Random Thoughts Thread

[creekster]

Interestante...

is the first just crime compared to the second which is violent crimes?

[Dwight Schr-ute]

Interestante...

I'd like to see a graph of violent crimes under the age of 12. I know it's definitely on the rise at my house.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Stick to English, amigo.

lo siento

[byu71]

is the first just crime compared to the second which is violent crimes?

I wonder what the definition of violent crime is. I know not everyone agrees on what is a violent crime.

[BigFatMeanie]

Interesante...

This is a great example of a crappy "factoid":

- The two graphs are comparing completely different things although they have been sized to the same width, height, and scale.
- The left graph is a percentage of people saying there is "more crime" although crime is not defined.
- The right graph is showing violent crimes per 1,000 persons aged 12 and older although "violent crime" is not defined as well.

Note that the conclusion Pew claims in the headline may in fact be accurate; however, their factoids do little to actually warrant that conclusion.

[Jeff Lebowski]

is the first just crime compared to the second which is violent crimes?

Not sure why they didn't just graph total crime on the right. Same relationship holds. Dramatic, near-linear decrease.

http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm

This is a great example of a crappy "factoid":

- The two graphs are comparing completely different things although they have been sized to the same width, height, and scale.
- The left graph is a percentage of people saying there is "more crime" although crime is not defined.
- The right graph is showing violent crimes per 1,000 persons aged 12 and older although "violent crime" is not defined as well.

Note that the conclusion Pew claims in the headline may in fact be accurate; however, their factoids do little to actually warrant that conclusion.

Overreaction.

- You would have to scale the numbers no matter what. Two different sets of values.
- Does it really matter how you define it? Do you think the average person would have answered differently? Also, see my response to creekster. Same relationship
- You really need someone to define violent crime?

The point is simple. People often have incorrect perceptions about the state of the world.

[creekster]

Not sure why they didn't just graph total crime on the right. Same relationship holds. Dramatic, near-linear decrease.

http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm




The point is simple. People often have incorrect perceptions about the state of the world.

so i guess we can thank the graying baby boomers for the decrease.

I seem to recall reading once that the public's perception of crime related to their personal feelings of security which was based in economic security as much as anything. if you are on edge about losing your job or you cant make ends meet then you tend to think the whole world is falling apart.

[Jeff Lebowski]

so i guess we can thank the graying baby boomers for the decrease.

I seem to recall reading once that the public's perception of crime related to their personal feelings of security which was based in economic security as much as anything. if you are on edge about losing your job or you cant make ends meet then you tend to think the whole world is falling apart.

That makes sense.

[Pelado]

Stick to English, amigo.

lo siento

¿Cómo se dice "double down"?

[Jeff Lebowski]

¿Cómo se dice "double down"?

Doblar

[myboynoah]

Doblar

Shouldn't it be doblar down?

[smokymountainrain]

Doblar

heh

[Topper]

If you're not going to be pro-choice, here is a rational pro-life position from Mia Love:

Here is a rational perspective from Mia Love:

"If we are going to be pro-life, we need to be able to give people as much access to birth control as possible," Love said.

By allowing birth control to be sold over the counter, its price would be reduced from $30 a month to $3 a month because it would 'bypass' pharmacy fees, she said.

"This is my way of empowering American women and making sure they are in charge of their decision-making," Love said.

[Uncle Ted]

If you're not going to be pro-choice, here is a rational pro-life position from Mia Love:

Mia Love should switch parties... and become an Libertarian.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Vexed by a few mundane issues, this morning I went on a great hike along the ridge above our house. It's almost stunningly beautiful up there right now with the dense green grass and trees, and no noise other than the breeze and a few flocks of birds overhead. As if on cue, over my headphones came the following poem (Wild Geese) by Mary Oliver:


You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

Feel free to mock my sappiness, but it was a powerfully touching moment, and made for a nice morning.