More than half of adults in U.S. say they lack basic statistical understanding

Re:More than half of adults in U.S. say they lack basic stat... by somenameforme on Wednesday August 26, 2026 @09:36AM (#49448942)

The change doesn't come from thinking one is smarter or dumber, but you simply having much more information to work with. We form extensive opinions and views about the world relatively young, but it's largely based on things we have 0 personal knowledge or experience of.

Again I think the internet/social media are perfect examples. Predicting what would happen isn't about being smart or dumb. It's a matter of just not having enough real world experience to even begin to formulate meaningful views. And so the views and expectations we did form were quite out of touch with what really happened and indeed what we probably 'should' have expected to happen all along.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:More than half of adults in U.S. say they lack basic stat... by po1nt on Friday August 28, 2026 @08:21AM (#49477489)

This is an universal experience which wouldn't explain the vast difference in worldviews.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:More than half of adults in U.S. say they lack basic stat... by somenameforme on Friday August 28, 2026 @10:06PM (#49486250)

I'd separate worldview from ideology. I think worldviews, for people who have all seen a comparable share of the world over a comparable time era, are going to fall quite close. But ideologies are something distinct from that. Worldviews should influence ideology, but in practice it's the other way around for many people - even as they age. In any case, without that world experience - the values we formulate when younger are going to be based on assumptions that will ultimately prove to be false.

[ Parent | on HN ]