Why sign this petition?
 

I didn't want to derail the thread Save Schapelle Corby, so here's a new one.

Can anyone point to a case where a web- or email-petition had any effect on an outcome? It takes so little effort to add your name to a petition. I've always suspected that the targets of the petitions, if they see the results at all, simply dismiss them as inconsequential. So, are petitions worthwhile?

My guess would be no...

For reasons:
1. Who's signing the petition? I could sign any name there that I wanted to, Daffy Duck, Mortimer Mouse, Jessica Rabbit... It's a signature but not a legitimate person. How can they verify the people behind the signatures.
2. Who reads the petition? In the case of Shapelle, why would John Howard, in Australia, give a rat's fig what I, in New Jersey thinks? Unless your petitioners are gearted to your audience and in a position to do something to that person -- like vote him out of office... why should he read it?

Some petitions request your ID number (here in Portugal), problem is not all countries have ID cards (look at England...). That's a way to ensure you're a real person.

We have social security numbers in the US, but to give out that number on a website, common sense would be lacking because everything about who you are is tied to that number... It's be a great way causing identity theft. :(

Here in Canada, petitions are a way of forcing a referendum on a subject. A certain number of signatures presented to government will force them to call a referendum on a subject, and that referendum will be politically binding.

It is not easy, and there are time limits for getting signatures, and I am not sure of the number of signatures required.

Basically it is a measure to ensure that true democracy can raise its ugly head and squish the representative dictatorship if they get too drunk with power.

You have to provide your signature and your postal code, so the person is still anonymous but there is a way to prevent severe fraud.

I cannot recall the last petition referendum we had. Another Canadian with a better memory than mine will post something, I am sure.

edit: Oops, I didn't realize you guys were talking On-line petitions. I am talking about the paper ones. I have never seen an example of an on-line petition being binding at all...

Online petitions are a joke.

And how will anyone of any importance even see the petition? I highly doubt that the leaders in Bali regularly check Petition.com to see if anyone is petitioning against them. And even if they knew about the petition, why should they care?

Plus add to that the fact that one person can sign the petition an unlimited number of times.

I think that Online Petitions are doomed to fail...

Online petitions seem to serve the same function as a message board. They exist to give the participants a chance to express their views, without really affecting anything.

If you really want to have an effect on an issue, a uniquely worded snail mail--not form letter or postcard--is most likely to have some effect, though even then it's not much.