Mudrig150 298 #1 Posted March 12, 2020 We see graphs everywhere. We think of claims as questionable, but graphs as truth, as data. We pretty much always agree with graphs... But graphs are easily faked. It's important to be aware that a lot of media outlets and politicians will manipulate graphs to their advantage. Take the first graph below, for example. It's only an example, but you look at it and think, "oh wow, that's a big difference, Brand B has so many more cars towed!" The thing is... these graphs show VERY similar data. Brand B's graph? It's just scaled differently. Both start in 1950, but Brand A's graph only goes up to 2000 and Brand B goes up to 2020. Brand A's graph goes up to 50%, Brand B's graph only goes up to 30%. Yep. You've been had. Companies do this all the time! They will use scale to their advantage to make other brands look bad, they will use factual data but they'll change the scale, and if the data is bad, then they sometimes will flip the graph. The second graph is the correct graph, both going up to 50%, and Brand A's graph goes up to 2020. They use the correct data, but scale is changed! If you see a graph, look for scale. It makes a BIG difference. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skwerl58 702 #2 Posted March 12, 2020 We must be vigilant in todays world to see things as they really are. It is really ashamed due to us being the "great society" that we have lost integrity and honesty as part of our basic way of living. Society is still full of honest, hard working people but watch out and verify before we move forward with a purchase or other decision. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,081 #3 Posted March 12, 2020 Whenever anyone (including our governments) are spending lots of money to influence our decision we should be werry. 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
