The media reporting of statistics

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TheBlindWatchmaker's picture
The media reporting of statistics

Hello all, It has been some time and I feel I may take some heat for this.

I was wondering what people thought on the almost laughable reporting that is currently being put fourth in the media,
Be that mainstream or social spectrums of this particular medium.

My point of contention revolves around one particular politcal/news show on the BBC in the UK by the name of, Saturday Morning Live.

The topic for debate was on misogyny and sexual harrasment, in particular within the city of Nottingham where it is now reported as a crime (this includes cat calling and so fourth).

Now as a women I have been in one very abusive relationship, so I understand the topic and respect it!
It is hell to live with someone you think you love and cannot do without, all whilst they verbally abuse you, control what you wear and occasionally strike you.

However, I think it has been undermined by people trying to squeeze in anything they are offended by and thus belittling or simplyfying something that is close to a lot of women.

The presenter quoted a poll by the university of Nottingham, it was in regards to how many people had experienced and/or witnessed misogyny/sexual harresment.

The result was terrifying, over 90% voted to having being victims and/or witnesses.

This result was constantly pushed as the narrative, "over 90% of people in nottingham experience this".

I found this deeply disturbing, Have we as a species made no progress?

After hearing this I did some digging, and found poll in question! 700 people were polled from a city with a population of roughly 300,000. This made the percentage for those polled, less then 0.25%.

Should this have been mentioned? Should statistics be made clear or at the very least, links to said polls made available?

This shoddy reporting worries me as I have a beautiful little nephew, and he is growing into a society already where he may be made to feel quilty for being white, male, cis-gendered (possibly) and also a possible considered to be bracketed as a sexual harraser off the bat due to a broad brush approach to reporting of analytics.
And it makes me fearful of having my own children one day, especially in the event of having a boy.

Perhaps some perspective is required, and a more common sense approach necessary.

I would consider myself a 2nd wave or an older styled feminist, in that i want equality and fairness but not at the expect at the oppression of others.

Thoughts?

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Terminal Dogma's picture
OP look hard at any of the
Sheldon's picture
Sigh, left left left leftist
TheBlindWatchmaker's picture
I don't want to get to drawn
Muashkis's picture
Don't trust mass media.
TheBlindWatchmaker's picture
Yes I agree with your
Nyarlathotep's picture
TheBlindWatchmaker - 700
TheBlindWatchmaker's picture
You are correct, and for
Peurii's picture
Yes it's pretty easy to twist
Muashkis's picture
This is why people love
Nyarlathotep's picture
I was surprised the poll didn
Sheldon's picture
You've hit the nail on the
TheBlindWatchmaker's picture
This I concur with.
Muashkis's picture
Almost everyone has
Nyarlathotep's picture
Yes, perhaps a better
Muashkis's picture
Since we have discarded news,
NewSkeptic's picture
Just pointing out an obvious
arakish's picture
To be honest (and only read
Sheldon's picture
...and it craves your
arakish's picture
LOL. Good point. rmfr
TheBlindWatchmaker's picture
lol beautiful!
Peurii's picture
News is a business. News
arakish's picture
@Peurii
algebe's picture
@TheBlindWatchmaker: The
TheBlindWatchmaker's picture
Oh my, That is truly awful!
arakish's picture
@Algebe
algebe's picture
@arakish: statistics are a
Randomhero1982's picture
Blimey, this is tough subject
TheBlindWatchmaker's picture
I am not sure how one would
Muashkis's picture
@Random
Terminal Dogma's picture
Man, bad idea, every other

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