Probability of a shark attack - a statistical fallacy?

[TMHeimer]

Thank you, this is a great point. Anyone who tries to argue that you are more likely to die from a dog/car/coconuts/vending machines than shark attacks are usually bias or forgot what they learned in their intro to statistics class. Before we use statistics to argue that you are more likely to die from other events than shark attacks, we need to establish the sample sizes of said events (which no one seems to offer when discussing this). Consider that 100 people come into close contact with sharks in one year and 1000000000 people come into close contact with dogs/cars/coconuts/vending machines in one year. If we consider further that 10 of people died from shark attacks over the year and 10000000 people were killed by a dog/car/coconuts/vending machines, then 10% of the people died from sharks and 1% of people died from dogs/cars.

This has been my view in all the "shark" threads. Hey, is this the original shark thread......?

 

[fbrissette]

For what it's worth: (FLMNH Ichthyology Department: ISAF Shark Attack Summary 2014)

2014 saw 72 unprovoked shark attacks - 65% board sports, 32% swimmers/waders, 3% snorkelers, and none on scuba-divers.

Seeing a shark underwater is a great moment, not something to be fearful about.

 

[seeker242]

For what it's worth: (FLMNH Ichthyology Department: ISAF Shark Attack Summary 2014)

2014 saw 72 unprovoked shark attacks - 65% board sports, 32% swimmers/waders, 3% snorkelers, and none on scuba-divers.

Seeing a shark underwater is a great moment, not something to be fearful about.

Easier said than done! Saw my first big shark snorkeling the other day. Have to say it was a bit unnerving!

 

[archer1960]

Easier said than done! Saw my first big shark snorkeling the other day. Have to say it was a bit unnerving!

A shark was snorkeling? That would be sooooo cool to see!

 

[H2Andy]

A shark was snorkeling? That would be sooooo cool to see!

don't point out misplaced modifiers to sharks. I understand they can't stand attacks on their gramnar.

 

[dmaziuk]

don't point out misplaced modifiers to sharks. I understand they can't stand attacks on their gramnar.

They have grammar? I thought they just string a bunch of nouns together and let the reader figure them out.

 

[H2Andy]

mostly they just snarl and mispronounce swear words

 

[seeker242]

A shark was snorkeling? That would be sooooo cool to see!

Yea! And he had a monofin too! But it was sideways. Kinda strange. Must be some kind of new fin technology or something.

 

[Coop42]

Cannot believe the Discovery Channel, one of my favorite and most trusted broadcaster, failed to be more logical.

Hummm - I honestly can't tell if you're trolling here! ;-)

 

[BRT]

A shark was snorkeling? That would be sooooo cool to see!

So do the sharks wear the snorkels upside down?