The Wisdom Of Crowds?

[Kromovaracun]

Was interested to see the following article in The Independent:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/british-public-wrong-about-nearly-everything-survey-shows-8697821.html

It seems that the British public actually tends to believe grossly inaccurate things about their society compared to the evidence available. These findings are supported by an earlier survey commissioned by the TUC and carried out by Ipsos-Mori:

http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2013/01/04/benefits-those-who-know-least-oppose-them-the-most

//On average people think that 41% of the entire welfare budget goes on benefits to unemployed people, while the true figure is three per cent.

On average people think that 27% of the welfare budget is claimed fraudulently, while the government's own figure is 0.7%.

On average people think that almost half the people (48%) who claim Jobseeker's Allowance go on to claim it for more than a year, while the true figure is 27.8%.

On average people think that an unemployed couple with two school-age children would get £147 in Jobseeker's Allowance - more than 30% higher than the £111.45 they would actually receive - a £35 over-calculation.

Only 21% of people think that this family with two school-age children would be better off if one of the unemployed parents got a 30 hour a week minimum wage job, even though they would actually end up £138 a week better off. Even those who thought they would be better off only thought on average they would gain by £59.//


Do ABers believe this evidence, or should we continue to place more trust in the 'man on the street' than on evidence deriving from research?

[mikey4444]

Orderlimit...I don't have the slightest problem ! Anybody that stirs up racial hatred by making posts on here, purely to stir up racial hatred is a racist !

[naomi24]

I've looked - and Em's post was in response to yours at 08:54 where you introduced the subject of Muslims into the discussion.

Yes, rude. People who disagree with you are not automatically illogical or uneducated.

[naomi24]

Mikey ...and neither are they automatically racist! Many people who live in areas of high immigration have genuine concerns.

[Octavius]

Genuine concerns about what though naomi?

[Sharingan]

about people who aren't the same colour as them living next door Octavius ;-)

[ummmm]

Is it just about colour though?

[jno]

who decides which concerns are "genuine"?

[chrisgel]

Obviously the person with the concerns. No one else can decide for them.

[sp1814]

naomi24

I don't know whether this is relevent, but the race was brought into the discussion way before that.

[naomi24]

Sharingan, how very silly.

Octavius. Education for one, where children are being educated alongside many others who don't speak English - and safety for another. Gays, and girls in clothing deemed to be unsuitable are harassed in the street. People do have genuine concerns - and dismissing them out of hand is unfair and short-sighted.

I've got to go out now.

[jno]

then all concerns are genuine, Chrisgel, which is comforting for us all - including mikey, who is concerned about loathsome racism.

[jno]

... and naomi, having roundly accused one poster of being rude, dismisses Sharingan as "silly" before going out, presumably to buy a black kettle.

[berniecuddles]

lol@jno

[Octavius]

Do you have statistics for that, as the stats I have seen only refer to english as a second language, thus one could assume they can speak english in some form. My daughter goes to school with a Spanish girl, it amuses me that she sometimes comes home and tells us of a spanish word or phrase she has learnt.

As regards gay bashing and female intimidation, I think (although inexcusable) this has been going on since the arrival of the very first immigrants to Briton. It even goes on the British Army today.

[chrisgel]

//As regards gay bashing and female intimidation, I think (although inexcusable) this has been going on since the arrival of the very first immigrants to Briton. It even goes on the British Army today. //
That's ok then, as long as it goes on in the army then it's fine everywhere.
Inexcusable - sigh.

[Octavius]

Chrsigel, apart from just repeating what I said (flattered by the way) what was your point?

[jim360]

What about people who disagree with you, Naomi?

[emmie]

having just patched back in i wonder at people, i confess some of the comments are just plain rude, is there any wonder that one doesn't bother at times.

[Sharingan]

Yes some are Em, often directed at me ;-)

[emmie]

really, where.