Statistics are often horribly abused. Comparing percentages of something while ignoring the percentage of population because the ignored percentage might lead to the conclusion that the issue is being blown out of proportion. X occurs five times more often than Y with regard to something with a 0.00001% chance of happening for example.
Anyone who believes that an "unarmed" 6'3" 225 LB man in his physical prime is not dangerous, especially when confronting a 5'4" 120 LB policewoman has led a very privileged and sheltered life, but most people have. "Who was not presenting a threat" is far more honest than "unarmed."
There are so many considerations in the human condition beyond race that honest, and more importantly, useful studies are hard to find. Not just bias, but error of honest omission. I am becoming more inclined to question relevance of statistics than ever.
"As Mark Twain put it (is there a single pithy quote that isn’t attributed to Mark Twain??), there are lies, damn lies, and statistics."
In this case, he actually said it but attributed it to Benjamin Disraeli. http://www.twainquotes.com/Statistics.html
Statistics are often horribly abused. Comparing percentages of something while ignoring the percentage of population because the ignored percentage might lead to the conclusion that the issue is being blown out of proportion. X occurs five times more often than Y with regard to something with a 0.00001% chance of happening for example.
Anyone who believes that an "unarmed" 6'3" 225 LB man in his physical prime is not dangerous, especially when confronting a 5'4" 120 LB policewoman has led a very privileged and sheltered life, but most people have. "Who was not presenting a threat" is far more honest than "unarmed."
There are so many considerations in the human condition beyond race that honest, and more importantly, useful studies are hard to find. Not just bias, but error of honest omission. I am becoming more inclined to question relevance of statistics than ever.