Three classic statements that put an exclamation mark to an argument: (1) "Check the record!" (2) "Look at the facts!" (3) "Read the statistics!"
In an age when records, facts and statistics wash across our sensorium from a thousand thousand digital/print sources every day, it should be easy to locate what these argument-breakers are referring to. Aha, but modern humanity is learning that having access to such vast warehouses of data hardly ends any argument. Simply shifts it into higher and hotter gear.
If truth is the purpose of an argument [it rarely is], why won't the records/facts/statistics confidently take us there? The answer is wretchedly obvious:
* RECORDS ~ Compare any story on any day as covered by the New York Times vs Wall Street Journal; Fox News vs MSNBC; the Congressional Record vs White House news conference. Each source a legitimate public record, but a record gathered and packaged by sharply different perspectives on the same reality!
* FACTS ~ Compare the way an approaching hurricane is covered by the print media (where it can only be documented) and by network television (where it can be purposely dramatized ). Or compare how a recent sit-down between Chicago's Top Cop and local gang leaders is understood by some as a "smart move" while others call it "a city sellout." Each fact the very same fact, but perceived and acted upon in totally different ways!
* STATISTICS ~ Compare the ratio of 50:1 describing the relationship between American executive vs assembly line salaries. We are told that statistics don't lie. So what is this statistic telling us, us the seekers after the truth to settle the argument? For the executive class, it is an honest reflection of how the free enterprise system rewards the best with more; to the assembly line class, it is out & out rape. Same stat, passionately different conclusions!
The fact of the matter is that modern society needs record/facts/stats to work with. Like the bricks to a building, they are indispensable. And yet, in the hands and visions of different architects, those assembled bricks can result in either a Gothic cathedral, a condo tower, or a whore house.
When those who take righteous pride in the authenticity of their bricks, first ask them what kind of structure are they trying to build. Their answer may not give you the truth you're looking for, but it may give you the pause you need when looking at that raw pile of bricks...
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The problem with statistics, is that they can be used to further any other statistics that one group may wish to use to prove their argument.
ReplyDeleteThe main problem, is how, or by what method were the statistics obtained ?
If some company wishes to build some houses on a public green space, they can obtain statistics to prove that the green space is under-used, is vandalised, is used for the selling of drugs, and that local people want new houses, and just hate, the green space.
Its all subject to the questions asked from people who live in that City, but some miles away from 'that green space', and possibly, did not even know it was there, or cared !
By nature, I suspect statistics because they are always set out in such a way, that I would need at least a month in night school, learning how to 'read & understand' Statistics.
Last year, I remember being way-layed by a prospective member of parliament, who wished me to vote for him, and who gave me a massive ammount of statistical information about; 1] how bad the last Government were 2] how they wasted money 3] how they paid themselves extra money and expenses 4] how they sold Britain to the Europe.
This lasted over 20 minutes, and I gave every impression of being very impressed, and when he stopped to breath, I asked him how much it cost to obtain all these statistics ?
I could see this upset him, as he remembered the time, and had to rush off to a meeting....without telling me how much it cost to obtain all those statistics...which is a pity, as I was going to ask him next about who obtained the statistics, and I bet it was not the government, but his crowd, who were on about Governments wasting tax payers money, and then I was going to mention, as I walked away, smoking my pipe, that I never voted for his crowd anyway ! Spoil Sport!
Statistics can be fun however, you can prove that you are liable to get mugged at least 2.5 times a year in some Cities, and I wonder at the '5 part ? Does that mean you are going to be half mugged ?
The same with statistics about the average family having 2.8 children...again, what sort of child is the .8 one ?
Is it the one who is burning down the neighbours house ?
Those percentage children always were a right pest.....
Ahh well, according to statistics, a person my age needs to sleep every 50.9 minutes, so I'm off, as its tiffin time, and then sleep for 7.3 hours, adding another 15% to my sleep time for this month....night-night !!
Thank you so much for this highly rewarding text.
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