A magazine thrives on exchange - now also interactively. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't write to preach - but to initiate thought processes. The articles on my website have never been a one-way street, but an invitation to reflect. However, what has been missing so far is the opportunity for readers to take a very concrete stand - anonymously, honestly, directly. This is exactly what is changing now.
You can now find interactive polls on my website that are integrated directly into articles on specific topics - and also appear in rotation in the sidebar. This is a step that was long overdue: because in a world in which more and more opinions are being imposed from above, every freely expressed opinion from below is a piece of digital sovereignty.
What is the aim of these surveys?
The idea is quite simple: it's not just me who expresses my opinion - you do too. After all, what use are in-depth analyses if nobody knows what other readers think about them?
With the new surveys, I am creating a piece of interactivity that does not polarize, but allows for nuances. No tracking cookies, no user profiling -
Instead, anonymous feedback in percentage form.
Do you want to know what others think about topics such as compulsory military service, AI, CMD or the digital euro? Then click through - and become part of a decentralized thinking space that doesn't rely on likes and shares, but on honest positioning.
Your opinion counts - also in the comments section
Anyone who would like to share something beyond the surveys or give personal feedback on a specific topic can of course use the comment function under each article as usual. There is space for thoughts, questions, additions or your own experiences.
Comments are expressly welcome - whether critical, approving or simply thoughtful. Any feedback helps us to look at the topics from different perspectives and keep the exchange lively. Because that's what this is all about: a respectful, open dialog that goes beyond mere headlines. Due to some spam comments, this function is moderated. Comments are activated manually and can therefore only be seen online a little later.
The first ten current surveys
Below you will find ten current surveys, some of which are embedded in articles, some of which are only accessible via the sidebar - and now also here, in one place. You can simply go through them all, but of course you don't have to. But if you want to promote a little diversity of opinion with your clicks - then you've come to the right place.
Trust in politics and the media - what about it?
Trust is the currency of any stable society - but in recent years, this trust has been shaken in many places. Scandals, contradictions, questionable rhetoric and political decisions that often raise more questions than they answer have permanently changed the way many people view politics and the media. How do you feel about this? Do you still trust the official authorities and traditional media - or have you long since started to form your own opinion?
Vote now and show us where you stand.
Digitalization in everyday life - blessing, curse or something in between?
Hardly any other area has changed our everyday lives as much as digitalization. Whether at work, in healthcare, in consumer behavior or in our private lives - digital technologies are omnipresent. Some see this as real progress, others feel overwhelmed or even disempowered. How do you perceive this change? Enriching, oppressive - or simply ambivalent?
Take part in the survey - your perspective counts.
Civilian service and compulsory military service - back to compulsory service?
Social cohesion seems to be crumbling in many places. At the same time, there is increasing talk of reintroducing community service or Compulsory military service The issue of the public good is being discussed - among other things, in order to bring young people closer to state and social structures. But what prevails: the common good - or the freedom of the individual? Should there be compulsory service - for everyone, voluntary or not at all?
Give your opinion - anonymously and clearly.
Digital EU ID - key to efficiency or risk to freedom?
The European Union is planning to introduce a central digital identity in the near future. Officially, it is intended to facilitate access to public services - but critics warn of creeping total networking and the loss of informational self-determination. What do you think? A sensible step into the future - or a dangerous tool for surveillance?
Take part in the survey - and set an example.
CMD symptoms - What have you experienced yourself?
TMD - Craniomandibular dysfunction - is still a foreign concept to many people. Yet an astonishing number of people suffer from typical symptoms without recognizing the connection with the temporomandibular joint. Whether it's grinding your teeth at night, tinnitus, neck pain or facial pain - CMD is often the cause. Have you had any experience of this yourself? What symptoms do you know from everyday life?
Share your experiences in this anonymous survey.
The stress case - are you prepared?
"state tension" - a term that rarely appears in the media, although it has a clear legal definition: it is a state of emergency between peace and a state of defense in which the state can react to crisis situations. What used to be considered a theoretical simulation game has once again become a conceivable scenario in times of global uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and internal instability. But what about personal preparation?
How well prepared would you be for such an emergency - or do you prefer to ignore the issue?
Digital euro - progress or danger?
With the digital Euro the ECB is planning a new currency component to pave the way for a cashless future. But behind the sober façade of "digitalization" lie fundamental questions: What will remain of the anonymity of cash? Will we become completely controllable? Or is the digital euro simply a necessary addition in a world that increasingly lives online?
What do you think - is the digital euro a step forward or a step backwards?
Writing books - what motivates you?
There is a story in everyone - but not everyone puts it down on paper. Whether a non-fiction book, guidebook, novel or biography: a Writing a book is a big step that often starts with an inner motivation. What would be the decisive reason for you to write your own book? The desire for expression, the passing on of knowledge - or a commercial impulse?
What would motivate you most to write a book?
Local AI - independent and powerful?
AI development is progressing rapidly - but if you want to be part of the action, you don't necessarily have to rely on cloud services from large corporations. Local AI systems such as MLX (Apple Silicon) or Ollama (local LLMs) enable autonomous use on your own computers - without any data transfer. But is it worth the effort? Is this just something for technology freaks - or is it the future of digital self-determination?
What do you think about locally running AI systems?
FileMaker & AI - what does the future hold?
Claris FileMaker is a proven platform for customized database solutions - but artificial intelligence is also knocking on the door here. Initial approaches with JSON APIs, prompt transfer and training data hint at what might be possible. Will AI change FileMaker - or will the platform stick to its classic low-code approach?
How do you see the future of FileMaker in the age of AI?
Frequently asked questions about the surveys
- What do I personally gain from taking part in the surveys on this page?
By participating in the surveys, YOU can contribute your opinion - anonymously, without registration, directly. The aim is not to collect data or create profiles, but to gather as broad and genuine an opinion as possible on current social issues. Perhaps this will even help you to better understand your own position - or to question it. - Why exactly were these topics chosen for the surveys?
The surveys are deliberately designed to tie in with real, current debates: tension, digitalization, trust in the media, civilian service, AI, FileMaker - these are all topics that are covered in articles on this site and that move readers. The aim is to promote discourse and get visitors more involved. - How can someone be prevented from voting more than once?
The survey system usually recognizes multiple votes via a part of the IP addresses or cookies. However, the focus is not on complete control, but on an open discussion. If you wish, you can deliberately vote more than once - but ultimately the trend in the results shows where opinions stand, even without absolute security against manipulation. However, we reserve the right to automatically delete obviously multiple votes using AI tools. - Who can take part in the surveys?
Every visitor to the website - whether from Germany, Europe or internationally. No registration is required and no personal data is collected. Participation is voluntary, free of charge and anonymous. - How anonymous are the surveys really?
No personal data is stored. Part of the IP address is technically recorded to enable a rough evaluation (e.g. by country), but is not permanently stored or assigned to individual users. No data is passed on to third parties. Participation is data protection compliant and limited to pure statistics. - Can I see the results of the surveys somewhere?
Yes - after casting your vote, you will immediately see the distribution of the answers so far. Currently only the percentage values are visible, the number of votes is deliberately hidden in the initial phase to avoid distortions. At a later date, selected survey results will also be commented on and processed in articles. - How often do new surveys appear?
It is planned to publish new polls regularly - either directly as part of new articles or via the sidebar and homepage. Some surveys will remain permanently active, others will rotate by topic. The aim is to create a growing collection of relevant questions on the current focal points of this site. - Will there also be country-specific evaluations?
Yes, this is planned for the medium term. As the surveys are available in several languages and appeal to international visitors, the results will also be evaluated by region or language in future - in the form of individual articles or visualizations. Of course, the anonymity of the participants will be preserved. - Why do you see different surveys on some sites than on others?
Some of the polls are thematically linked to certain articles and then only appear there. In addition, there is a random selection in the sidebar that rotates from the entire survey pool. This ensures variety and a thematic fit - without it constantly repeating itself. - May I also link the surveys to my blog or my website?
Basically yes - especially if you want to draw attention to a specific article or survey. If you are interested in a deeper integration (e.g. as a widget or via iframe), you are welcome to use the contact form on the page. The aim is to promote exchange - not to restrict it.
