Useless news items, useless statistics

You can make statistics show what ever you want, .

Do it all the time.
I always ask people what kind of answer they want.
Then, if there is data which is “Spoiling it”, I ask them to find a reason why it should be disregarded from the study as erroneous outliers.

“6 out of 10 Cats prefer Dolphin Sick than any other brand”. You know how they did that?
They ask thousands of cat owners. Randomly. They MUST keep the survey random to fall within the advertising rules. But, they search down the whole survey until they find a couple of groups of 10 consecutive answers with 6 voting for Dolphin sick. 1 group of 10 is a chance. 2 is a pattern so it can be used. Despite the fact it is statistically (And sensibly) unsound.

You can make statistics show what ever you want,

Hence the lighthearted note some of us have brought to the thread….;)

You can make statistics show what ever you want, ask the Goverment, it’s a bit like saying one in ten drivers killed on the roads in the UK was under the influence of alcohol….
So they have a big purge on drink drivers, but statistically you are less likely to be killed in an RTA drunk, as nine sober drivers died for every one drunk.

…..so the interweb is where Spiderman lives….

Nope, that’s where the Cybermen live…..or is it the Daleks? :confused:

Apparently, it is possible to purchase things over something called ‘the interweb’…

..

Is that the same as cyberspace?

The main drawback of internet shopping is that it doesn’t get you out of the way of the wife when she’s in a mood.

That’s very true. I’ve got some real bargain books out of Charity shops.

regards,

kev35

…and charity shops kev.

… so data for 18 months is indicative of some trend is it?
Maybe they should wait a while. Say, 40 or 50 years to rearly say something.

It indicates that there an awful lot less High Street and Town Centre shops than there were 15 months ago doesn’t it? I would call that a trend. But why wait 40 or 50 years? By then High Streets and Town Centres will consist of bars, restaurants and apartment blocks. All shopping will either be online, by mail order or in vast retail parks.

Regards,

kev35

Apparently, it is possible to purchase things over something called ‘the interweb’…

…although you do need an expensive teletype machine in your home! :rolleyes: