• Survey responses show that organizers desire some older technologies despite the fact that many online strategists doubt their effectiveness. 46% of respondents would like to use bulletin boards and online forums, for example, but these technologies are not necessarily the most useful ways to encourage peer-to-peer communication among constituents. As one technology provider put it: “Bulletin boards/forums are the number one tool people ask for, but don’t use once we give it to them.”Paradoxically, 46% of respondents also express no interest in social networking tools, which are often regarded as more useful than bulletin boards or forums in generating peer-to-peer communication.
• Respondents do not always want valuable newer technologies, because they don’t understand them, or they don’t recognize their strategic value. For example, 55% of respondents explicitly indicate no interest in text messaging although this technology has proven to be an extremely effective organizing tool worldwide. This suggests that organizers simply may not have the information and resources needed to successfully integrate this technology into their campaigns.
• In other cases, respondents request tools they mistakenly believe do not exist. Some respondents express deep frustration that certain tools, like targeted emails to legislators, do not exist. This frustration is most likely caused by a lack of information about available options.

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