Cliché Watch

Elections Make NYT Readers Sick, Anxious, Just Like Everything Else

Elspeth Reeve Nov 2, 2010

To get a sense of just how unsettled Americans are this election day, check the New York Times ' "word train," in which readers can enter the single word that best describes their state of mind. Words like "depressed," "anxious," "worried," "nauseous" dominate the feature, seemingly showing that most of today's politicians leave voters reaching for the mood-elevating drugs. But it turns out, that's how New York Times readers just about all the time.

In 2008, with both parties having historic candidates on their tickets, election night made voters "anxious," "overwhelmed," "scared," "worried." A few months later, President Obama's inauguration left readers feeling "horrified," "disgusted," and "numb." And last year, the economy made them "confused," "panicked," "disinterested," "hopeless," "sickened." Poor Times readers. Pretty much everything makes them want to barf.

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at ereeve at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.
Elspeth Reeve

Sources

Word Train, The New York Times

Presented By

Topics: Elections

Related Articles				More by Elspeth Reeve
Let's Lower the Voting Age to 10	Get Ready to Meet the 'Hermanator'	Progressive Pillar Russ Feingold Crumbles in Wisconsin		The Drone Speech and the Hyperexcited Return of Intellectual Obama	Medea Benjamin's Two-Step Verified Trick to Sneaking Around Washington