Aphorism: Horror Of Statistics
I have a positive fear of statistics. Statistics lurks just behind the veneer of platitudes and is infamous for striking at most inopportune moments.
Just to cite one example, if statistics had its way, an average man will turn out to be just a bit short of outright schizophrenic, deranged and dangerous, likely to inflict injury on self unless protected himself from himself.
This is a disconcerting notion. Unfortunately also one which is true, as suggested by statistics.
4 comments:
grrr.....:)
> if statistics had its way, an average man...
How? Or are you pointing more to it's casual use, in which regard here is a great essay which used to one of my favorite teaching aids.
A statistic is always pure. The intention behind producing it and interpreting it post-production may make it impure and hence, at times, disconcerting.
How? Or are you pointing more to it's casual use?
In three way. One average man is all these things because I say so.
Second because evidence suggests so, of course that too because I say so.
Third because psephologists and journalists use statistics to make fantastic ,and often untenable under closer scrutiny, claims.
Anyway soon I am going to say something positively blasphemous about statistics.
> ...because I say so.
Spoken like a true dictator. Gji ki Jai!
Sharanji,
I approve :-)
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