Cross posted on my blog.
What / Background:
A proposal to use Twitter and #Hashtags to track and follow robo calls as they occur across the nation in real time. Using the following Hashtag = #Robos.
With the media's attention focused on recent McCain campaign robo calls, it is as good a time as ever to use Twitter to track these insidious form of Democracy that both sides employ during campaigns.
This idea started with Nancy Scola's (@NancyScola) post at Tech President about how to use Twitter to report election day voting problems. Her post is highly recommended reading on the concept.
Proposal:
We can use the power of Twitter and the crowd to quickly identify Robo calls as they occur, for the world to see. As a result, the campaigns will not be able to "fly under the radar" and the press will know when and where they occur.
How:
By using Hashtags (#) Twitter search can quickly find all Tweets associated with a particular issue, in this case Robo calls #robos.
How It Should Work:
1. Sign up for free at StopPoliticalCalls.org
2. Sign up for a Twitter account. It is Free.
3. If you receive a Robo call (automated phone call) do the following actions.
4. Immediately record the following information:
* Who made the call (campaign, candidate, party, union, pac, 727): EX: McCain, Obama, Freedom's Watch, MoveOn, Sen. Webb, Sen. Stevens
* The day and time of the call.
* The caller ID number (if available). This is critical.
* The content of the call - NOTE: Even better, RECORD the call and upload to the internet. If you do record it, PLEASE, send it to us via email and put in the subject line: "Robocall recording HOT"
5. Go to your Twitter account and Tweet to the world that you received a call:
* Include Candidate, State, Day, Time and little something about the subject of the call.
* EX: #robos McCain, VA, 10/15, 2 PM ET, Ayers
* EX: #robos Obama, WI, 10.22 3:45 PM CT, Taxes
6. Go to StopPoliticalCalls.org and record the call in our Robocall complaint form.
For Extra Credit: Plodt
A new service has recently been created, Plodt, where users can visualize Tweets. It is pretty cool.
If you are interested in also including #robos at Plodt you should go check them out and follow their quick, easy and free registration process.
You'll need to "follow" them on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/...
Here is a link to how #robos are being visualized right now on Plodt.
Let me know what you think.