tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post5661826392152982550..comments2023-11-03T09:36:22.100-04:00Comments on In From the Cold: Where’s the Comparison?George Smileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07049707648660651119noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-65045481408657836732008-02-01T20:39:00.000-05:002008-02-01T20:39:00.000-05:00spook, at least one intrepid blogger is attempting...spook, at least one intrepid blogger is attempting to shine a light on a <A HREF="http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2008/01/notepads-of-sha.html" REL="nofollow">similar problem</A>.<BR/><BR/>Support the <A HREF="http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2008/01/a-public-servic.html" REL="nofollow">Media Violence Project</A>. It's a moral imperative.Wanderlusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06552045133035246679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-15339109895097267122008-02-01T17:57:00.000-05:002008-02-01T17:57:00.000-05:00"Statistical inference is tough, even for trained ..."Statistical inference is tough, even for trained researchers. I suspect the skills are not part of the toolkit of all but a handful of reporters. Reporters, after all, succeed on the basis of their literacy, not their numeracy."<BR/><BR/>Sorry. It is not a matter of statistical inference. It is a matter of being objective and doing a little more research before publishing a half finished <BR/>article.<BR/><BR/>Then again, the conspiracy nut in me suggests that, they might have done the research and left out the results because the results did not fit the carefully composed narrative.davodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09272330967156237637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-69729986034623061802008-02-01T17:52:00.000-05:002008-02-01T17:52:00.000-05:00As I recall, the same trick was tried with Vietnam...As I recall, the same trick was tried with Vietnam era vets. The problem with the argument was that those troops actually doing the fighting did not have an increase in the suicide rate.<BR/><BR/>The Lt. referred to in the article was support staff. Did she have any problems in civilain life?davodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09272330967156237637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-78520059633073374552008-02-01T13:29:00.000-05:002008-02-01T13:29:00.000-05:00Just wanted to say thanks. I always find your art...Just wanted to say thanks. I always find your articles to be insightful and informative. As soon as I saw that piece on the suicide rate, my BS meter pegged. I knew I could come here and get the real story, or non-story as it turns out.Cabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18399813557159109122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-89275021968021275662008-01-31T20:24:00.000-05:002008-01-31T20:24:00.000-05:00Michael--My mistake; for some reason, I was thinki...Michael--My mistake; for some reason, I was thinking of Dana Milbank as I typed.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12712369389411084085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-61712690283537371612008-01-31T13:45:00.000-05:002008-01-31T13:45:00.000-05:00A less substantial point: Dana is a woman.A less substantial point: Dana is a woman.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902019477263059445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-91168241570929869602008-01-31T13:01:00.000-05:002008-01-31T13:01:00.000-05:00Maybe the Times should be reporting on why the VA ...Maybe the Times should be reporting on why the VA is refusing to help veterns fill out thier paperwork to receive the proper benefits. Or why therapists working for the US government are preasured to down-play p.t.s.d. even when a patient shows all of the symptoms. These are issues that I would like to hear about.Benderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14359378439233170119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-8558712809305678222008-01-31T12:57:00.000-05:002008-01-31T12:57:00.000-05:00There is another possibility. It is always possibl...There is another possibility. It is always possible that the existence of war caused men to enlist who were suicide prone, either looking to die (somewhat like "suicide by cop"), or looking to war to somehow turn their life around, but then committing suicide when it doesn't. (Somewhat analogous to the suicide rate among women who have plastic surgery.) The turn-around theory might account for the difference between the Marines and the Army. The individuals might consider the Marines too high cost a way of achieving their end.<BR/><BR/>Statistical inference is tough, even for trained researchers. I suspect the skills are not part of the toolkit of all but a handful of reporters. Reporters, after all, succeed on the basis of their literacy, not their numeracy.Acad Roninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17859105860193065352noreply@blogger.com