Unfortunately I think this article comes up short on the promise of teaching me how to avoid being manipulated. It has a few examples of things I should avoid doing so that I do not manipulate others, but that’s hardly the same thing.
Anyway, since it’s presidential crazy season, I’ll mention a statistical pet peeve of mine. “X% of candidate Y’s supporters believe crazy thing.” I see stats/memes like this passed around a lot. Firstly, judging a candidate by their supporters is a poor proxy. Critique their policies instead, please. Mostly it seems like a feel good put down. “Hey, I’m smarter than the people in that tribe over there.” I don’t think promoting such tribalism is beneficial.
Secondly, returning to the main topic, I never see that % of candidate Z’s supporters that believe the same crazy thing. Manipulation! To avoid being manipulated by a cherry picked stat, poke around and see what the corresponding stat is for a broader population.
Unfortunately I think this article comes up short on the promise of teaching me how to avoid being manipulated. It has a few examples of things I should avoid doing so that I do not manipulate others, but that’s hardly the same thing.
Anyway, since it’s presidential crazy season, I’ll mention a statistical pet peeve of mine. “X% of candidate Y’s supporters believe crazy thing.” I see stats/memes like this passed around a lot. Firstly, judging a candidate by their supporters is a poor proxy. Critique their policies instead, please. Mostly it seems like a feel good put down. “Hey, I’m smarter than the people in that tribe over there.” I don’t think promoting such tribalism is beneficial.
Secondly, returning to the main topic, I never see that % of candidate Z’s supporters that believe the same crazy thing. Manipulation! To avoid being manipulated by a cherry picked stat, poke around and see what the corresponding stat is for a broader population.
It is, of course, exactly this that leads to people posting these stats. The general population isn’t going to go poke around.