Instigator / Pro
0
1494
rating
17
debates
35.29%
won
Topic
#5365
Data doesn't lie.
Status
Finished
The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.
Winner & statistics
After 1 vote and with 1 point ahead, the winner is...
RationalMadman
Parameters
- Publication date
- Last updated date
- Type
- Standard
- Number of rounds
- 2
- Time for argument
- Two days
- Max argument characters
- 5,000
- Voting period
- One month
- Point system
- Winner selection
- Voting system
- Open
Contender / Con
1
1709
rating
564
debates
68.17%
won
Description
I will be arguing that data never lies.
To win this debate, you must prove that data sometimes lies.
Round 1
The Oxford dictionary defines a lie as:
A lie is a statement not in accordance with the mind of the speaker, made with the intention of deceiving.
A spreadsheet is just a set of numbers without thoughts or emotions. Data does not have the intent to deceive.
Key takaways:
- Data does not lie.
- Data cannot lie.
- PRO wins this debate.
And before you bring up a counter-definition, you should know that a British lexiographer wrote this really interesting blog post on why the Merriam Webster dictionary is garbage.
My opponent defines a verb as a noun. If you observe his abusive definition that should make you puke upon your screen, it is so rigged it isn't fair.
I can dance but I can't dance if dance means the dance event or sport itself.
Data does lie.
One of many applicable definitions of the verb 'lie' is:
ato occupy a certain relative place or positionhills lie behind usb: to have a place in relation to something elsethe real reason lies deeperc: to have an effect through mere presence, weight, or relative position
Data lies wherever it is stored and/or presented. Then one can even argue it lies in the memory of oneself in an intangible manner such as one who memorised their phone number, name etc.
Let's also define data to stop this abuser of semantics making this debate and unlovable trap for Pro. How filthy of them, vote against Pro without any mercy.
1: factual information (such as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation2: information in digital form that can be transmitted or processed3: information output by a sensing device or organ that includes both useful and irrelevant or redundant information and must be processed to be meaningful
Round 2
Data lies wherever it is stored and/or presented.
This argument is so weak, even I could do better.
Data is an abstract concept, it doesn't take up physical space.
This argument is so weak, even I could do better.Data is an abstract concept, it doesn't take up physical space.
This is false.
To present data always requires a physical form in which it's stored, even if it's stored as memory space in the brain it's abstrace but taking up memory storage.
https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/263543/on-which-occasions-in-star-trek-the-next-generation-has-data-lied
I think Benjamin said pretty much everything that could be said about this topic unless you wanna change your title?
Shhhh
Data doesn't lie. People lie using bad data. Lying requires intent.