Pattern Building in the Mind
We like meaning and connections, and we’ll sometimes find them even when they’re not there. People who understand this can deceive you. The Improbability Principle from Neuroblogica is a very good summary of this.
We like meaning and connections, and we’ll sometimes find them even when they’re not there. People who understand this can deceive you. The Improbability Principle from Neuroblogica is a very good summary of this.
Joel Watts has some thoughts.
The chart below is produced by Statista, and gives a visual of where disinformation originates on Facebook. It is built on Facebook data. You can read more about it here. It is worth noting where these attacks come from, with Iran just a little bit behind Russia. You will find more infographics at Statista
One of the least accurate elements of the news, in my opinion, is the reporting of opinion polls. If you think this is always someone else, you may be part of the problem. Polls are not precise measurements and results vary. That’s why you have a probability (often 90% or 95%) that the results fall…
In How has Literal Interpretation Changed, Erik at Fundamentally Changed discusses the ways in which we must reinterpret literal interpretation. I don’t generally like the very idea that interpretation should be literal, but Erik makes some excellent suggestions. One of the questions I ask in When People Speak for God is just how Abraham knew…
Wesley Elsberry nails it in this post. He also mentions the great book How to Lie with Statistics, which everyone should read.
. . . or how to lie with headlines. I get very annoyed with the reporting of polls. One way to create news is to incorrectly headline or even incorrectly describe polling data. For example, CNN uses the headline Poll: Romney & Gingrich Tied for Top Spot in reporting on the latest USA Today/Gallup poll…