What drives me nuts about the usage of statistics in common discourse is that it is used prescriptively instead of descriptively.
E.g. lets say 50% of gun owners accidentally shoot themselves. Now lets say Im talking to someone about how I want to buy a gun for home defense. They tell me "well 50% of gun owners accidentally shoot themselves, so you're safer if you dont have a gun"
This is a gross misunderstanding if statistics. There is no way whatsoever to take the observed general trend, and apply it to a future possibioity in a single instance. What this interpretation misses is that there are variables well within your control. A gun owner who follows all safety rules will virtually never shoot themselves accidentally. Turns out 50% of gun owners are stupid as hell, and you are in control of yiur own outcomes.
I see this problem CONSTANTLY in debates online, on the news, etc. It is very frustrating and contributes greatly to propogating dumb ideas.
E.g. lets say 50% of gun owners accidentally shoot themselves. Now lets say Im talking to someone about how I want to buy a gun for home defense. They tell me "well 50% of gun owners accidentally shoot themselves, so you're safer if you dont have a gun"
This is a gross misunderstanding if statistics. There is no way whatsoever to take the observed general trend, and apply it to a future possibioity in a single instance. What this interpretation misses is that there are variables well within your control. A gun owner who follows all safety rules will virtually never shoot themselves accidentally. Turns out 50% of gun owners are stupid as hell, and you are in control of yiur own outcomes.
I see this problem CONSTANTLY in debates online, on the news, etc. It is very frustrating and contributes greatly to propogating dumb ideas.