Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (255245)

7/7/2014 5:58:26 PM

From: koan

Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 542148

She would see you as a generalizer.>>

Boy, I do not know how you can get that?

You should try giving me one instance where I generalized, and cannot back it up with statistics.

You will not be able to. Generalizations means most, not all. It is useful for seeing reality.

Statistics is about quantifying reality in terms of correlations, probability and cause and effect and can get very sophisticated.

The leading statisticians have even worked out the probability of how long it would take to have a nuclear war if we don't get rid of them. And it is a short time.

No one thinks about that much less acts on it.

It is important to know cause and effect. Unions and middle class e.g.

If I say most poor kids reach kindergarten behind rich kids intellectually, that is a useful generalization backed up by science because it can tell us what we need to do to help the poor kids.

And I feel that is exactly what you are objecting to.

The irony is that you are so worried about global warming, over population and nuclear war and so existential about things needed to do for the survival of the species, but let someone apply some science about a subject you don't like and you see it as bigotry.

I hope you are not going to follow Bush and start thinking with your gut.

Most interesting.