A big part of modernism ("pragmatism") is understanding statistics. That societies make huge improvements for their people by properly considering the data. But anecdotes override our rationality with emotion, and make much better fodder for media attention. #LiberalValues

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@wjmaggos so how should we inform ourselves and not be sent in wrong direction by anecdote? How to know what statistics to trust?

@uisce

that's the discussion worth having imo. what's the best way to gather data and who can best prove they are doing that? how do we help that occur with money and oversight?

we fear admitting that the "other side" has a point or criticizing our own. we care more about acceptance from our tribe than truth. that makes perfect sense evolutionarily, but so does a lot of reprehensible things. society requires most of us to rise above that. difficulty has just gone up cause of the web/socials.

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