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Test the validity of electronic petitions in 7 steps.

The following message is not mine. This is a translation and adaptation of the site BreakTheChain.org .
- Jean-Yves Hemlin

The online petition is one of the worst kinds of spam. These stories usually begin with a very emotional story, ask you to add your name and email address and send to all your friends (while you still ...)
Often we sign, because the cause is noble, participation is easy and requires no effort or expense on our part. But these electronic petitions are made by people who do not understand the limitations of email ...

Imagine yourself as being an important man about to take a highly controversial decision. You receive a paper petition signed by 500 people. On examination, you find that the petition is written in pencil and all signatures are alike strangely as if it were written by the same hand ... You would not use the page as soon as unreliable, if not false. When you receive hundreds of identical copies, except for signatures footer, you probably would reject any subsequent copy.

is exactly what an electronic petition (via email or web). Because anyone can edit the text of the petition and its signatures can be authenticated, the petition is not much better than the paper petition described above, and no attention is given.
Break the Chain (and the myths Breaker) suggests not to create, "signing" or to send e-petitioning whatever aspect it can have real and even if this is because you really to heart. To determine if a petition is worth to be signed, this is what you need to validate:

Note: As soon as one or two points of the test fails, reject the petition as being unreliable.

The 7 tests to validate petitions.

1. Expiration . Does the petition has an expiration date or a limited number of signatures to get? The e-petition is circulating on the Web for months or even years. Sometimes, they circulate long after their raison d'etre has disappeared. (For example the case Bulger )
2. Objective. Is the objective of the petition is clearly identified? The petition identifies Does clear milestones and outcomes? Solicits Does she or does that signatures of party members to influence policy? Many e-petitions you win to their cause, but make no formal request (for example the petition against bonsai cat), or target someone who can do nothing to change the situation. (Eg Bush petition to bring back prayer in schools).
3. Integrity. Someone makes sure he that the petition is in the format required for the targeted party? Unfortunately, many ask to send the petition directly to the party you want to influence. This "invasion of emails" costs the recipient money and time. It causes more damage to the cause he is trying to promote. (For example, the petition to the United Nation to stop the war in Iraq).
4. Privacy . Is there an alternative to the signature as a website, a phone number or address where to send paper mail? Is the message explains how the information will be collected and by whom? If you must sign on a website, this site has a statement on the confidentiality of information? Remember that there is no protection of information contained in an email ...
5. Reliability . Does the message clearly explains that receives and compiles the signatures and can you trust him? While some petitions you give an address or send your completed petitions, most designers do not check with their Internet provider before starting their shipments, with the result, e-mail address is canceled shortly after. Most service providers prohibit formally sending unsolicited email in their service agreement with their customers. (For example Sympatico or Videotron .)
6. Sponsorship . Does the author of the petition clearly identify itself and give there a way to contact him? A social or political cause will generally have a well organized web site or a phone number where you can get more details or offer your services. Unfortunately, most designers of electronic petitions are hiding behind the anonymity of an email. (Eg " AIDS, rape, virgin and Africa").
7. validity. Does the petition is based on verifiable facts and statistics? The source is it mentioned? In other words, is what claims are provable, or do you take them to words, without proof? Often, what you try to stop no longer exists or never existed. (The example of "paying MSN " required in this case.)

Reminder: if 1 or 2 of the 7 tests do not pass, the petition is likely illegitimate.