussein pointing a weapon almost at the reader.

Posted Sept. 27. Minor style changes Sept. 28.