Quote:
Originally Posted by honte
^ I remain unconvinced, sorry. It's unfair to foist numerical statistics on people who physically interact with their communities every day and understand the situation inherently. Numbers can be misleading: How well does the above translate to Chicago? How well do those statistics translate to the local streets that many people will be theoretically walking from the train, vs. major highways and arterials? How, in Chicago, does it compare to the total number of victimizations that occur on the street overall, not just homicides? How would those numbers change if your policy were implemented? If people are on a bus rather than in car, how does that alter their risk factor to your stats? How can you statistically account for the acts that don't actually get perpetrated, or for abuse that isn't physical?
I think we shouldn't drag this on endlessly, but my point is that using some rather broad statistics to tell people that their life choices and real concerns are unimportant and wholly invalid, while using them to advance your "progressive" policy, seems totally inadequate.
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That's all fine, honte, but your criticism of the statistics I present and the questions you pose have equally valid counterparts in the form of criticism and questions about the "feelings" and "experience" and perceptions you advocate as a basis for policy decision instead.
Also, I'm not out to "change" the dangers of driving by advocating for policy x but to merely illustrate the fact that there are dangers in that mode of transportation, as well, and that the relative safety afforded by getting behind the wheel is illusory. (What better time of year to be making this point?) Considering your aversion to statistics, though, I might have been better off citing my "physical interactions" with and "inherent undertanding" of driving instead.
And it's probably an argument for another time or a different forum, but what
would you rather base policy on if not empircal evidence? If numbers can be misleading, perceptions can be false and judgement lacking. The biggest hurdle for progress has always been unfounded fears.