Let me state right up front that the language in this video is obscene. So be forewarned and do not listen with the speakers on your computer turned up loudly if you have children or others in the room. Likewise, don’t listen if you’re offended by use of the “f” word.
However, if you continue, you will find an insightful visualization of risk. Too often in America we understand little of the risks we face or the odds of something bad – or good – happening to us. How many purchase lottery tickets knowing that the winning combination for the jackpot can have odds in the millions-to-one? How many are fearful of flying, or being mugged, or being murdered, or, as this video points out, becoming autistic through the use of vaccines?
The purpose of showing this is not to enter into the debate regarding the efficacy of vaccines or, for that matter, the risks of autism associated with vaccines. Instead, I’m posting this video because it is a great visualization of putting risk into perspective. So as you watch it, think of whatever phobia or fear you have (lightning strikes, bear attacks, plane crashes) and then check out the odds of that catastrophe happening to you, and remember this video.
While the language Penn & Teller use is over-the-top (and, in my opinion, unnecessary) nonetheless this a great example of the misuse and misunderstanding of statistics and risk in modern American society.
