Statistical Numbing

[rcjordan]

Why Millions Can Die and We Don't Care | Psychology Today (2011)

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-risky-is-it-really/201108/statistical-numbing-why-millions-can-die-and-we-don-t-care

[Rupert]

I am guessing you are posting that in relation to the deaths from covid.  That's how I read it.

It does open my eyes a bit wider, as to why different people respond in a different way. I was talking to a friend about this last week, who thinks we should get on with our lives, as the vaccines will only be a term fix, and the people will die whatever we do to try to slow it down
.
He agrees though that the theory is good until it is my Mum dying...  I.e. it gets personal.

[rcjordan]

"If I look at the mass, I will never act. If I look at the one, I will." --Mother Teresa

[ergophobe]

"The death of one man: that is a catastrophe. One hundred thousand deaths: that is a statistic!"
-- someone other than Josef Stalin
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/21/death-statistic/

[Rupert]

"The death of one man: that is a catastrophe. One hundred thousand deaths: that is a statistic!"
-- someone other than Josef Stalin
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/21/death-statistic/

Ergo, trust you

[ergophobe]

Ergo, trust you

As Abraham Lincoln said, "The thing about ergophobe, is he always gets his quotes right."