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databeautifier OP t1_jayoiqm wrote

Reply to comment by ar243 in [OC] All-Time Deadliest Accidents and Disasters vs. One Year of Traffic Deaths by databeautifier

I agree that comparing single events to the summation of all events over a time period can be misleading, but I don't think that's the case with this post because I called that difference out in four places: the post title, the all-red title text of the visualization, bold text in a box around the traffic deaths, and my first comment here.

The other comparisons you mention are of course valid, but I think this kind of comparison is valid too provided the different time scales are prominently called out.

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asyrin25 t1_jaz2rx0 wrote

I agree with the post you're responding to.

A misleading info graphic that explains that it's misleading is still misleading.

Putting these events together in a visualization is suggesting to your consumer that they're comparable, even if you point out why they're not in four different places.

A zoomed in line graph that grossly overestimates changes in the Y axis is still misleading even if the Y axis is clearly labeled. Even if the title of the graph is "Zoomed in Line Graph"

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SecurelyObscure t1_jb01ktv wrote

Agreed. This is the "vending machines kill more than sharks" version of road deaths.

It's true, sure, but the critical aspect of the whole thing is the number of people being exposed to the threat.

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ar243 t1_jb1hx8n wrote

And don't forget time exposed.

Most people spend ~31,000 minutes (2 hour total commute, 5 days a week) in a car in one year.

Most people spend 0 minutes per year in a natural disaster.

Not only that, but cars are extremely useful, natural disasters are not.

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