I feel like people don’t really understand the proper application of statistics and percentages, and it makes for very weak arguments, like the one above. I usually see it when it’s being used as a deflection for bad fandom behavior. I see this argument posted a lot, so I’ll just give my two cents on it
I’ll use basketball as an example. Let’s say 3 players shoot free-throws. Both of them make 80% of their shots. That’s good. Great even. But it’s not equal. 80% can look like many different things.
Player 1 made 80/100 free throws
Player 2 made 40/50 free throws
Player 3 made 8/10 free throws
These are all different forms of the same percentage, but the sample size is not the same. The bigger the sample size, the more meaningful the percentage is. If you were to draft one of these players based solely on the statistic alone, you would draft Player 1 because they’ve had more success, and it wouldn’t make sense assume they all have equal potential.
For another example. 1/4 of the sun is a lot bigger than 1/4 of the earth. The fraction is the same, but the amounts are incomparable.
Let’s apply this logic to fandoms. Would it make sense to say a fandom like Belllie’ve (Billlie) is just as toxic as a fandom like Bunnies simply because there is an equal ratio/percentage of toxic fans? (Is the ratio really even the same?) I know using Bunnies as an example is low hanging fruit, but I figured it’s something everyone can understand right now.
We can do it the other way around too though. Comparing a fandom, like Orbits, to a fandom bigger than them, like Monbebe. Even if you think the ratio is the same, the impact is what really matters.
So yeah, I guess I don’t like that argument because something being the same percent or ratio doesn’t mean it’s the same value. Even if they look the same on paper, another value can still be way worse or way better than something in actuality. Every fandom has their insane moments, but I don’t think they are all equally toxic
I don’t endorse provoking or attacking fandoms though. This argument is just very ineffective imo. Arguing over who is worse than another is also pretty useless, but it happens.
submitted by /u/SageSageofSages
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