Americans Obsession With Numbers
Here is a wonderful article by Rupert Cornwell on American's obsession with statistics -- or what Charles Seife, NYU Professor, has deftly named "proofiness" -- "the art of using bogus mathematical arguments to prove something that you know in your heart is true -- even when it's not."
Charles and Rupert are in good company. Approximately 9 out of 10 innovation consultants would agree.
So did Albert Einstein several years ago when he proclaimed: "Not everything that counts can be counted; and not everything that can be counted counts."
Comments
I think a link to The Tao Jones Report would have been a good fit here.
The Tao Jones Report
Also, I love these quotes:
He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts.. . for support rather than illumination - Andrew Lang (Scots poet, novelist, and literary critic)
78.4% of statistics are made up on the spot - Vic Reeves (English comedian)
Posted by: Alan Kerr at October 12, 2010 07:53 AM
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