Lies, damned lies and statistics (about TEDTalks)

[IseeRightThrough2you]

3:10 Notice that the phrase "of the United States" is in the good list, but "in the United States" is in the bad list. Hmm...

[Jaquettie]

This is such a good vid, et cetera et cetera

[FunkyMonkeyJunkie302]

I'm actually desperate for TedTalkHero to come out ... looks like the best game EVER O.o

[PivotSideEffects]

web surfing though ted,screw homework

[rockinthisnecropolis]

I'm sad that basic irrelevant things, specifically color, are factors in enlightening media.

[RickZiis]

@rockinthisnecropolis Why? Persuasion is about a lot more than facts. It always has been and likely always will be. People may vary on the extent to which they are persuaded by popularity, color, authoritativeness, length of presentation. perceived underlying biases, etc, etc, etc, etc, but everyone is subject to irrelevant factors that serve to persuade, inspire, or whatever the case may be.

[rockinthisnecropolis]

@RickZiis I'm under the impression that these talks were designed to be factual, rather than persuasive. But who knows. My 'beef' is essentially only with color. It's true that people have their prejudices in how they learn, I need to hear things, but color probably isn't factor. Presentation is a large factor, the congruentness of the data's compilation, ratio of key ideas vs secondary ideas ect ect ;) but I have NEVER heard of a correlation to colorblindess and learning, for example.

[bouncingbeebles]

@rockinthisnecropolis And I'm under the impression that this talk is not to be taken entirely seriously. Take a look at the description.

Thus I don't think you need to sweat so much about the colour thing.

[rockinthisnecropolis]

@bouncingbeebles It's in my nature to take everything seriously. Especially if there is an unconscious bias for everyone, even alleged intellectuals such as the 122,000+ who have seen this video, to disregard/pass-up information due to pleasingness of light refractivity. It shouldn't even be a relevant detail. Unsurprisingly, this seems to be an unpopular stance. Must be a lotta marketing people ;]

[sawboss42]

That one is funny !

[hpracing007]

good stuff haha

[riverlioness]

etc..etc..etc..lol.

[rh001YT]

The comment about the US medical system was silly, but of course drew applause from this batty group. Treatments that have been capitalized upon in the past are now relatively cheap. It is the new treatments that are expensive, largely due to intricacy, time & cost of developement & expensive trials. The paper test was not simple, but involved lots of engineering as to how to make indicator inks, and of course the paper must be pure. But how is the treatment to be afforded? And the liability!

[qwyzl]

BRILLIANT!!

[SpicyHam]

ahhaha, but audience overactive?!

[NicoDLdaLaguna]

He used his own statistical analysis of what makes up a great TED talk to deliver a great TED talk

[rulis124]

Funny  Z;D

[creapah]

So...Whos TED?

[deejtechno22]

What the hell is a ted talk?

[icosmini]

Is the audience high or something?

[OuroborosChoked]

I'm not sure why, but there's something about this video that I just like a whole lot.

[doihaveot]

@OuroborosChoked i know right

[United1ification]

The Ultimate TED talk...he has done it!

[srgwarcock]

that was the best ted talks ever... hahaha bet that throws off your statistical data!

[EddieTheFishReturns]

The bloke who is air-pumping at the end is brilliant!

[missPi]

hahah i love this

[sahiti321]

i love this guy!, he is the best presenter ever!

[ViciousRanger]

One of the greatest TED talks ever. This guy should go into advertising, he'd make a fortune

[dostaglou]

Funny! Fascinating! Amazing! Great! ^^

Among the best TED Talks ever! ^^

[aynradd]

etcetera etcetera .)

[sahiti321]

@aynradd

LOL

[dynamomilano]

Nice talk, but wtf was that AT&T commercial at the end? Looks like they were hawking their anti-Net neutrality message under the guise of "not stifling jobs and innovation"..

[MrRuggedboy27]

wow he totally got into our heads :)

[SuperJanders]

How many times does he say "Tedtalks" during the presentation? Lost track at 30

[Pasteldqueijo]

this is how they plan for mmos as well...

[RaustBD]

TED TALK HERO!

[austpom333]

I think the pop music industry is well regulated, there is no were near the amount of skill as 40 years ago, it no doubt has to do with the duming down movement; although yes the talent still exists.

[KarySanger]

is it just me or does that dude have a german accent

[098anne]

Hahahaaha

[git1958]

Who say's Germans don't have a sense of humour...or is he an statistical anomoly.

The exception that proves the rule?

[BrainRazer]

@git1958 Why is there a comma in the word "says" in you comment? "says" is not "say is" nor is the word "say" possessive of anything.

[git1958]

@BrainRazer Thank you.

[ilotitto]

best TEDtalk ever

[Jcolinsol]

ted really is one big pretentious circle jerk, culturally speaking.

[FractalZero]

Why are the crowd so excited haha? How cringeworthy.

[tux937534]

didn't like the crowd at all

[BlackXSmoke]

looooooool @ the TEDHERO.. awesome speech .. most entertaining TEDtalk ever.. he is really witty

[pinoyboix]

im a stats major and this made my day

[drukenhard]

funniest TED Talk ever!

[jnrolf]

10/10

[cannoir]

he sounds like a 2WW officer who is grilling a detainee

[gunblademaster]

What the hell? This was mediocre at best and he got a standing ovation? Bull.

[d3st88]

@gunblademaster

I think it was very funny. But of course, there were much more brilliant TED Talks that got much less ovation, but the clapping, shouting mass is not why I watch TED, so why worry so much?

[byteusa]

The worst TED ever...

[orsymadden1]

watch watch....

watch?v=MpLYmUz8JSM

[wiiguy5]

TED Talk Hero? WANT

[Cannibalzz]

Watching these talks, it has to be said that smart people things stupid things are funny.

[hatchk01]

What's with the all the cheering?

[TobySaxon]

@hatchk01 People love meta

[TobySaxon]

@hatchk01 People love meta

[neelaakaasham]

@hatchk01 "Whats with all the cheering?" May be the previous talks on that day were hopelessly boring? ;) Proof of Relativity?

[DimitriRytsk]

Why they did not put the name of the speaker - Sebastian Wernicke in the title as they do for everyone else?

[boppzz]

fucking silly as fuck! the crowd are like 7 year olds. stupid cunt!

[LanceWinslow4]

Very Valuable information indeed.

[thesparitan]

TED TALK HERO

I want it

[bangalorebobbel]

tnx - this is as brilliant as funny - and btw very interesting results of the tedpad tool, too ... ;-)

[Bercik87]

Genius.. or really close to that.

Entertaining, informative - nice combo ;]

[MrStartingGun]

This is brilliant! I don't understand why so many people are "upset," if I can call it that. Clearly this was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. Which is what made it funny, and applause-worthy.

[UncleKennybobs]

This make me want to slap a fish and tell it it's dirty.

[florencelovme]

5:46 LOL! Are they for real?! O.O

Is this yankee stadium or what! what a bunch of losers

[berserkerk2dyv]

@florencelovme lol, I was about to say, these people will cheer at anything.

[florencelovme]

meh, this is nonsense - what is the point of this, TED?! hmm?

I choose very carefully my ted talks and I dont waste my time watching something that does not concern me or interest me. Analyzing used phrases and working out the pi of them is just Bullshit Squared as fas as Im concerned!

Go make some valuable lectures and stop wasting our time!

[BaileysBeads]

@florencelovme well he did get away with it after all :p

[arlpainbringer]

I didn't know its becoming more like cabaret. Its sad.

That was most shallow audience for sure (sic)

[ArcadianQueen]

It would be amusing for TED TALKS to have a You Tube contest for the worst constructed TED TALK using the TED PAD. I am considering doing one and sending it in. Does anyone else like this idea?

[iAMsoBEAST1]

So informational. lol

[cheeseypants88]

obviously nothing could beat this for the best tedtalk. :)

[witheringsun]

I actually applauded my computer! That was brilliant!

[etzel33]

BEST TED TALK EVER!!!!!

[NotADeadCat]

i love the responses and the whole concept and delivery <3

[ReyAudentio]

I think he sprayed a happy gas over them, I didnt think it was THAT funny o-o

[philnoll]

Wow. You'd think he was bashing GW bush the way that crowd applauded.

[dismutased]

Lol, you made meta analysis funny!

[billyjay]

i like it, but i am also surprised with the over energetic crowd. some TED talks that are simply fascinating get only lukewarm applause. obviously he had this crowd eating out of his hand.

in the end, i enjoyed it very much.

[jeembomb]

@billyjay they respond so highly because this is a metatalk, a ted talk about ted talks

[MrBranboom]

@billyjay Nerdy humor is hard to come by. =]

[EddieTheFishReturns]

@billyjay: Indeed. In fact, by controlling the crowd in this manner, I think he was proving the point. Clever chap!

[sk8rdman]

@billyjay Have you seen some of Ken Robinson's talks on education? They received a very powerful positive response, including a standing ovation. I'm not going to lie. They connected with me on an emotional level that nearly brought me to tears. Entertaining talks like this one aren't the only one's receiving an energetic response. I'll admit that I was a bit surprised to see them all stand up, but once that one guy did, the rest of the sheep inevitably followed.

[billyjay]

@sk8rdman Yeah. I love TED talks. I watch all of them and I've had some really powerful reactions to many. I like Ken Robinson very much. I've seen a lot more TED talks that get less applause then they deserve, than I see TED talks that get too much applause...like this one.

[squishedpimp]

@billyjay people like people who talk about the things they're interested in... namely TED

[stuwy]

this is so hilariously true and it has been on my mind for awhile as I'm a fan of tedtalks. hahahaha thank you for doing the stats!

[firebhlade]

who is the person he referenced to when he says "personally i think i'm not the first one who have done this analysis"?

[dude2288]

Should have been longer!!

[dsahale]

Best...TED...talk...ever! :-)

[osofrontinoquantico]

that TED HERO looks like an xkcd comic

[DimitriRytsk]

Go after popularity is going after the crowd. TED is not about popularity contest, as this happy guy may fill. There are beauty contests, celebrities and companies serving public such as Google who are trying to be as popular and as gay as possible. Popularize TEDs spirit of invention and you kill it and make just an other muppet show talking about their emotions and believes!

[GrimmLegend]

This was amazing! His statistics and delivery were top!  He knew what was innovative and creative.

[AvgasStew]

If you don't understand why the crowd was enthusiastic.......I would ask why you were watching TEDtalks. Perhaps you should re-read movie description. Plenty of other movies are on youtube for you to watch

[caiwarrior]

Uhh, the whole "enthusiastic laughter" was extremely disturbing. Did they smoke something or do they get paid to be all hyper? Feels like episode of friends

[JoshFaille]

@caiwarrior I was wondering why the laughter was so ridiculous too

[Alkoholwioslaidziwki]

Hmm it looks like they gave free grinks before that talk :P

[austpom333]

I think this is how they write the new pop songs

[xjustamem0ryx]

@austpom333

genuine art is crying about this very thing.

[lordrazi111693]

@austpom333 and that's how they build politicians too.

[Sovieto]

@austpom333 you havent heard ke$ha?

[hackwriter]

@austpom333 I think that's also how Hollywood films and romance novels are pieced together.

[gulllars]

@austpom333 They actually do in the kind of pop you could consider "mass produced sell-out sh!t", and in a lot of rap they use it for bassline, rythm, and also lyrics. The problem is people who aren't anal (analytical minds) and make up the bulk of consumers actually like that artificial and forced crap. If i can tell something is mass produced only to sell as many copies as possible, it is a huge minus in my book.

[austpom333]

@gulllars No wonder they think they have found god when they discover 70s rock and roll

[gulllars]

@austpom333 There's a lot of great music there. Luckily i've heard a lot of 60's, 70's, and 80's rock (and also other genres) growing up.

There is still great music being made, but it generally don't catch the mass market's attention, and very rarely is ever shown on TV or played on the mainstream radio channels.

[EddieTheFishReturns]

@austpom333: And how Family Guy comes up with their skits and tangents.

[malcolmbryant]

And by the way, what exactly ARE these things called "Tet Hawks" ?

[labrat882]

Nerd porn and humor combined? I'M IN :D lol!

[TrueGreatness73]

wow I am interested in this kind of stuff but not in a way to laugh and clap at corny stuff like these audience is. It seems like they are having sex with every word he says moaning to everything. no offense but this guy doesn't have that many great points.

[CeloxUmbra]

@TrueGreatness73 Lighten up, this guy's just kidding around we all know TED Talks are for education purposes but its nice to just let loose and joke around once in a while.

[TrueGreatness73]

@CeloxUmbra your right.. I was in a bad mood when I wrote that.. when your in a bad mood everything can piss you off.. lol

[wabeebd]

this guys is hillarious and i think he gave the funniest TED TALK :D

[manyLejon]

lmao, statistics is a b

[burn70u7]

I guess you had to be there...

[theshiatsulady]

It's so geeky, it's fab!

[Roper122]

They are a TED talk audience, and he is ridiculing TED talks... that's why they're laughing so much... simple.

[harveyts3]

You got to love saying I'm full of shit and then being full of shit as a method for highlighting things that are full of shit.

[Casmo]

The audience is a little over-enthusiastic. Although the talk is funny enough to watch or put on TED.

[ferdiemac]

What's up with the audience... they feel excited even though there is nothing to be excited about. It annoys me and let me say WTF!

[invanorm]

lol. Brilliant :D

[yourtube20061]

it wasnt that good , for an standing ovation !!

[chumgatas]

nice :D

[NitB92]

who was shown in the picture at 4:32?

[dancastles74]

@NitB92

Hans Rosling, he has done several TED talks in relation to his work with statistics and data analysis and they are surprisingly entertaining considering the subject.

[Crazee108]

Why the extra cheers? did i miss something? =(

[fantasticalNINJA]

that was awesome best ted talk ever

[darkprincess1012]

Some of you are missing the point; its like satire. He's pointing out how stupid and inconsistant some statistical analyses are.

[Paulginz]

@darkprincess1012 You'd be surprised how much things like colour really matter. That's why every detail in an advert is intensely scrutinised.

Have you ever watched a movie that made you cry just because the music was sad? Form can be more important than content when you are trying to elicit a certain emotional response.

[branboom]

Maybe you guys missed the point?

I think he's saying, let's make communication sharing ideas, and the creativity that comes from it, into play.

[AcidRain64]

Wow, the audience really does seem drugged or something, haha. We must be missing whatever happened during the time before this talk to put them in that mood... also, the audience totally missed his use of "so" when talking about bad talks at 5:24 ^_^

[xjustamem0ryx]

if you don't get it: he's mocking the ironies/sillyness of statistics despite its often frequent use to shed synthetic enlightenment upon a subject.

though stats aren't the problem, humans who manipulate stats are the problem.

[GallusSapien]

@xjustamem0ryx Im pretty sure the point of this was to hammer home the point: "Correlation does NOT imply causation!!!"

[xjustamem0ryx]

@GallusSapien

you win 5 intorwebz!

[anoutsideobserver]

@xjustamem0ryx There is an additional point that could be taken from this talk that it is not actually the subject matter or the importance of the talk which determines what people think of it but rather the specific words used, the colour schemes and other seemingly trivial components of a talk. We are emotional creatures, not raitonal ones and so when confronted with words and phrases we have a negative emotion towards we are less likely to enjoy the talk, regardless of its significance.

[xjustamem0ryx]

@anoutsideobserver

that's a good one too :)

humans and their darned feelings!

[progressthruscience]

Every patient should have the choice as to whether their medical data is placed in a national database. Imagine if an insurance company got ahold of your data? You wouldn't want some French aristrocrat in the middle of a coffee shop looking at your brain scans deriving his happiness by scamming the American people out of every dollar he can. This is the risk we face in the mirror if we require patients to place their medical data in a national database.

[Elusefelier]

This is hilarious, lmao!

[NEYU21]

Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

[deprofundis442]

That's a shame. It's the technical jargon that interests me. It makes me a sad panda that most people don't seem to like them.

[geodesicks]

That was stupid. What the heck was so hilariously funny? Was the audience high?

[revpit7685]

That was amusing, and an utter waste of time....... I'll now watch it twice.

[dAda313]

is the audienz on drugs?

[sidewalkxlines]

Oh, statistics.  <3

[BrutticusForce]

This is hilarious.

[apocaRUFF]

That was awesome xD

[xapemanx]

woot

[SailfishSoundSystem]

I am now dumber for watching this.

[moyga]

rofl at that short woman shoving one fist in the air over and over at the end

[Silverstarlightt]

LMAO This is so good! XDD He's hilarious!

[0900jarman]

hes gay

[taliesinknol]

hehe :-)

[MrDarkbloom]

Why are the audience so enthusiastic??? I don't get it. It was amusing, but hardly worth getting out of seat for. Maybe they had all just been released from prison or something..

[Thyextendedself11]

@MrDarkbloom YES LOL... there was something in the water

[doedicurus]

@MrDarkbloom He was pandering because he knows what TED talk listeners like to listen to

[MRSketch09]

@MrDarkbloom I guess wealthy people are easily amused, or have a different sense of humor than us people with less money. Who knows?

[apocaRUFF]

@MRSketch09 Maybe you're sense of humor has disappeared into the depths of your anus? Who knows?

[MRSketch09]

@apocaRUFF .... WTH? Go troll somewhere else.

[babak129]

@MrDarkbloom haha prisoners :D

[adj789]

@MrDarkbloom they were paid to get excited about it.

[maxxamtml]

@MrDarkbloom they are all nerds and get excited about this kind of stuff

[pixelrevolt]

@MrDarkbloom It's because the really really love themselves.