William M. Briggs

Resolved: Women In Combat Results In A Suboptimal Military: Update

Every woman soldier I've seen on TV and in the movies is just as tough as---wait, strike that---is tougher than any man. There always comes the scene where some muscle-bound…

Philosophy Statistics

Statistics Is Not Math: Update To Allow New Comments

Update Hello newcomers. Posts usually close for comments after two weeks. But since this one is getting so many views, I moved it up to re-open comments. "Here is a…

Statistics

Does Barack Obama Have A Mandate? A Look At The Numbers

How important was Barack Obama's victory? By what measure can he be said to have secured a "mandate"? How does his election compares to others? And how do voters in…

Statistics

Use And Abuses Of Decision Analysis: Global Warming Example

Suppose we have a simple decision to make1: implement a government-takeover of all energy companies, so as to regulate with thoroughness their carbon budgets, or leave these entities as they…

Statistics

A Citizen’s Guide to Global Warming Evidence

Was it only me? I thought Chicken Little dead. After all, when was the last time we heard competent authority shouting "Only the government can stop the sky from falling!"?…

Culture Philosophy Statistics

Genetic Engineering To Create New Super Moral Race: Savulescu Strikes Again

On the road, so here is a classic post from not too long ago. The appalling Julian Savulescu1 is back, this time staining the pages of the British edition of…

Philosophy Statistics

A Statistician’s Lament

Regular readers (those wanting to catch up, click here) will know that the world is far too sure of itself, especially in areas which touch on human behavior, and most…

Culture Statistics

Changing Attitudes On Suicide And Euthanasia

We had such fun with abortion attitudes, today this: From the General Social Survey, a picture of the support for suicide and euthanasia by reason from 1977 until 20061. GSS…

Williis Eschenbach on Why Study Probability?November 13, 2025
Thanks, Matt, but you haven't answered my question, either then or now. The last time I asked, I got this…
Uncle Mike on Why Study Probability?November 13, 2025
Or, Willis, you could take the course, study the classes, do the homework. Then, quite possibly, or even probably, you…
Briggs on Why Study Probability?November 13, 2025
Willis, I have answered the question each and every time. Go back and look at when you asked, and you'll…
Williis Eschenbach on Why Study Probability?November 13, 2025
This is my third time asking, and I'm beginning to think you're avoiding me. I have a single die. I…
Uncle Mike on Why Study Probability?November 13, 2025
Remarkable oeuvre. Tour de force. Congratulations. Thank you.

William M. Briggs

Why Study Probability?

The Dysgenics Of IVF

In Which An Atheist Becomes Sputteringly Angry Over Theist’s Argument

Academics Debate Which Term Best Describes Those Who Love (in that way) Their Pillows

Class 71: Never Trust ‘Research Shows’ Headlines: We Bring Cause To Data

Diversity Patrol Scanning Citations For Victims

Little Nate’s Plan To Save The World

Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education Causes Mass Squealing

Stay The Course: Have Some Class

Last Call For Alcohol-Cancer Papers

UFO Hits United Flight. All Survive. This Time!

Changes Are Coming: Our Return to 1970s

Class 70: Most Claims Of “Controlled For” Are Wrong: The Right Way

The Triumph Of The Feminine

At What Point Does Transsexualism Become A Conservative Value?

The Superpower You Didn’t Know You Had

Class 69: Why Parameters Don’t Exist

Putin, Xi Who Must Obeyed, Occult Rituals & Living Forever

Nobody Believes Anything Based On “No Evidence”

Good Vs Bad Science (Models) & How You Can Tell The Difference: Think Twice Science

Class 68: The Philosophy Of Models (Regression): The WRONG Way

Why Study Probability?

The Dysgenics Of IVF

Resolved: Women In Combat Results In A Suboptimal Military: Update

Statistics Is Not Math: Update To Allow New Comments

Does Barack Obama Have A Mandate? A Look At The Numbers

Use And Abuses Of Decision Analysis: Global Warming Example

A Citizen’s Guide to Global Warming Evidence

Genetic Engineering To Create New Super Moral Race: Savulescu Strikes Again

A Statistician’s Lament

Changing Attitudes On Suicide And Euthanasia

There Is No Culture Without Inequality: Stove 1

Impose Your Beliefs Before They Impose Theirs

Telekinesis: Ideas In Our Reenchantment & Rectification

The Physics Of Blessings: Ideas In Our Reenchantment & Rectification