Perhaps. But I also consider that the only reason this man’s attack was even in the news was because of his interesting work history. How many other elderly men were attacked in the US on that same day?
Probably a lot. But if they were homeless, boring, otherwise not likely to get clicks, then they aren’t likely going to be in the news. We don’t really get to see whether this story is relevant, because the news doesn’t provide a baseline for “elderly attacks.” It doesn’t report on the vast majority of them.
It’s called “survivorship bias.”
The only elderly attacks you hear about are the ones that the news thinks will interest you, and it minimizes how usual or random an event is simply because the news decided that this specific elderly man was more interesting a victim than a random recluse who was robbed or the homeless drug addict who was beaten for no reason.
Although I know how this board typically feels about CDC reports, this one suggests that attacks on the elderly are a rising, if you’re interested in some background reading.
Perhaps. But I also consider that the only reason this man’s attack was even in the news was because of his interesting work history. How many other elderly men were attacked in the US on that same day?
Probably a lot. But if they were homeless, boring, otherwise not likely to get clicks, then they aren’t likely going to be in the news. We don’t really get to see whether this story is relevant, because the news doesn’t provide a baseline for “elderly attacks.” It doesn’t report on the vast majority of them.
It’s called “survivorship bias.”
The only elderly attacks you hear about are the ones that the news thinks will interest you, and it minimizes how usual or random an event is simply because the news decided that this specific elderly man was more interesting a victim than a random recluse who was robbed or the homeless drug addict who was beaten for no reason.
Although I know how this board typically feels about CDC reports, this one suggests that attacks on the elderly are a rising, if you’re interested in some background reading.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6813a1.htm
Thank you.
Thanks!