• neatchee@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        21 days ago

        The median is a statistical fact that can be used by humans in both good and bad ways. Lots of data can be made to look lots of different ways in the hands of different people.

        That’s why teaching critical thinking (not just the skills but the importance and value) is paramount. People need to understand what they’re looking at. Because sometimes you want the mean, other times you want the median, and if you can’t even understand when you might want one or the other or both for different reasons then you can be led around by the nose with either.

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        21 days ago

        the mean person uses about 1.7mg per day

        So we can solve drug abuse by being nice?