Weekend Marathon Mailbag

April 26, 2020

So many of you have sent comments and questions over the last week, and it’s impossible to respond to all of them — particularly in the daily emails. But getting a little more insight into what you’re thinking and feeling has been my favorite part of this project, so let’s keep it going. To do my part, I wanted to share \some of the feedback folks submitted this week.

Also, if you didn’t answer Friday’s questions, you still can by clicking the Let’s Talk button below.

Q: What activities have you been introduced to during quarantine that you would not have tried otherwise, but will continue to do when things return to normal?

A: I love this question. I’m guessing this person was hoping to hear about the new, positive changes folks have made during the quarantine. Hopefully we’re all going to emerge from this quarantine with cool new interests and hobbies!

Unfortunately for me, though, things have taken a negative turn. I’ve never been much of a reality TV fan, but I’ve binged both Love is Blind and Too Hot to Handle on Netflix since the quarantine began. I’m ashamed to admit I’ve liked them both a lot, and there’s a good chance I’ve started a habit I’m not going to stop anytime soon.

The only things I do during quarantine are read, snack, and toggle my mousepad so my boss sees I'm online.

Dang. Love the honesty here. You’re clearly playing chess while the rest of us are playing checkers.

Kidding aside, the quarantine is teaching that a) more jobs can probably be done remotely than we thought could before and b) the 9-to-5 work model that Dolly Parton sings about might not be the right one. Something massive is happening (and happening quickly) to the definition work.

Will there be a Tina app? And is the subscriber base growing? Is this (aggregate) data being shared with any public, private or media outlets yet?

Someday, maybe.

I absolutely understand that opening an email each day, clicking a link to a set of questions and then clicking through the questions is asking a lot. You don’t have to participate, but you do. It’s why I’m so grateful for all of you.

But I want to make it easier for you all to participate in these conversations and share your voice. Being heard shouldn’t be complicated.

Our subscriber base *is* growing, which is super exciting. We’re at about 200 subscribers right now. It means you, the people who drive this platform, are sharing this with your friends and families. I really, really appreciate that, and if you find this fun, I’d ask that you continue to share and help it grow.

Obviously, the results from each set of questions is in the next day’s email — which is also available on the Tina homepage. So yes, the results are being shared publicly, but they are not being directly provided to any media outlets.

That said, over time, the goal is to make this the place to share your views and participate in the public conversation. The media outlets from which we all get our news talk about polls and public opinion, and someday, when they do, I hope they use the data from this community.

How big is the people machine behind Tina?

People machine? What kind of operation do you think this is?

It seems that our congress is spending a lot of time and money on bailouts for corporations and businesses... but they ran out of money for small businesses and think we can survive on a one time stimulus check? What do other people think should be done? How can we get through to our representatives and demand that they support our economy without sending us back out before it is safe!

That’s what we’re all building here — a better way to break through the noise and be heard by those in power.

One of the nearer term goals of this platform is to create a public report each week that shows how people in each congressional district (again, anonymously) answered each week’s set of questions.

For example, as a voter in New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District, my responses each week would be tagged to Senator Bob Menendez, Senator Cory Booker and Congressman Josh Gottheimer, ensuring that my representatives are hearing directly from me.

Most of our elected officials genuinely care what we think, and it should be easier for us all to let them know. And if they don’t care, we should let them know anyway — and then make them pay at the ballot box.

Didn’t Weird Al sue New Jersey because it sucks?

This angry, bitter and sadly misguided respondent is referring to “Weird Al” Yankovic’s 2006 song “I’ll Sue Ya”, where he sings: “I sued Delta Airlines, ‘Cause they sold me a ticket to New Jersey, I went there and it sucked.”

This song, like all “Weird Al” songs, is a parody. He’s clearly being ironic by mentioning New Jersey in such a negative light.

But hey, dear respondent, if you want to attack a state that’s given us Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Thomas Edison, Frank Sinatra, Fetty Wap, the Ford Thunderbird (shouts out to Mahwah), The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Paul Rudd, Derek Jeter, Dionne Warwick, the Jersey Shore (the place, not the show), Bon Jovi, Martha Stewart, Meryl Streep and George R.R. Martin, by all means, go for it.

I thankfully do not live in NJ :)

I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, and here in the Garden State, we’ll all keep pumping our fists — and not our gas. #WhatExit

Gronk to Tampa Bay means Brady might get ANOTHER ring (boooooooooo)

I knew somebody would bring this up. If there is an NFL season this fall, the “Tompa Bay” Buccaneers might be really good. Might be time to update this gif.

^^^ Actually, Brady already has two more rings than this gif would suggest.

Fun fact. A gallon of liquid is 8.35 pounds so if you don't have dumbbells but do have small biceps that need a little exercise you can use those. I know. As if the internet didn't have enough home workout tips.

8.35 pounds? What is this - a workout tip for ants?

I LIFT HEAVY WEIGHTS.

Would you mind using your indoor voice, please?

Would be cool to get a sense of what sorts of environments the respondents are in - are they surrounded by people who agree with their views? i.e. in a bubble? Or are they in a household or region with more diversity of opinion? For example - a New Yorker who went home to the midwest and thinks all the protestors are wrong? Or a midwestern transplant in NYC who thinks their yuppie friends don't understand why the flyover states would be protesting?

I think this is a great idea, and it would be interesting to get different people’s thoughts on the diversity of opinion that seems to be emerging across the country. There will be some questions in the days and weeks ahead that try to better understand these cultural differences.

I don’t necessarily need the stimulus money right more, but I think I will need it down the road.

A number of people shared feedback similar to this comment. While the money is nice right now, it’s not necessary — but it may become necessary should economic conditions worsen.

Hopefully I will remember to stop spending money on all the things I don't need and realign my priorities to better utilize my resources judiciously in the future.

Not spending money on things one doesn’t need is always good, but I’m curious what specific spending items this person plans to eliminate.

Mindfulness. This "Big Pause" is reaffirming my belief that true happiness and peace of mind come not from without, but from within.

You’re not going to hear me arguing with that, even if it’s easier said than done.

Bless you J.J. Sass!!!!!

Thank you, but that wasn’t me who sneezed. (Bless you, anonymous respondent!)

Be positive and encourage positivity.

Good advice for everyone, and a perfect place to end this marathon mailbag.

Stay safe and talk soon.