I’m more of a right brain thinker. I do colours, shapes and pretty pictures but every now and again the odd statistic or set of numbers come along that amuse and delight in equal measure.
For example: the recent presidential election (I’ll leave the political and social commentary to others). After the big event this week, there were literally millions of statistics available for general consumption and I mentally compiled a profile of the type of person who voted for Bush. This person is a rich, white, middle-aged male with an IQ of 100 or under. Now - this interests me because how did a such an individual manage to become rich with an IQ of the average 8 year old? I’m guessing they didn’t do it the old fashioned way and work their way up the corporate ladder to be on top of their game.
I’ll let you assume what that says about the average George W. Bush fan.
Everyone now and again some leading (and often self proclaimed) expert will announce that something is good for you. Recently, it was discovered that a small amount of chocolate was actually good for you. Apparently a glass of red wine a day is also good for you. Red meat, white meat, potatoes, fish, 2 litres of water and 5 portions of fruit and/or vegetable are also good for you. That’s great news. However, another expert claims you shouldn’t have more than 1500 calories a day. This is confusing, because after stuffing your face with all that chocolate, red wine and assorted other food-stuffs you’re more likely to be eating 3000 calories a day which means that it can’t all be good for you. Someone is lying somewhere.
I guess the moral of this story is don’t believe experts, mathematicians or anyone who’s rich and stupid.
13 comments
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November 5, 2004 at 6:40 pm
Zef Hemel
I’d say you could trust them, but you have to realize they’re pragmatic. They draw conclusions from their research and don’t necessarily take other factors into account.
My moral would be: Listening to researchers is good, as long as you don’t switch your own brain off.
November 5, 2004 at 9:55 pm
Logan
Haha, I think this is the best blog entry yet. But I agree, its great to listen to others opiions and what the “experts” have to say. But then again don’t stop and completely believe everything they say no matter what.
November 6, 2004 at 9:20 am
Joris
Ehm, you’re not supposed to eat all that food in one day :p
The 15OO calorie thing is not correct, I think, you have to calculate your daily requirement. Do you think that someone who constructs buildings can survive with the same amount of food that someone who fills in papers requires? Don’t think so.
It’s purely based on your weight, sex, age, what you do all do etc.
But you’re right about Bush and the other stuff, just not about the food :p
Greets
November 6, 2004 at 11:07 pm
Don Wilson
Yey for broad generalization from others in completely different countries.
November 7, 2004 at 3:21 am
Apurva
lol, dude, you forgot that the body makes use of calories and that you’re meant to exercise !
November 7, 2004 at 10:43 am
Anonymous
lkj
November 8, 2004 at 10:30 am
Matt
Don,
I assume that you’re infering that as I am not a resident of the USA I am not allowed to comment or form opinions of US politics?
I don’t live in America which means I live in “the rest of the world”. Those of us unfortunate enough to live in “the rest of the world” actually take an interest in what happens around the globe and like to form opinions. It’s what we do.
With many of the UK armed forces either deployed or about to be deployed to help the US troops police a foreign country, I think I’m allowed to make a broad generalisation because what happens in the US ultimately affects most other countries whether they want to be affected or not.
Regardless, it’s meant to be a bit of fun and not taken at all seriously. I’ll keep paying my corporation and other US taxes no matter who is in charge.
November 9, 2004 at 5:39 am
JD
Hmmm. Statistics can really be deceiving. I’ve seen idiots on both sides of the political fence. Oh well, I got a laugh reading your blog entry, so I guess it served it’s purpose.
November 13, 2004 at 9:15 pm
yby
Great post, Matt!
Another 4 years of the Gang of Bush makes me want to move to Canada. But then again, why run away when powerful tools that we need in order to voice our views & educate people are now affordable so that we don’t have to rely on traditional corporate-controlled media?
History shows us that another war-mongering megalomaniac - Pres Richard Nixon did not last through his 2nd term - & he did far less than this present lunatic in the White House.
Let’s impeach the Son of a Bush!
GOD HELP AMERICA! (and the world shall be blessed)
;)p
November 17, 2004 at 8:36 am
The Jedi
Yes all things you said are good but it’s not an obligation to consume them everyday ^^ meat is good, fish is good, fruits, vegetables are good but you don’t eat all them everyday no ?
it’s good and recommended, after you are intelligent enough to choose what you need/prefer.
November 26, 2004 at 10:13 am
Jay
Making such an ignorant stereotype about any group of people regardless of the reason would be similar to me saying that all english people are like Benny Hill.
Not saying that I supported Bush OR Kerry. Neither candidate is fit for the job, imho. That’s why I didn’t bother hitting the polls on election day.
However, I don’t go around insulting people based on their political opinion. That’s rather shallow.
November 26, 2004 at 12:01 pm
Matt
Jay, Sense of humour.
Sense of humour, Jay.
I take it you two haven’t met?
November 26, 2004 at 1:33 pm
Jay
I have a good sense of humor. I just don’t see what’s funny about targeting people for my own amusement.