On Thu 20 Jan 2005 04:50:59a, Siobhan Perricone tittered and giggled, and
giggled and tittered, and finally blurted out...

> On 20 Jan 2005 01:49:10 GMT, Wayne Boatwright > wrote:
>
>>On Wed 19 Jan 2005 04:24:06p, Siobhan Perricone tittered and giggled,
>>and giggled and tittered, and finally blurted out...
>>
>>> On 19 Jan 2005 16:28:18 GMT, Wayne Boatwright > wrote:
>>>
>>>>That's the trouble with "statistics" in general, don't you think? I
>>>>mean, when it comes to studying the populace, how can anyone know for
>>>>sure what people are "really" doing?
>>>
>>> That people don't take the time to learn and understand how statistics
>>> works doesn't mean that it doesn't work or is inaccurate.
>>
>>Statistics have their place, but it doesn't always represent reality.
>
> It is certainly true that the numbers can be manipulated. However, most
> of the time they represent reality in one particular light, for a
> particular use, and seldom do they represent anyone's personal reality.
> But representing personal realities is not the purpose of statistics,
> which is sorta my point.

Yes, I realize that.

> It's important to know how much food is consumed in a nation, in order
> to plan for stockpiles in the case of extreme emergencies or serious
> food shortfalls. It's good to know which populations consume which
> products and in what quantities if you're going to be distributing foods
> in such cases. this is certainly a representation of reality that has
> its use.
>
> This information is even marginally useful when presented in an attempt
> to encourage certain changes within a particular society or culture. If
> you hear the figure (numbers are made up just for example purposes) "the
> USA consumes 25% of all the oil in the world had only has 5% of the
> world's population", it might have the effect of opening some individual
> minds to the possibility that they really don't want to buy an SUV. If
> enough individuals modify their choices, then that figure gets modified
> over time.

All good points.

> However, it is a misuse to try and use such figures to say "individuals
> consume X of Y in a year" and expect it to accomplish much more than
> have most people say "no I don't". It's just not a useful figure on a
> personal level.

That was MY point.

Wayne