Indeed Richard and isn't that the problem? For decades one group of scientists - the dishonest one's - became 'experts' at using statistics to 'prove' anything they wanted to. They were used to distort the picture in areas where cause and effect weren't clear cut. They were also used for political gain usually to give one group in society either money or some other political advantage extorted from another group.Originally Posted by Witton Park
Then the other scientists cottoned on to the scam and instead of rejecting the methods embraced them and struck back. Two can play at that game they thought. So that is the situation and all one has to do is read back all the views on this Covid thread to realise that the above is true. One group on here all too happy to see people locked down supporting one set of figures, the other group who are more sympathetic to freedom supporting another.
Look back a few days. Teresa May stands up in parliament, Boris stands down. Or walks out because he hasn't got the decency to listen to the comments of a former PM. Which looks bad on him because what she had to say on the 4000 deaths scenario was potent. If she is right and she could figure it out then why are the chief scientists messing it up and stringing us along?
Maybe a good thing to come out of this Covid situation is people will become even more suspicious of scientists who present ever more complicated numbers to demonstrate a position. And perhaps that'll get us back to more reasoned thinking and explanations where statistics are secondary. Mike-T said on an earlier post that the problem was statistics were being used in the wrong way. But perhaps in some demonstrations they can't be used in the right way. Thanks
