There was a very funny sketch on the Daily Show last week that might
make for an interesting class conversation about the importance of
understanding data (particularly probability). Or perhaps the
importance of thinking things through a little more carefully.
The skit is about the infamous particle accelerator being built in
Switzerland. John Oliver interviewed one of the physicists for the
accelerator who tells him about the very small chance that the world
will "blow up" as a result of the collisions in the accelerator.
Oliver then talks to science teacher Walter Wagner, who states that he
thinks there's a 50-50 chance that the world would blow up. Wagner's
reasoning: it (the world blowing up) will either happen or not happen
- so it's a 50-50 chance! He's filing a lawsuit to stop the
accelerator.
The skit is pretty funny, but typical of the Daily Show, has some
mature language as well. Here's the link:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/index.jhtml?episodeId=225916
To see the relevant part of the video you'll have to click at the
first demarcation in the timeline (about 9 minutes in and
unfortunately you'll have to wait through 2 30-second commercials, but
it's very funny and worth the wait).
My thought is that an interesting class discussion could be made by
applying this same kind of thinking to your chances of coming down
with swine flu. Do students think that like Mr. Wagner, since they
can either get swine flu or not get the swine flu that they have a
50-50 chance of getting swine flu?
Michael Britt
[email protected]
www.thepsychfiles.com
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