“Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable” – Mark Twain
How many times have the statistics used in advertisements, campaigns or brochures given you the O-factor? How many times have you changed your opinion post reviewing such numbers? Amongst all these, how many times have you actually read the whole advertisement or brochure to spot that one tiny disclaimer line stating the accuracy and scope of the stats based on which you changed your thought process?
Welcome to the digital era where information is provided to you, optimized catering the sellers’ interest and not facts. Few days ago while reading the international news I came across a few posts where people compared the growth of employment between this year and last, with the aim to compare difference in administrative strategies. Obviously all stats showed that this year’s growth was the best and praised the administrative changes leading to them. 2020 was hit by pandemic and we were not prepared for this which lead to lockdowns and loss of jobs. We now have started to grow out of it in a natural process and people getting back to jobs and the new lifestyle. No strategy change which discounts the entire COVID-19 can factor in a change in administrative policies comparing employment between 2020 and 2021. When we compare a change in an activity, we need to keep the remaining factors constant to know the exact effect of the changed factor.
This is just one example. Sellers’ show us numbers that helps influence us towards their goals. I ain’t saying that the numbers are wrong, rather they are biased and we never get to know the level of bias as this information is rarely disclosed or we don’t understand it. Here comes the difference between facts and statistics. We rarely see facts when we are out there in the market, and by market I just don’t mean the shops but any organization or person selling us information.
Watch out for the numbers next time and try see if the comparisons made are not apples to oranges, rather same in nature. If a statistic is shown then check what information was said and remained unsaid to reach that value displayed. Im sure it will be an eye opener to all of us as to how these merry numbers can be moulded to play with our minds.
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