I am a skeptic. Not as skeptical as the man who was once riding a train with his companion. The companion looked out, saw a flock of sheep in a field and said, “Those sheep seem to have been recently sheared.” The skeptic replied, “At least on the sides that are facing us.”
I studied statistics. I can’t remember any of the derivations and only a few of the distribution models, but I do remember that outliers happen. Outliers are a test of people’s belief: some remember them vividly and therefore believe that they are the “normal” occurrence. Others attribute them to the supernatural or conspiracy theories.
I’m too much of a scientist not to use Occam’s Razor. If I have to invoke unnatural causes, extraterrestrial beings or multiple conspirators to make the theory work, I first look for another theory.
In the case of people and in particular, political people, a theory based on ignorance, selfishness, greed or fear usually works well.
I am a skeptic. Not as skeptical as the man who was once riding a train with his companion. The companion looked out, saw a flock of sheep in a field and said, “Those sheep seem to have been recently sheared.” The skeptic replied, “At least on the sides that are facing us.”
I studied statistics. I can’t remember any of the derivations and only a few of the distribution models, but I do remember that outliers happen. Outliers are a test of people’s belief: some remember them vividly and therefore believe that they are the “normal” occurrence. Others attribute them to the supernatural or conspiracy theories.
I’m too much of a scientist not to use Occam’s Razor. If I have to invoke unnatural causes, extraterrestrial beings or multiple conspirators to make the theory work, I first look for another theory.
In the case of people and in particular, political people, a theory based on ignorance, selfishness, greed or fear usually works well.