Opinion poll

"Opinion – a personal view, attitude or appraisal."


The public opinion is the aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs held by the population. Public opinion can also be defined as the complex collection of opinions of many different people and the sum of all their views.

Opinions, we all have them on just about everything. You can see people arguing everyday over differing opinions. Many times facts don't even come into play. Some people have formed an opinion and nothing can change their mind. They either don't want to hear or won't listen to anything new that might change their opinion.

Others are more open. They have an opinion, but can be swayed by a compelling argument or a set of new facts that sheds further light on a subject. The truth is what matters above all else to these people.

Then there is the rest of us.

Yes, we have opinions just like the other two groups, but we're not above being swayed by popular opinion. This is especially true on matters of taste. It's not that we're cowards or anything, just that some things are worth fighting over and some things aren't. Our daily lives are so filled with problems, issues and we are constantly bombarded by a multitude of new and different things, we can't really form a deep, fact based opinion on everything. This might account for the Radiohead phenomena. You've heard so often what geniuses they are and how brilliant the music is, you eventually just add a couple of their tunes to your Ipod. When the songs come up during a shuffle, you listen, but part of you still has some doubts. (This theory only applies if you have more than three of their songs; Creep being one of them.)

So how do they come up with public opinion anyway? Many ways it turns out. Influential critics publish their views and people read them. There's the viral method, where something just catches the public's fancy at a given moment. There are cool hunters, people that go out into society looking to find the next hot thing and then bring it back so corporations can package it and sell it to everyone. There are probably a hundred other ways public opinions are formed. Then there is the basic way, asking people. You take a poll, if you will and get others opinions.

There are three basic types of polls, benchmark, brushfire and tracking polls. They are used at different times in a campaign to assess where it is. A benchmark poll is generally the first poll taken in a campaign. This is generally a short and simple survey of likely voters. First, it gives a picture of where they stand. Secondly, it shows them where their weaknesses and strengths.

While Zatanna was a magic based being, she decided to approach her problem in a more traditional, logic based way. After her meeting with Constantine, she felt like she wanted some other opinions on who would be a good father. So far her sample size was limited to one, Madame Xanadu. She suspected her opinion was biased, or at least she hoped it was.

Zatanna had her own ideas on possible candidates, but each seemed to have pros and cons associated with them. What she needed was a wider range of opinion, but from people she knew and trusted. She also didn't want to tell them why she was asking until after she had made her final decision and was pregnant. She didn't want to spoil the survey or influence the outcome. What she was looking for was honest opinions on who her friends thought would make a good father. She figured once she had these, along with her own ideas, it might make the choice easier.

The perfect opportunity came up when the League had its quarterly meeting of all the members. This was for adjusting schedules and making an overall assessment of how things were going and where they needed to improve. Zatanna thought here was an ideal cross section of opinions from people she trusted. They were her friends after all. The difficulty was how to do it. If she approved them separately, someone was bound to notice a pattern. That would lead to questions and speculation and before you know it, she would be the hot gossip topic on the station.

She needed someone else to start the conversation so she could slip in her question and then sit back and listen to everyone's opinion. Her chance came after the meeting was over. Several members went to the cafeteria before heading back home. It seemed like a nice cross section of views ranging from alien teenager, Kara to immortal Princess, Diana and everyone in between. Zee sat listening intently, hoping for an opening and then it came.


Surprisingly it came from Courtney, Star Girl. She was telling about a girl in her high school class that got pregnant and how she was dealing with it. The father, if you could call him that, was nineteen and a year older than the pregnant girl. He didn't have a job but was supposedly 'training' to be an ultimate fighter. This meant he sat around playing the video game all day. If he wasn't doing that he was getting more tattoos so he looked the part. The girl was still trying to finish up her senior year, but it was a struggle with the baby due any minute.

The women of the League offered their sympathy and then Zatanna nonchalantly slipped in her question.

"So of the guys in the League, who do you think would make a good father?"

"Why are you asking,' Dinah replied.

"Just curious."

"Well, who do you think would,' Dinah said, turning it around on Zatanna. That was one of the annoying things about her friend; Dinah never gave you a straight answer.

"I don't know,' Zatanna honestly answered. "I guess that each have good qualities."

"Kal,' Diana immediately spoke up. "Kal would definitely make a wonderful father."

There was a collective sigh from the others and even Kara rolled her eyes.

"Shocker,' Dinah offered. "You think Superman would be a good father, what are the odds on that?"

Diana bristled a bit at this and sat just a little straighter. She suddenly looked every bit the royal Princess.

"See I thought she would say...,' Shayera whispered, but Dinah cut her off.

"Wait for it. Five, four, three, two, one,' Dinah replied.

"Of course, Bruce would also make an excellent father under the right circumstances,' Diana added.

"How did you know she was going to say that,' Shayera asked.

'Easy, it's a natural, those are the two biggest ships,' Dinah explained.

"Oh."

Diana had been listening to them talking and focused her attention on Dinah.

"Are you saying you don't think Kal would make a good father, Dinah?"

"No, just that you always pick him."

"She has a point, Diana," Kara offered. "I mean he's my cousin and I don't even pick him as often as you do."

"Zatanna asked for our opinion, I thought we were being honest,' Diana countered. "I would think you, of all people, Kara would agree with me."

"Oh, Clark's great and all, but he's Kryptonian, remember? Kryptonians can't have kids with humans. Our DNA is much more complicated then humans and than there's the fact that we'd probably kill a human just in the making of a baby,' Kara replied.

"That does tend to cut down on the fun,' Mari offered. "Having the guy blow a hole through you when he finishes, that is."

"Nice imagery, Mari,' Zatanna said.

"You know what I mean."

"So no humans,' Diana asked Kara. "None?"

"Nope, sorry,' Kara replied. "I'm in the same boat, so is Power Girl, although she's not really from the same Krypton we are. In fact she's not even really related to us like she wants everyone to believe."

It was a long known, but unspoken fact that Power Girl and Kara did not like each other.

"How about you, Shayera, who do you think would make a good father,' Zee asked.

"And don't say John, we all know you have a kid together in another reality,' Dinah added. "Pick someone else."

Mari gave Shayera a look, but didn't say anything. Shayera meanwhile was glaring at Dinah.

"I wasn't going to say John, for your information,' Shayera said through gritted teeth. "I was going to say Jonn, the Martian Manhunter, so there!"

"Jonn, really,' Mari asked.

"Yes, Jonn," Shayera replied. "He's a sensitive, intelligent, compassionate person. I would imagine he'd make a wonderful father."

She turned and gave Dinah a snide look.

"He has a really big head, doesn't he though,' Kara asked. "I mean I like Jonn, don't get me wrong, but would the baby have his head?

"He is a shape shifter,' Helena offered, speaking up for the first time. "Hopefully, the kid would have that same ability or the birth would be torture. Can you imagine pushing that melon out?"

"So would the child have his phasing ability too,' Courtney asked. "Would the baby be able to just slip out of the mother any time it wanted to?"

"That could be embarrassing,' Kara said. "Imagine you're in the grocery story and the kid comes tumbling out of you right there in the checkout line."

"I believe Jonn's abilities kick in later in life,' Diana offered. She turned to Kara again. "Are you sure Kal can't have children with any Earth women? I mean any?"

"Nope, none,' Kara replied.

"How about as an example and just as an example, an immortal woman made by her Gods, just for instance?"

"I don't think so, Diana, but don't quote me on that,' Kara replied.

"Are you sure if Jonn had a child it wouldn't get those abilities till later,' Dinah asked.

"Yes, I'm quite sure,' Diana answered her and then turned back to Kara. "So would there be any way you could find out about something like that? I mean, theoretically, of course."

"I guess you could talk to Ray or Mr. Terrific about it, I don't know,' Kara replied.

"So if the baby doesn't have those abilities, we're right back to the big head question,' Helena said, as the others continued on with the conversation.

"Plus he could do that freaky mind reading thing,' Courtney spoke up. "I wouldn't want a baby that could read my mind."

"You know, I think Wally would surprise us and make a great dad,' Mari offered. "Sure he's a lovable jerk sometimes, but I'll bet he'd be great with kids."

"That's because he acts like one most of the time,' Dinah countered.

"Boy, you're in a pissy mood today,' Zatanna observed. "Is it Ollie or Plastic Man?"

"Plastic Man,' Dinah admitted. "He turned himself into a guitar earlier and tried serenading me."

"That sounds sweet,' Zatanna replied.

"He sang the Humpty Dance by Digital Underground."

"Okay, that's not so sweet."

"Wouldn't it be over really fast with Wally,' Courtney asked. "I mean he's always saying he's the fastest man in the world, does that apply to everything?"

They all turned and looked at her.

"I was just curious,' she whispered, blushing with embarassment.

"You know if we're talking about guy's with experience, Bruce has raised several kids,' Helena offered. "I mean sure, most of them are emotionally distant, loners and maybe a psycho mixed in, but he has experience."

"Dick Grayson's not,' Kara spoke up. "He's like Batman-lite, all the intensity but none of the creepiness. I think he'd be a great husband, I mean father."

Now everyone turned and looked at her. Kara blushed under their gaze.

"I'm just saying,' she quietly offered.

"Sounds like someone has a little crush,' Mari teased. "Better hope Starfire doesn't hear about it."

"Please, Kara could kick her ass, easily,' Courtney said, sticking up for her friend. Kara silently mouthed thank you to Courtney.

"How about you, Dinah,' Shayera asked. "You've been quiet, at least about offering your opinion on who would be a good father."

"Yes, aren't you going to stick up for Ollie,' Mari added.

"Well, Ollie would make a good father someday. Not now, but some day,' Dinah replied. "If we're just speculating, I'd say Hal Jordan."

"The original Green Lantern,' Helena asked.

"No, that's Alan Scott,' Diana corrected her. At hearing the name, Zatanna felt a shudder go through her body.

"There's so many of them I get them all confused,' Helena admitted. "So he's the one that's traveling the galaxy or leading the Lanterns, right?"

"He'd be kind of an absentee dad, wouldn't he,' Shayera asked. "I mean no way he'd make it back for soccer practice or a recital, you'd really be on your own."

"Don't you and Hal have some history, Dinah,' Zatanna asked.

"I thought we were talking about who would make a good father,' Dinah said stiffly.

"That would be a yes,' Mari said with a laugh.

"You know, Mr. Terrific would be a good choice,' Shayera said. "He's a genius so the kid would at least be real smart."

"It doesn't always work that way,' Dinah countered. She was happy to shift the conversation away from her. "It's like two good looking parents don't guarantee a good looking child, a smart parent doesn't ensure a smart offspring."

"So you could wind up with a ugly dumb kid,' Helena added. "Plus, he's a nice guy and all, but he's too smart. I never understand half of what he's saying. I always feel like an idiot when I'm around him and that's a big turn off, believe me."

"How come you haven't suggested the Question, Helena,' Dinah asked. "I mean, I think he's nuts and so does everyone else, but you're dating him."

"Q and I aren't even at that stage yet,' Helena explained. "It's still all about the hot, dirty sex."

"There are teenagers here, Helena, remember,' Diana chastised her.

"And we'd like to hear more,' Courtney eagerly spoke up. The look Diana gave her made the smile disappear and she suddenly found the tabletop fascinating.

The cafeteria door opened and Power Girl, Karen Star came walking in. She was getting herself a cup off coffee, when Shayera called to her. She walked over to the table.

"So what's up,' Karen asked.

"Who do you think would make a good father out of the guys in the League,' Shayera asked. Karen seemed to think about it for a minute.

"Clark,' she finally answered.

"What?" Kara shouted, turning to look at the women she didn't like.

"What,' Diana gasped, turning as well. The other, well known, but not spoken about fact was that Diana and Karen, while they respected each other, didn't really like each other. Many suspected it was the Alpha Female dynamic between them.

"Clark, I think Clark would make a great father,' Karen repeated.

"Gross,' Kara grumbled. "He's practically related to you!"

"I thought you said she wasn't related to either of you,' Courtney asked.

"Do you have to remember everything I say?"

"Kal, would be a good father, I agree,' Diana said, her voice steady and controlled. "But I've been informed he can't have children, Power Girl.'

"With a human."

"Excuse me,' Diana asked.

"He can't have children with a human,' Karen replied with a smirk. "Another Kryptonian, well, that's different.'

Her smirk changed into a big smile and then Karen turned and headed towards the door. Kara and Diana stared a hole in her back, but she never turned.

"So, this is an awkward moment,' Zatanna offered. "So how come neither of you suggested John? Mari? Shayera?'

The two women looked at each other and then back at Zatanna.

"I think he would,' Mari replied.

"Yes, I agree,' Shayera agreed. "All though he is a bit of a neat freak."

"His sock drawer,' Mari immediately said. "All lined up like his little soldiers or something."

The two women shared a smile at this.

"Plus that whole, macho Marine thing, always serious,' Mari continued.

"Yeah, that would get old,' Shayera agreed.

"What do you mean, would,' Mari asked. They both laughed again. Diana suddenly stood up and had a rather stern look on her face.

"If you'll excuse me, I need to speak with someone,' she offered and then marched out of the cafeteria.

They all watched her go.

'Well, that can't be good,' Helena mused.


New York – Later

Zatanna and Madame Xanadu sat together at her card table. Zatanna had just finished filling her in on the conversation from the station.

"Interesting, sounds like you have several candidates,' Nimue observed.

"Yeah, I guess I have narrowed the superhero community down a little,' Zatanna replied. "There's still the whole magic community to think about though."

"So did Alan Scott's name come up by any chance,' Nimue asked.

"What is it with you and Alan Scott, Nimue,' Zatanna gasped.