Proofiness Quotes

“There are many ways to generate numerical falsehoods from data, many ways to create proofiness from even valid meaurements. Causuistry distorts the relationships between two sets of numbers. Randumbness creates patterns where none are to be found. Regression to the moon disguises nonsense in mathematical-looking lines or equations or formulae, making even the silliest ideas seem respectable. Such as the one described by this formula:
Callipygianness=(S+C)x(B+F)/T-V)
Where S is shape, C is circularity, B is bounciness, F ir firmness, T is texture, and V is waist-to-hip ratio. This formula was devised by a team of academic psychologists after many hours of serious research into the female derriere. Yes, indeed. This is supposed to be the formula for the perfect butt.

It fact, it's merely a formula for a perfect ass”
― Charles Seife, Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception

“Just as it's important to take the changing value of a dollar into account when comparing spending over time, it's important to take doctors' changing diagnoses into account when looking at disease trends”
― Charles Seife, Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception

“presented in an honest and straightforward manner. A little mathematical sophistication—and a little practice—allows you to recognize errors of randumbness, causuistry, and regression to the moon; once you get used to spotting phony patterns and false connections, you’ll begin to see them everywhere.”
― Charles Seife, Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception

“numbers have a hold on us. They are powerful—almost mystical. Because we think that numbers represent truth, it’s hard for us to imagine that a number can be made to lie.”
― Charles Seife, Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception

“moratorium on all nuclear testing—was delayed for more than a decade. It only came to be in 1996, during the Clinton administration. Though the president signed the treaty, Democrats had since lost control of Congress, and the Republican Senate refused to ratify it. As a result, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty remains in legal limbo unto this day.”
― Charles Seife, Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception

“fictional Iraqi projects to build weapons of mass destruction. The administration used nonexistent weapons as the justification for invading Iraq, and by the time the lies were uncovered it was far too late.”
― Charles Seife, Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception

“Gone were the days when Americans were forced to pick one of three nightly news broadcasts. Now there are so many outlets that we suddenly have the ability to find the source of news that makes us the least uncomfortable.”
― Charles Seife, Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception

“Insurance companies are nothing more than a dumping ground for risk; for an appropriate fee, you can have them assume a risk for you.”
― Charles Seife, Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception

“Simple! On the very first day that I started working at the museum, I asked a scientist the very same question. He told me that the skeleton was sixty-five million years old. That was thirty-eight years ago.”
― Charles Seife, Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception