Racists?

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Some time back, economists, in particular, as well as pychologists theorized that the rules, observed behavior and "models" of their fields applied to all other areas of life. Despite being warned against this trend by some of the greats of their fields, off they went yelling, "Stats are stats."

Unfortunately, even though the results of many such studies have been debunked by the real experts in the field and the fact that many leading and Nobel winning economists continue to disown the practice, it is now being taught in some Universities that "econometrics" can be applied to every behavior in every field, and, as we have seen in this thread, graduate students of econonmics are writing their theses on most any subject but economics.

It's interesting to note that statistical analysis was applied by 2 others venturing outside their own fields to come up with a completely opposite (and disgraceful IMO) view.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bell_Curve

I'm wondering how many would defend the results of that work as quickly as they would Hamermesh's results?

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by SAump

Your Answer: Many, many people will defend those results.
About as many, if not more than those people, will hold an opposite POV.
While many others, clearly distance themselves from either POV.

You miss my point.

You cannot argue the validity of both results based on the method. The methods used are essentially the same. Yet they provide (apparently) 2 different results.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

You miss my point.

You cannot argue the validity of both results based on the method. The methods used are essentially the same. Yet they provide (apparently) 2 different results.

Are you saying there's method to this madness?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Are you saying there's method to this madness?

Just because there's a method to it doesn't mean that it's not madness.

Which seems to be the consensus so far.......

Which brings up the point......if someone calls you a racist, is it possible to prove that you aren't?

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Which brings up the point......if someone calls you a racist, is it possible to prove that you aren't?

Sure, but not by arguing; by the example you set in what you do and what you say.

Same thing as when a coach says: "You're horrible." You don't prove him wrong by arguing that you're not. You prove it with your performance.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Sure, but not by arguing; by the example you set in what you do and what you say.

Same thing as when a coach says: "You're horrible." You don't prove him wrong by arguing that you're not. You prove it with your performance.

The problem is that your performance is still being subjectively evaluated by the person judging you. Case in point.....Gary Sheffield and Joe Torre.

How can you prove anything through performance if the person evaluating that performance still insists that it's racist?

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

The problem is that your performance is still being subjectively evaluated by the person judging you. Case in point.....Gary Sheffield and Joe Torre.

How can you prove anything through performance if the person evaluating that performance still insists that it's racist?

You're thinking short term, I'm advocating long term.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

if someone calls you a racist, is it possible to prove that you aren't?

I thought you answered, "Hey, some of my best friends are (fill in blank)."