Government spin AGAIN

[sasguru]

Quite true. I was mildly amused earlier this month at how these global warming scientists make up results by copying warm months data into the cold months, and then by some curious methodology claim the Earth is warming. When caught out, and it gets pointed out that their methodology now would indicate the Earth is cooling, they invert the methodology so they can still say the Earth is warming.
.

That's a profoundly unscientific paragraph. Which global warming scientists? All of them? Have you any evidence for your assertions?

Yes, a scientific education is helpful in understanding what both sides are arguing, it also helps one form an opinion on which vested interest is most free with the actualité. Yet deciding which camp is correct is quite another matter.

A scientific education is one thing. Thinking like a scientist is another. And one of the issues that I find is that very few people in IT understand the role of uncertainty in evidence due to a lack of statistical training. Or maybe it is that most people in IT inhabit a semi-autistic black and white world.

[Purple Dalek]

That's a profoundly unscientific paragraph. Which global warming scientists? All of them? Have you any evidence for your assertions?

It was none other than the Goddard Institute of Space Studies that did the dirty.

A scientific education is one thing. Thinking like a scientist is another. And one of the issues that I find is that very few people in IT understand the role of uncertainty in evidence due to a lack of statistical training. Or maybe it is that most people in IT inhabit a semi-autistic black and white world.

Yes, the global warming camp rely on people not understanding statistics.

[sasguru]

Yes, the global warming camp rely on people not understanding statistics.

Oh they do do they?

And what do the non "global warming camp" rely on?

[Mich the Tester]

Yes, the global warming camp rely on people not understanding statistics.

Which lobby group doesn’t?

[expat]

From Timesonline's "Have your say" on this report:

This focus on "science" and "mathematics" is just stupid, no-one ever got rich through that. No, the focus should be on singing, dancing, acting and playing football.

This academic thinking will condemn our children to poverty, being nothing more than the slaves of the superstars.

[TykeMerc]

OK, this is explained: you don't have to know Ohm's Law, because all the formulae you need are supplied with the exam paper. You just have to pick the right one. So naturally it doesn't score as highly as something really difficult, like multiplying 0.5 x 30.

Words fail me. You could not make it up. I do not believe it. Etc etc etc

I really don't want to believe that, mind you after I check with my eldest I wouldn't be shocked if you're right. Tragic.

[Doggy Styles]

I studied electronics to a reasonable level, and for the exams I had to learn many formulae, some bloody long with stuff like secants, radians, integrals, differentials, big numbers, little numbers, curly brackets and all sorts. I've never used those formulae since, and I've long forgotten them all.

But the strange thing is I'm glad I once knew them. Am I a mindless cretin?

[Mich the Tester]

I studied electronics to a reasonable level, and for the exams I had to learn many formulae, some bloody long with stuff like secants, radians, integrals, differentials, big numbers, little numbers, curly brackets and all sorts. I've never used those formulae since, and I've long forgotten them all.

But the strange thing is I'm glad I once knew them. Am I a mindless cretin?

Well that’s probably the best reason for learning the equations. Even though you eventually forget them if you don’t use them regularly, the logic you’ve learnt stays with you; you’re able to distinguish truth from bulltulip because you’ve learnt the method for thinking things through. I certainly don’t remember all the equations from my physics A level, but I have learnt to apply scientific method and thought.

Whether this really benefits my career is a moot point. I can be fairly blunt when I smell bulltulip and don’t respect authority when pointing it out. Some people in powerful positions don’t like their reasoning shown up or put under the spotlight. Still, it makes me happy so it must be worthwhile and critical thinking has to be the real basis for systems testing.

[EternalOptimist]

I did a degree in electronics, I knew all there is to know about valves and magnetrons and stuff. Then what happened ? everyone started using transistors, thats what. So i was left knowing all the principles but it was all useless.
useless.
totally fkng useless.

[Mich the Tester]

I did a degree in electronics, I knew all there is to know about valves and magnetrons and stuff. Then what happened ? everyone started using transistors, thats what. So i was left knowing all the principles but it was all useless.
useless.
totally fkng useless.

No it isn’t. The method and way of thinking is still relevant. The world needs more people who are trained in hard technical or scientific subjects, as they’re often the best people for exposing bulltulip.