Editing 985: Percentage Points
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | Senator Grayton is a fictional character, made up for this comic, which is unusual for xkcd, which typically uses real-world references. | |
− | |||
− | Senator Grayton is a fictional character, made up for this comic | ||
The issues that Grayton supports: | The issues that Grayton supports: | ||
− | *Tax | + | *Tax Breaks to Drunk Drivers: Grayton proposes giving those who have been convicted of a {{w|DUI}} or DWI (i.e. Driving Under the Influence or Driving While Intoxicated) money back on their taxes, when those infractions are typically severely penalized, as drunk driving has resulted in numerous deaths. |
− | *{{w|Predator | + | *{{w|Predator Drones}} and the {{w|Christmas controversy|War on Christmas}}: The War on {{w|Christmas}} is not a real war; it is simply the perception by some {{w|Christian}}s that non-Christians are trying to replace traditional Christmas imagery with more inclusive and generic holiday customs. No politicians have explicitly announced their support of the "War on Christmas," and the idea that one would not only do so, but would also want to use drones —ostensibly to harm or possibly kill people— in the effort is an absurd exaggeration of a relatively harmless culture war. |
− | The term {{w|percentage point}} is used to overcome an | + | The term {{w|percentage point}} is used to overcome an abiguity when comparing two percentages. Assuming an original sample of 1,000,000 people, where 20% approve of Senator Grayton. However, it could also refer to a lead of a 20% point margin. |
'''Reduction of a stated number by a percentage''' | '''Reduction of a stated number by a percentage''' | ||
− | :When the original value is given as a number, there is no ambiguity. | + | :When the original value is given as a number, there is no ambiguity. In the statement below the only possible conclusion is that now only 162,000 people approve of Grayton. |
:''Previously 200,000 people approved of Senator Grayton, and then his approval rating dropped by 19%.'' | :''Previously 200,000 people approved of Senator Grayton, and then his approval rating dropped by 19%.'' | ||
'''Reduction of a percentage by a percentage''' | '''Reduction of a percentage by a percentage''' | ||
:When the original approval rating is given as a percentage (20% in the comic), then a reduction of 19% has two possible meanings: | :When the original approval rating is given as a percentage (20% in the comic), then a reduction of 19% has two possible meanings: | ||
− | :1) Of the 20% who previously approved (200,000 people), 19% | + | :1) Of the 20% who previously approved (200,000 people), 19% no longer approve. In this case the result is 162,000 as in the above example. |
− | :2) Compared to the original results, 19% fewer of the entire original sample approve. In this case only 1% of the 1 million | + | :2) Compared to the original results, 19% fewer of the entire original sample of 1 million people approve. In this case only 1% of the original 1 million approve, equal to 10,000 people. |
If using the second method of comparing percentages, the approvals rating should be described as having dropped by 19 percentage points. In reality, the distinction between the two methods is often overlooked, leading to confusion. | If using the second method of comparing percentages, the approvals rating should be described as having dropped by 19 percentage points. In reality, the distinction between the two methods is often overlooked, leading to confusion. | ||
Line 37: | Line 35: | ||
*{{w|Tracy Morgan}} is an actor who plays Tracy Jordan in the TV Show ''{{w|30 Rock}}''. He has been reprimanded for controversial comments on homosexuals and {{w|Sarah Palin}} (in separate incidents). | *{{w|Tracy Morgan}} is an actor who plays Tracy Jordan in the TV Show ''{{w|30 Rock}}''. He has been reprimanded for controversial comments on homosexuals and {{w|Sarah Palin}} (in separate incidents). | ||
− | *{{w|John Wilkes Booth}} is the person who assassinated {{w|Abraham Lincoln}}. He was a {{w|Confederate}} sympathizer and supported slavery | + | *{{w|John Wilkes Booth}} is the person who assassinated {{w|Abraham Lincoln}}. He was a {{w|Confederate}} sympathizer and supported slavery. |
− | *"The {{w|Time Cube}} Guy" would be Otis | + | *"The {{w|Time Cube}} Guy" would be Gene Ray, also known as Otis E. Ray. To put things ''very'' politely (as Mr. Ray is a very angry man with severe schizophrenia), he has a website known as Time Cube where he sets out his personal model of reality, which he calls Time Cube. He suggests that all of modern physics is wrong, in addition to claiming that religion is evil, specifically Christianity, and that the idea of family is poisoning children. |
− | *College | + | *College Scholarships to Sexually Active Teens: Many people think adolescents should not engage in sexual activity, let alone be encouraged to do so by college scholarships. This is the opposite of {{w|Abstinence-only sex education|abstinence programs}}, which encourage teens not to be sexually active until marriage. |
− | *Illegal immigrants who create room for themselves by killing a citizen: {{w|Illegal immigration to the United States|Illegal immigration}} is a highly controversial topic in the United States. One argument against illegal immigration is that illegal immigrants are taking jobs away from American citizens. Proponents of immigration assert that this is not the case, since more people in the overall economy creates jobs and brings in more tax revenue. Neither group would be in favor of illegal immigrants murdering citizens even though it would | + | *Illegal immigrants who create room for themselves by killing a citizen: {{w|Illegal immigration to the United States|Illegal immigration}} is a highly controversial topic in the United States. One argument against illegal immigration is that illegal immigrants are taking jobs away from American citizens. Proponents of immigration assert that this is not the case, since more people in the overall economy creates jobs and brings in more tax revenue. Neither group would be in favor of illegal immigrants murdering citizens even though it would not result in a net gain or loss in population. |
− | *Graduated income tax based on penis size: Many | + | *Graduated income tax based on penis size: Many men are sensitive about their penis size and would probably consider the measurement of their penises for tax assessment purposes an enormous embarrassment and invasion of privacy. Even the scenario in which those with relatively smaller penises would be levied less tax than those with larger penises would probably not be sufficient for them to accept this policy, and even if they did, those with larger penises would probably consider this policy to be unfair. And the alternative - a scenario in which ''larger'' penises pay less taxes - would be both unfair and incredibly demeaning. |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== |