"bluesmama"  wrote in message
news:1105975506.667776.128320{at}c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Philip Lewis wrote:
>> You raise some valid points but an even more important factor is
> which
>> statistics gets the mainstream publicity. For example the lie that
> women
>> only get x amount of cents (usually quoted as between 70 - 80 cents
> on the
>> dollar) for every dollar that men earn is 'proof' of discrimination
> against
>> women in the workplace has been thoroughly debunked countless times -
> yet
>> this 'statistic' is still been spread all across the mainstream media
> to
>> this day.
>
> If statistics can be manipulated to prove a 'fact', regardless of the
> 'fact's' accuracy or inaccuracy, then how can a statistic like the one
> you mentioned ever be truly debunked?

That was part of the point I was making i.e. that when it comes to the
'mainstream media' FACTS and ACCURACY are not supreme - what gets 'out
there' as far sexual politics is concerned is not dependent on fairness and
accuracy in reporting but rather which sector is controlling the current
'orthodoxy'.



> Wouldn't it be possible to
> manipulate that data as well? Understand I'm not arguing for the
> accuracy or inaccuracy of the statistic in question, just wondering
> about the reliability of statistics in general.

In the exaqmple I raised it wasn't a matter of the base statistics being
'questionable' but rather that highly selective EXTRACTS were taken from the
original reports in order to present a DELIBERATLEY DISTORTED view and
misrepresentation of the actual findings.


>
> At some point, things like the world being flat and the center of the
> universe were regarded as 'fact'...makes it hard to know what to
> believe, if fact is just another way to say 'belief that may at some
> point be debunked'.
>
> As far as what facts and statistics get mainstream publicity, that's
> why I don't automatically believe everything I read or see on the
> television. Just because a whole bunch of people believe something
> doesn't make it true. Is it even possible to report the 'facts' of a
> situation without some hint of bias, whether it be gender, race,
> socio-economic, etc..? So much for 'impartial' news reports.
> Everything's had some spin put on it; it's inescapable.
>
What you are hinting at is that the misrepresentation of facts and stats
doesn't matter - yet time and time again such deliberatley distorted 'facts'
have appeared all over the mainstream media just prior to bringing in yet
another piece of sex biased legislation or social policy. As for the man and
the woman in the street - I KNOW that many are fooled by these grossly
distorted reports as far too mnay times I have had these 'facts' quoted at
me delivered with a straight and serious face!

Phil





--- UseNet To RIME Gateway {at} 1/17/05 10:05:02 PM ---