Comments on: The role of anecdotes in science http://boingboing.net/2013/01/24/the-role-of-anecdotes-in-scien.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 06:52:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Bill Beaty http://boingboing.net/2013/01/24/the-role-of-anecdotes-in-scien.html#comment-1637263 Bill Beaty Fri, 25 Jan 2013 04:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=208128#comment-1637263 Depends on what you mean by "anecdote."   There's multiple independent eyewitness to a crime, versus multiple people comforting themselves with similar stories.  Which *are* data? Original quote was backwards: "The plural of anecdote is data."  http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ads-l;WYyU1w;200407062321270400a  Depends on what you mean by “anecdote.”   There’s multiple independent eyewitness to a crime, versus multiple people comforting themselves with similar stories.  Which *are* data?
Original quote was backwards: “The plural of anecdote is data.”  http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ads-l;WYyU1w;200407062321270400a 

]]> By: Aaron Gilliland http://boingboing.net/2013/01/24/the-role-of-anecdotes-in-scien.html#comment-1637055 Aaron Gilliland Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=208128#comment-1637055 I don't believe you.  But if a million other yous say the same thing, I'll believe it. I don’t believe you.  But if a million other yous say the same thing, I’ll believe it.

]]> By: Spocko http://boingboing.net/2013/01/24/the-role-of-anecdotes-in-scien.html#comment-1636815 Spocko Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=208128#comment-1636815 You know this is a really important article especially when it comes to decisions that people make. So many times we think that "If only Blank could see the facts they would change their mind." But often personal stories overrule external facts. And when you really want to put your personal stories to win the decision, you start  questioning the facts. And if you don't like the facts you look for different facts to use. Case in point, when talking about gun deaths in the US vs. England gun enthusiasts start talking about "the increase in violent crime there" (They to a totally different definition and data set- death by guns  =/= violent crime ) Right now In the debate on public safety I've seen people who believe more guns are the answer and use various types of statistics to prove their point. "1.5 million crimes are prevented each year by legal gun owners." and then they back it up with telling a story of Mary Doe who fought off home invaders with her gun." and to make it more personal they say, "What if you personally had to need to defend your home?"   Now the people who are for greater safety and less gun deaths can tell you how many people die from guns that are kept in the home and what percentage of guns are taken and used against the person  But it is the telling of the the story of someone who had their gun taken and was shot and killed that sticks. Then it shouldn't stop there it needs to be made personal, "Have you ever mistaken someone for a bad guy who was really a relative? Aren't you glad you didn't a gun at that time?"  You know this is a really important article especially when it comes to decisions that people make. So many times we think that “If only Blank could see the facts they would change their mind.” But often personal stories overrule external facts. And when you really want to put your personal stories to win the decision, you start  questioning the facts. And if you don’t like the facts you look for different facts to use. Case in point, when talking about gun deaths in the US vs. England gun enthusiasts start talking about “the increase in violent crime there” (They to a totally different definition and data set- death by guns  =/= violent crime )

Right now In the debate on public safety I’ve seen people who believe more guns are the answer and use various types of statistics to prove their point. “1.5 million crimes are prevented each year by legal gun owners.” and then they back it up with telling a story of Mary Doe who fought off home invaders with her gun.” and to make it more personal they say, “What if you personally had to need to defend your home?”  

Now the people who are for greater safety and less gun deaths can tell you how many people die from guns that are kept in the home and what percentage of guns are taken and used against the person  But it is the telling of the the story of someone who had their gun taken and was shot and killed that sticks. Then it shouldn’t stop there it needs to be made personal, “Have you ever mistaken someone for a bad guy who was really a relative? Aren’t you glad you didn’t a gun at that time?” 

]]> By: bobbylox http://boingboing.net/2013/01/24/the-role-of-anecdotes-in-scien.html#comment-1636782 bobbylox Thu, 24 Jan 2013 21:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=208128#comment-1636782 a similar sentiment expressed by a conservation advocate: http://bioforthewin.com/2013/01/24/communicating-about-the-environment-tips-from-a-consevation-advocate/ a similar sentiment expressed by a conservation advocate: http://bioforthewin.com/2013/01/24/communicating-about-the-environment-tips-from-a-consevation-advocate/

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