It is easy
to assume that we know a lot about the world, our country or even our local
community. However, in reality we know very little. It is very difficult to
estimate things like age or race even in places we know well, much less in
entire countries or the world. Our own biases and preconceptions which we are
blind to make us unable to know the communities
we live in. In his TEDx talk Alan Smith explains the difference between our
knowledge and reality.
1. Do you have any experience with
statistics?
2. How well do you think you know the
area you live in?
3. Have you ever been surprised by a
statistic that was wildly different from what you’ve expected?
Source:
Comments
I'm pretty sure I don't know that much about the local area I live in because I don't really care about it.
Yes, I've seen different statistics made by different institutions about the same topic and I tend not to take them seriously right away. It's no secret that such research publication can sometimes be biased or even show false results just to manipulate the perception and opinions of the mass audience.
After I watched this Ted video I realized that I know a bit less that I thought.
I guess one of the most crazy statistical fact that: in a group of 23 people there is a 50% chance that two of them have the same date of birth and in a group of 70 people that chance rises up to 99%. Some people call it paradox, because it almost never happens.
I don’t think that I know my area good enough. I know only vital thing/places which I need in order to survive, nothing more , nothing less. I am not interested in history and religion that’s why I don’t know a lot about this topic.
Yes, I’ve already gave an example. I used to think that a chance to get to the one of the top universities in the word are less than a chance to get a job at Big 4(Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft) but I was a little bit surprised when it turned out.
Once I was running, I knew the whole area very well and now it is quite poor. For sure it has changed since then. I will return to running in some time, I will definitely run the whole area
Yes, but it's hard for me to remember about it.
I think that I don’t know the area where I live in very well in terms of statistical data concerning population, infrastructure etc. because I simply don’t need this kind of information. Usually, I gain information that is really useful for me e.g.: about closed roads in my neighborhood or town hall opening hours.
I have been surprised many times with statistics concerning many areas, but I can’t now recall particular examples.
Only a little bit - from mandatory university classes at PJATK or Warsaw University of Technology.
2. How well do you think you know the area you live in?
Not enough... I know just a few facts from the history, and a general opinion about my neighbourhood.
3. Have you ever been surprised by a statistic that was wildly different from what you’ve expected?
I was surpised many times, but it's hard for me to give You any example - sometimes there are articles at joemonster with some funny statistics.
I know it definitely not good enough. I've recently moved to another district and I know just the area near my apartment. Some time ago one guy asked me where he could find a open-air gym and I didn't even know.
I was surely suprised by some statistic, I bet that everyone of us did. There are a lot of suprising researches that are made to shock people.
Yup. During studies we had a lessons of statistics. IT'S BOOOOOORING to me :/
I know it's useful and can show us many dependancies, but I still don't like to make some charts by myself.
2. How well do you think you know the area you live in?
I think I know it very well. I used to be a bad student some time ago.. like 5 years ago. And many times I was "underground". I know what's happening in my city. It's disgusting. I managed to get a good education and job and don't want to back to old life.
I must say that many things that no1 dreamt about are common in the steets and some may say it's a work of the devil.
3. Have you ever been surprised by a statistic that was wildly different from what you’ve expected?
Sometimes yes and sometimes nope. That's cause statistics is specific. It may be sometimes surprising and other times you just know exact % of something happening in something. Just from your own experience and observe skills.
Yes! I have a perfect example of why some of the conclusions we make out of statistics are just wrong. According to the statistics, on the airports placed next to the seashore turtles hit planes more often than birts. I know how crazy it is, but that's the fact! :D
The reason for is that airports have a good system of keeping birds away from the lines, but it works to some height. Many birds eat turtles or carry them to their nests to feed their children. To do so sometimes, they have to fly over the airport, it happens that the turtle can escape from their claws and it is falling down and hits the planes. That's the reason, but when you hear about it for the first time you catch your head and think "How the hell is that possible?"
I think most of our behaviors are basing on the statistics. So everyone has some kind of experience in that matter. But speaking of an academic statistics I have attended a course which was very interesting.
2.How well do you think you know the area you live in?
I surely know how to move around my area and know some of the people living around me. I do not know much about history though.
3.Have you ever been surprised by a statistic that was wildly different from what you’ve expected?
People tend to assume that their individual point of view is commonly shared by others. A polish saying “Others do not measure your measure” is worth bringing up here. I sure have been surprised after finding out some facts basing on the statistics. Speaking of e.g. some researches done amongst people, i rarely get surprised by the amount of people who answer differently. More surprising actually are how huge variety of answers they give. It is very well pictured by an old TV show “familiada”
Yes. I didn't like it, it caused me a lot of troubles on my studies :/ maybe the problem was in my teacher, I think that it was hard for him to share his knowledge with me, that's why I had a lot of problems with it.
2. How well do you think you know the area you live in?
Like my own pocket ;) I think so...
3. Have you ever been surprised by a statistic that was wildly different from what you’ve expected?
I don't believe 100% in statistics, cause I'm sure that there are few ways to manipulate them, and since you can manipulate them - it's not worth believing 100% in it. Of course sometimes you can tell something based on statistics, but I wouldn't be so sure with it
2. I think that I know quite well area where I live in but I don't know which aspects of this place you have in mind.
3. I am surprised every time when I see results of elections poll in my country.
I don’t think so. I know only things that I need to know or I am interested in.
Hmm… A lot of. The last one that I read was - “In the United States, every day, 1700 people are becoming millionaires.”. I was shocked by this number. I could imagine myself 30 - 50, but not 1700.
I know that I don’t know everything about the area I live it and I’m sure there are some statistics that I don’t want to see. I know my area well enough for me to feel safe, confident and cautious when needed.
I often am surprised about statistics that come from United States concerning quality of life, education and infrastructure. It’s often way worse that I imagine and it definitely doesn’t invoke „The American Dream” in me.