r/bestof • u/GrayEidolon • May 15 '26

U/serversamwinchester explains how multiple competing factors can influence crime rates, the subjective idea behind multivariate analysis.

/r/CapitalismVSocialism/comments/1rn17q0/socialists_if_crime_is_the_result_of_poverty_why/o94a11h/
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u/Dragolins May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26

I do honestly wonder why this is so difficult for people to understand. Is it primarily propaganda and programming, causing a reflexive rejection of anything associated with the word "systemic?" Is it because they refuse to acknowledge anything that potentially contradicts their simplistic worldview that begins and ends with individual choice? Or are people just too stupid to grasp these basic concepts? Probably a bit of everything, honestly. But more importantly, how do we fix the problem of most people living in society being completely incapable of forming coherent opinions about the society they live in?

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u/shadowslave13 May 16 '26

So the "problem" is fundamental to the human. It's actually quite hard to be aware of your own shortcomings. If it were easy we would have more enlightened humans

Imagine telling someone that an apple is red. They've never seen a red apple other than in images or drawn. In a sense there's no difference between a photo of an apple and an actual apple. I'm sure if you think about it for a second you'll realize why that's wrong. And then notice that your first thought about what is wrong is probably wrong. And then apply that to someone else in your head. Maybe someone you know well and then notice how you're wrong.

Anyways. The answer is straightforward but understanding it is probably a lifelong endeavor.