3 ms·

Careful, there: 5% of the people arrested or cited. That is not the same as 5% of the thefts (one would expect the professionals do more than their share of the

Careful, there: 5% of the people arrested or cited. That is not the same as 5% of the thefts (one would expect the professionals do more than their share of the thieving) or even 5% of the thieves (one might believe that pros are less likely to get caught).

ysavir 3y ago
It's also not representative of the quantity of stolen cargo. Even if it's 5% of thefts, that 5% could be responsible for 60% of stolen cargo.
- dotancohen 3y ago
  This is such a great example of lying with statistics. I know that it was not deliberate, which is why the lie is so effective. Even the teller believes it to be true.
  - HenryBemis 3y ago
    > I know that it was not deliberate Although I never underestimate human stupidity or laziness for misrepresentation of numbers/statistics/etc, it's usually some poor SME that writes the report, and then the Manager sees the "60%", freaks out, asks the SME to rewrite making it softer, and thus the truth is (given a serious effort to be hidden). I've been writing audit, security, and other reports a big part of my life. I tend to write numbers in the form of "5 out of 100 X (5%) examined, regarding the Y process, failed due to..". It freaks out anyone who reads my reports, but, hey, they pay me for accuracy and truth. Once I send it (and it's 'untouched' on my Sent Items), they can do whatever they want with it, as long as they put THEIR names & signatures in the bottom if they change a single word (sorry for the cynicism but there exists no corporate hill that I want to die on) - also you never know when a regulator will come back 6.5 years later and ask about THAT job scheduler that was transferring £€$5bn per day between X-system and Y-system. I cannot recount the AMOUNT of times my report has 'softer' writing in the end, and it's their prerogative. But "it's not deliberate"????? No way in hell!!! Manager --> Director --> C-suite --> Audit Committee --> Regulator. EVERYONE will change a couple of words, and instead of a dumpster fire (Red) it will end up being Yellow.
  - Chris2048 3y ago
    Maybe there should be official guidelines for stats communication that require a certain level of legalise-like specify. No more "there is no evidence for.." of the sci world.
- Chris2048 3y ago
  The phrase "who just happened to pick up fallen boxes" suggests the boxes had already left the train at that point? Not the same as entering the train.
  - pooper 3y ago
    This just sounds like the police not doing its job. Or rather doing busy work to avoid doing its job. Previously on reddit https://old.reddit.com/r/facepalm/comments/ree4ef/this_huge_bust_includes_a_row_of_1_bills_and_two/ https://old.reddit.com/r/facepalm/comments/ree4ef/this_huge_...
RecycledEle 3y ago
I expect members of organize gangs do want to not admit to being members of such gangs. I would expect to hear a slurred version of "I just wanted something and I saw a box. I'm homeless. I don't have a name. They never told me when I was born. I didn't grow up like you did."

ysavir 3y ago

It's also not representative of the quantity of stolen cargo. Even if it's 5% of thefts, that 5% could be responsible for 60% of stolen cargo.

dotancohen 3y ago
This is such a great example of lying with statistics. I know that it was not deliberate, which is why the lie is so effective. Even the teller believes it to be true.
- HenryBemis 3y ago
  > I know that it was not deliberate Although I never underestimate human stupidity or laziness for misrepresentation of numbers/statistics/etc, it's usually some poor SME that writes the report, and then the Manager sees the "60%", freaks out, asks the SME to rewrite making it softer, and thus the truth is (given a serious effort to be hidden). I've been writing audit, security, and other reports a big part of my life. I tend to write numbers in the form of "5 out of 100 X (5%) examined, regarding the Y process, failed due to..". It freaks out anyone who reads my reports, but, hey, they pay me for accuracy and truth. Once I send it (and it's 'untouched' on my Sent Items), they can do whatever they want with it, as long as they put THEIR names & signatures in the bottom if they change a single word (sorry for the cynicism but there exists no corporate hill that I want to die on) - also you never know when a regulator will come back 6.5 years later and ask about THAT job scheduler that was transferring £€$5bn per day between X-system and Y-system. I cannot recount the AMOUNT of times my report has 'softer' writing in the end, and it's their prerogative. But "it's not deliberate"????? No way in hell!!! Manager --> Director --> C-suite --> Audit Committee --> Regulator. EVERYONE will change a couple of words, and instead of a dumpster fire (Red) it will end up being Yellow.
- Chris2048 3y ago
  Maybe there should be official guidelines for stats communication that require a certain level of legalise-like specify. No more "there is no evidence for.." of the sci world.
Chris2048 3y ago
The phrase "who just happened to pick up fallen boxes" suggests the boxes had already left the train at that point? Not the same as entering the train.
- pooper 3y ago
  This just sounds like the police not doing its job. Or rather doing busy work to avoid doing its job. Previously on reddit https://old.reddit.com/r/facepalm/comments/ree4ef/this_huge_bust_includes_a_row_of_1_bills_and_two/ https://old.reddit.com/r/facepalm/comments/ree4ef/this_huge_...

RecycledEle 3y ago

I expect members of organize gangs do want to not admit to being members of such gangs. I would expect to hear a slurred version of "I just wanted something and I saw a box. I'm homeless. I don't have a name. They never told me when I was born. I didn't grow up like you did."