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So this statistic is likely totally off... Most people I know never use plastic straws and I rarely see them except in occasional restaurants. This also shows

So this statistic is likely totally off... Most people I know never use plastic straws and I rarely see them except in occasional restaurants. This also shows how trustworthy information reported by CNN, Nytimes, etc is. They just have used a 9 year olds guesstimate because it suited their political narrative.

schiffern 2y ago
Indeed, very annoying that the article never says what the actual number is. From the NYT fact check version, which (based on the dates) seems to be the original source:[1] Fact check: The claim that 500 million straws are used by Americans is an estimate above the ranges of more rigorous studies. Market research firms put the figure between 170 million and 390 million per day, or 63 billion to 142 billion straws per year. One market research firm, Freedonia Group, determined that the nation used about 390 million straws a day last year. Another, Technomic, puts the number closer to 170 million, though that count excludes some types of straws. [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/business/plastic-straws-ban-fact-check-nyt.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/business/plastic-straws-b... Mirror: https://archive.is/RAWUd https://archive.is/RAWUd
deleted 2y ago
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EA-3167 2y ago
You're assuming that the issue is fact-checking, rather than cherrypicking in the first place. Plastic straws are not a major source of microplastics or plastic pollution, but you know what is? Clothing! Fast fashion, and harder plastics associated with electronic tat. You know what the NYT for example is all about advertising? Fashion! Random tat. Even putting aside that more conspiratorial angle, there has always been a trend to steer the public away from understanding large, industrial, commercial sources of problems by having them micromanage their own contribution. It's ridiculous, but most people either don't have the time or inclination to think through these things, so they read an article and then get to the hard business of letting everyone know what a good person they are. Plus: "Factors far outside of your ability to control or influence, such as the use of rubber tyres and waste disposal habits of China/India, are going to harm you," shuts people off, it makes them engage less. "This is all your fault, and here's how" grabs attention.

schiffern 2y ago

Indeed, very annoying that the article never says what the actual number is. From the NYT fact check version, which (based on the dates) seems to be the original source:[1] Fact check: The claim that 500 million straws are used by Americans is an estimate above the ranges of more rigorous studies. Market research firms put the figure between 170 million and 390 million per day, or 63 billion to 142 billion straws per year. One market research firm, Freedonia Group, determined that the nation used about 390 million straws a day last year. Another, Technomic, puts the number closer to 170 million, though that count excludes some types of straws. [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/business/plastic-straws-ban-fact-check-nyt.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/business/plastic-straws-b... Mirror: https://archive.is/RAWUd https://archive.is/RAWUd

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

EA-3167 2y ago

You're assuming that the issue is fact-checking, rather than cherrypicking in the first place. Plastic straws are not a major source of microplastics or plastic pollution, but you know what is? Clothing! Fast fashion, and harder plastics associated with electronic tat. You know what the NYT for example is all about advertising? Fashion! Random tat. Even putting aside that more conspiratorial angle, there has always been a trend to steer the public away from understanding large, industrial, commercial sources of problems by having them micromanage their own contribution. It's ridiculous, but most people either don't have the time or inclination to think through these things, so they read an article and then get to the hard business of letting everyone know what a good person they are. Plus: "Factors far outside of your ability to control or influence, such as the use of rubber tyres and waste disposal habits of China/India, are going to harm you," shuts people off, it makes them engage less. "This is all your fault, and here's how" grabs attention.