Simpsons 'trump' First Amendment

[STEED]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4761294.stm

Is that true?

[StdDev]

DOH!!

[August]

I seriously doubt that interviewing 1000 people out of nearly 300 million is a valid poll, claims of an accuracy margin of 3% notwithstanding.

[STEED]

Sara Cox: What was Bram Stoker’s most famous creation?
Contestant: Branston Pickle.
SARA COX SHOW, RADIO 1

Steve Wright: On which mode of transport would you find a crow’s nest?
Contestant: A plane.
STEVE WRIGHT’S BIG QUIZ, RADIO 2

Mark Chapman: What do you call the fat on a whale?
Contestant: Chewing gum.
THE CHAPPERS AND DAVE SHOW, RADIO 1

silly people in the UK :-j

[Bill Nichols]

Curious article from a country that doesn't have a Constitution nor Bill of Rights :|\

[STEED]

We have the magnacarta, check the link if you want to read it.

http://www.bl.uk/treasures/magnacarta/translation.html

[Type XXIII]

I seriously doubt that interviewing 1000 people out of nearly 300 million is a valid poll, claims of an accuracy margin of 3% notwithstanding.

When it comes to statistical surveys, the total population is not relevant. As long as you interview a representative sample of the total population (choosing totally at random is the best,) the results from that sample will with a high degree of probability be very close to the actual situation. This can be proven mathematically.

Of the numbers mentioned in the article, the only that I would call very uncertain is that one in thousand knows all the five freedoms. For such a small percentage, the selection isn't big enough to conclude with anything, except that it is very small.

[Bill Nichols]

We have the magnacarta, check the link if you want to read it.

http://www.bl.uk/treasures/magnacarta/translation.html

I've seen it in the British Museum... :know:

(Can't say I've ever seen the actual Constitution or Bill of Rights, however, even if I do live just outside Washington DC :oops: )

[STEED]

We have the magnacarta, check the link if you want to read it.

http://www.bl.uk/treasures/magnacarta/translation.html

I've seen it in the British Museum... :know:

That's one up on me well done :up:

[Sailor Steve]

I've seen the original Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. My dad took me on a trip to Washington, D.C., back in 1962. The Library of Congress was one of our stops.

[Bertgang]

I seriously doubt that interviewing 1000 people out of nearly 300 million is a valid poll, claims of an accuracy margin of 3% notwithstanding.

When it comes to statistical surveys, the total population is not relevant. As long as you interview a representative sample of the total population (choosing totally at random is the best,) the results from that sample will with a high degree of probability be very close to the actual situation. This can be proven mathematically.


The mathematical rule is fine, the main doubt is about the representative sample.
The random choice doesn't work always properly; as example, you often need a percent of professionals and one of unemployees, a percent of young and one of aged people, and so on...
Several methods are used to solve this kind of problem but, on my point of wiew, the final outcome is that any "representative sample" is a mix issued from small groups, and so the mathematical rules about large numbers are lost since the start.

Add some minor problems, like people telling "random" answers, as not really interested to be a creditable statistical sample.

[August]

When it comes to statistical surveys, the total population is not relevant. As long as you interview a representative sample of the total population (choosing totally at random is the best,) the results from that sample will with a high degree of probability be very close to the actual situation. This can be proven mathematically.

Yeah i understand the theory, but it'd be hard to prove (to me at least) that such a small number could be representative of the total population. They claim an error rate of +/- 3% but it could easily be far greater, especially since the poll was run only once.

[TLAM Strike]

Of course they don’t know about the bill of rights, Homer destroyed it while sitting in Archie Bunker’s chair in once episode. It was the episode when Lisa gets a cellphone tower in her room and has to live with Bart.

BTW I could at least name 3 protected things in the 1st amendment to balance out the three Simpsons character’s I named… Speech, Press, Petition…

:D

[TteFAboB]

I seriously doubt that interviewing 1000 people out of nearly 300 million is a valid poll, claims of an accuracy margin of 3% notwithstanding.

When it comes to statistical surveys, the total population is not relevant. As long as you interview a representative sample of the total population (choosing totally at random is the best,) the results from that sample will with a high degree of probability be very close to the actual situation. This can be proven mathematically.


The mathematical rule is fine, the main doubt is about the representative sample.
The random choice doesn't work always properly; as example, you often need a percent of professionals and one of unemployees, a percent of young and one of aged people, and so on...
Several methods are used to solve this kind of problem but, on my point of wiew, the final outcome is that any "representative sample" is a mix issued from small groups, and so the mathematical rules about large numbers are lost since the start.

Add some minor problems, like people telling "random" answers, as not really interested to be a creditable statistical sample.

There's even more to it.

It's possible to hook the answer you're looking for by asking the right questions. It's also possible to, after the gathering, manipulate a few mathematical strings and make the percentages move one way or another, since we're talking % and not absolute numbers.

I've seen too many manipulated polls and innacurate polls (same subject, considerably different results and completely different outcome in reality), to accept any poll I see with a glance as a honest study worth of credibility.

Being able to name something and understanding it are actually two different things.

It's possible that someone who can't name the constitution understands, agrees and lives by those values in his daily life, how are you going to poll that?

[Type941]

a dumb headline aimed at taking a dig at America that's not on the point. Depends where you interview people. I saw a poll they did in LA on some easy questions and depending on the neighborhood the level of ingorance displayed by intervieweed was astounding. Some gave the impression of having come back from them little islands in the Pacific where news didn't reach japanese soldiers for decades that the war ended.

[Type XXIII]

When it comes to statistical surveys, the total population is not relevant. As long as you interview a representative sample of the total population (choosing totally at random is the best,) the results from that sample will with a high degree of probability be very close to the actual situation. This can be proven mathematically.

Yeah i understand the theory, but it'd be hard to prove (to me at least) that such a small number could be representative of the total population. They claim an error rate of +/- 3% but it could easily be far greater, especially since the poll was run only once.

Also directed to the other people in this thread:

If those subjects are, as stated in the article, chosen completely at random from the total population, they are a representative sample, again because of the law of high numbers.

Of course, there can be questions raised as to the credibility of the people making the survey. Be sceptical of statistics, they can easily be made deceptive.

But don't call 1000 people a small selection. I did the math on that certain statistic, and from the numbers in the article it can be concluded that, with 99% probability, between 19% and 25% of the population for which this sample is representative (from what the article indicates, american adults that own and answered the phone), knows the names of the five simpsons.

For those math interested, the formula for the margin of error is equal to z*SQRT(p(1-p)/n).

z is a variable that depends on the desired confidence, for 99%, it is approx. 2.58. If you want the definition, go study some statistics.
p is the estimate for (population with ability)/(total population).
n is the number of subjects.

[TteFAboB]

But the Simpsons is one of the most popular TV shows in the history of TV itself.

That's like making a poll in the 80's or 90's and figure more people know the name Michael Jackson than Jesus Christ.

[STEED]

But the Simpsons is one of the most popular TV shows in the history of TV itself..

:up: sure is :up:

[StdDev]

Curious article from a country that doesn't have a Constitution nor Bill of Rights :|\

But check out their Space Program !... oh wait... :D

[mog]

a dumb headline aimed at taking a dig at America that's not on the point.
The BBC aren't taking a dig at America; the facts do that all by themselves.

[Sir Big Jugs]

I wonder who they asked in that poll, 5 year olds or 105 year olds?

[TLAM Strike]

I remember seeing on BBC (on PBS) a poll of Brits not on Goverment stuff but everyday stuff (like what voltage they get from their power outlets) and a lot of people got it wrong. ;)

[STEED]

I remember seeing on BBC (on PBS) a poll of Brits not on Goverment stuff but everyday stuff (like what voltage they get from their power outlets) and a lot of people got it wrong. ;)

Talking of polls here in the UK this one will make you laugh some years ago a question was asked. Where dose meat come from 70% did not know where meat came from. What a lot of plonkers. :-j

[Type941]

I remember seeing on BBC (on PBS) a poll of Brits not on Goverment stuff but everyday stuff (like what voltage they get from their power outlets) and a lot of people got it wrong. ;)

Talking of polls here in the UK this one will make you laugh some years ago a question was asked. Where dose meat come from 70% did not know where meat came from. What a lot of plonkers. :-j

From the meat factory. Duh! :doh:

[STEED]

I remember seeing on BBC (on PBS) a poll of Brits not on Goverment stuff but everyday stuff (like what voltage they get from their power outlets) and a lot of people got it wrong. ;)

Talking of polls here in the UK this one will make you laugh some years ago a question was asked. Where dose meat come from 70% did not know where meat came from. What a lot of plonkers. :-j

From the meat factory. Duh! :doh:

Those 70% did not know that meat comes from Animals :doh:

[gdogghenrikson]

Curious article from a country that doesn't have a Constitution nor Bill of Rights :|\ :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up:

[The Avon Lady]

They're Brits! (http://www.waytoblue.com/media/video/the_real_simpsons_850k.asx) :o

[STEED]

They're Brits! (http://www.waytoblue.com/media/video/the_real_simpsons_850k.asx) :o

Great One :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

The Best laugh I had all day nice one Avon Lady :up: :up: :up:

[XabbaRus]

And just a little history lesson today.

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/british_constitution1.htm

[STEED]

And just a little history lesson today.

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/british_constitution1.htm

There is no British Constitution we are govern by the stinking EU they have 80% control over us and I suspect in less than ten years the remaining 20% it’s all part of New World Order swap your civil rights and freedom for a police state. The new world map has now been laid out ten regions ten kings. :nope: