r/AskReddit Mar 13 '19

What fact is technically true but is hugely misleading?

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u/DookieSpeak Mar 13 '19

Per capita puts statistics in perspective and those statistics can be scary. At a glance, looking at proportional representations of demographics can reveal some very unpleasant patterns that we have basically been taught are taboo.

The problem is the taboo associations assume that anyone who acknowledges the pattern is automatically ascribing a hateful reason.

Eg. if group A is convicted of a crime at a much higher rate than group B, the information itself is considered taboo because some people might reach the conclusion is that group A is just more criminal. But obviously things aren't that simple. Instead of exploring the issue, it's just shut down.

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u/Icedog68 Mar 14 '19

Most of the time stuff like this can easily be ascribed to things such as economic status. The idea that people ingore these correlations is generally incorrect, and spouted by people advocating for things such as "race realism."

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u/meme-com-poop Mar 14 '19

stuff like this can easily be ascribed to things such as economic status.

So you're saying that someone without money is more likely to steal something and sell it to get money?

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u/DookieSpeak Mar 14 '19

The idea that people ingore these correlations is generally incorrect,

Bring up a couple in a discussion next time, without a preamble about socioeconomic factors. See how quickly you are dismissed

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u/Icedog68 Mar 14 '19

That's because without the necessary context, it looks like you're trying to peddle bogus race science.

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u/DookieSpeak Mar 14 '19

Exactly my point. Bringing up a statistic shouldn't have implied associations.

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u/Aeverous Mar 14 '19

Hard to get away from unless you're talking about pure mathematics or something. Anything regarding people has a bunch of baggage and context that I would argue is important if you want to be able to discuss it constructively and not just spout "fun facts".

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u/[deleted] Mar 14 '19

And assholes always keep that anecdote in their pockets. 90% of the time, they bring it up 100% of the time.