I would be curious to see how the Google algorithms play into graph #2. It feels like searching medical symptoms often takes you straight to the worst possible causes.
I wish that these statistics were based upon polling as opposed to Google searches and media coverage as there might be valid reasons to search for things or the media to cover certain things other then risk of fatalities. With that, I think that I have seen even more mismatched results when it comes to poll results.
As CyberKitten and yourself are discussing, we are poor at assessing overall threat levels, probably due to evolution.
Thank you for visiting! Because of some very clever spambots, I've had to start moderating comments more strictly, but they're approved throughout the day.
Humans tend to be very bad at assessing risk - especially personal risk.
ReplyDeleteAftermath of our evolution, I guess...visceral threats like terrorism are easier to dwell on than abstract ones like the future threat of cancer.
Deletethey don't live in the real world, actually, just in the one they invent...
ReplyDeleteI would be curious to see how the Google algorithms play into graph #2. It feels like searching medical symptoms often takes you straight to the worst possible causes.
ReplyDeleteI think there's an XKCD comic about that and WebMD...
DeleteI wish that these statistics were based upon polling as opposed to Google searches and media coverage as there might be valid reasons to search for things or the media to cover certain things other then risk of fatalities. With that, I think that I have seen even more mismatched results when it comes to poll results.
ReplyDeleteAs CyberKitten and yourself are discussing, we are poor at assessing overall threat levels, probably due to evolution.