[Info-vax] OT: Rob Short: Operating System Evolution

[Wilm Boerhout]

Michael Kraemer mentioned  on 29-12-2009 10:26:
> Wilm Boerhout schrieb:
>> Michael Kraemer mentioned  on 29-12-2009 9:39:
>>
>>> Richard B. Gilbert schrieb:
>>>
>>>> Did you know that more than 40% of the population have subnormal 
>>>> intelligence?  (My favorite statistic!)
>>>
>>>
>>> And what's wrong with that statistic?
>>
>>
>>
>> Same thing as with `Everyone wants an above-average income´
>>
>> -Wilm
> 
> Not quite.
> Your assertion doesn't refer to a statistic,
> it's a simple statement which can easily be disproved
> if you find somebody who is satisfied with his income
> (a buddhist monk maybe).
> Mr. Gilbert's statement is an inappropriate interpretation
> of an otherwise correct statistic
> (normal, i.e. Gaussian distribution of human intelligence).
> "Inappropriate" insofar as there's no definition
> what "normal" would be in this context.

Oh, lighten up already. If you want to take it seriously: "average" is a 
well-defined statistical term. Even if we were all monks, our incomes 
could not mathematically/statistically be all "above average".

"Normal" is also a well defined statisticall term. At the "normal", 
there are as many items in the population above that point as below. 
Hence, the pun in Richard's statement.

/Wilm