Quote:
Originally Posted by tw
The first thing extremists need your eyes to do - glaze over as soon as numbers are posted.
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Let me be clear. I do think that numbers are very important. But, without specific, qualifying statements as to how the numbers are determined, they are meaningless.
How many people were actually polled?
In what region? (results from NYC will typically be quite different from those in Birmingham, AL on political issues)
What were the questions asked?
Were they open-ended or were there answers from which the respondent was required to use?
The list could go on.
We have become such suckers for graphs, charts, and numbers that the majority will soak them up without question.