Jim Henderson wrote:
> On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:06:01 +0100, Invisible wrote:
> 
>> Worrying fact: 50% of the population has below-average intelligence.
>> (!!!)

So... If we have 4 men, with intelligences 1, 8, 9 and 9, the average is 
(1+8+9+9)/4=6,75, so 75% of men are more intelligent than average person 
(who, if he existed, would be over 6 times as intelligent as the dumpest 
one).

> LOL, but mathematically sound.  More worrying is the 80% who think 
> they're above average drivers.

Measuring a best driver is very relative. My opinion is that there's a 
triangle, having endpoints of speed, economy and safety. If the car 
won't move, you're safe and economic, but you're not getting anywhere. 
If you'll take a risk, you'll lose safety and economy and gain speed. 
And ie. when overtaking someone increasing speed might gain you safety, 
but it'll reduce the economy. So basically you can't have 100% of all 
three of them - increasing one decreases at least one other. People have 
different *opinions* of what's the best placement on this map, ie. what 
combination of the three they are heading for, so it's very easy to 
think that "I'm better than the average" for 80+%, since the goal is 
different. Who's the best driver for some (good speed, high safety, 
average economy for example) is the worst driver for some (who would 
prefer great economy, average safety and average speed).

In my opinion, five nines of safety (99,999%), average economy and 
good/stable speed is the best spot to go for. But that's my *opinion*, 
not The Only Real Truth.

-- 
Eero "Aero" Ahonen
    http://www.zbxt.net
       aer### [at] removethiszbxtnetinvalid

Post a reply to this message