Comments for Making Hay

Comment on Our Survey says #1 by Walter Adamson (@adamson)

Walter Adamson (@adamson) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:27:06 +0000

I think that it just proves yet again that although we think more information enlightens people and can get them to shift views that the opposite is the case – more information is always caste in a way which reinforces their views. There are the ABS believers and disbelievers each interpreting the “facts” their own way.

Comment on Our Survey says #1 by Swearycat

Swearycat — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:38:27 +0000

There is nothing wrong, per se, about the sample being a “small percentage” of the population. That is the entire point of statistical inference – making inferences about a population based on a slice that is “representative”, because it is simply infeasible to survey the entire population. Unless there is something systematically wrong with the sample – for instance, if the sample is entirely consisting of men, or is purely drawn from a particular location that has a strong anti-government sentiment – otherwise sampling techniques are generally sound.

Based purely on what you have there I’d be a lot more worried about the cynicism and scepticism people have shown towards the ABS data. This goes to a far more systemic issue where firm, strong evidence is discarded “just because people can”. No doubt people are entitled to their own opinions; but for people to systematically disregard scientific data “just because they can” is only detrimental to rational thinking, in favour of emotion-driven mob-mentality political discourse.

It is far more important to report the possible limitations (eg. sample bias, convenience sampling, etc) than “margin of error” per se. Generally polling numbers around the 500 mark margin of error rarely exceeds a few percent.

Comment on Is ‘Anything but Facebook’ the Open Web? by tonysearl

tonysearl — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:32:53 +0000

“The Algorithms Are Coming” Be prepared to be touched in places never before imagined. Open? Sadly a dying race.

Comment on An awesome photo which describes very forcefully how I often feel by Gavin Heaton (@servantofchaos)

Gavin Heaton (@servantofchaos) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:25:59 +0000

At least you have been able to get an arm through!

Comment on Defamation of character by This American Life retracts “Mr. Daisey and the Apple Factory” | Making Hay

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:29:18 +0000

[...] media could do worse than follow NPR and This American Life by giving at least the same amount of space for the correction as they had for the [...]

Comment on Is AP forgetting simple rules by restricting retweets? by This American Life retracts “Mr. Daisey and the Apple Factory” | Making Hay

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:29:10 +0000

[...] Journalists really do need to check their sources [...]

Comment on Mouse and Keyboard in Windows 8 by staticsan

staticsan — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:11:53 +0000

You should try an Asus Transformer. Android with a keyboard and mouse. It’s a little odd, but not inordinately so.

Comment on Making things easier with Tweetbot and Tweetie by zuzu

zuzu — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:19:17 +0000

Thanks for the help! I used to use NatsuLion then Tweetie, but since Twitter keeps releasing dumbed down versions of official app I was quite happy to get TweetBot. It has replaced official Twitter App in the coveted position on my home screen.

Ta muchly again.

Comment on Five Pints 090212 by franksting

franksting — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:02:34 +0000

I can’t see how allowing devs having unfettered access to the address book means they are a headless chicken, but hey someone forgot to tell the world http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/us-government-agency-ditches-blackberry-in-favor-of-iphone/

Comment on Five Pints 090212 by Marc

Marc — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:44:24 +0000

couldn’t agree more.

Wish I could say differently, but I’m of the firm opinion that Apple are dead in the water long term. If Apple was a chicken, then Steve Jobs was it’s head. Most disagree with me but I think in 5-10 years Apple will be in severe trouble again.