Vampires: Mathematics Proves WotC is (un)Dead wrong

[WayneLigon]

In related news, a Eastern European Doctor named Uta Refson recently published an essay about how it is very healthy to sleep with the window open and wash your neck regularly. This was a follow-up to her report on how garlick is so very unhealthy!

I am so using that the soonest I get the chance to.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

Mathmatics just proved (I don't have the link available right now) that you should all send me money.

So let's get to work.

















*Not providing an address in case someone takes me seriously. lol*

 

[Thurbane]

A couple of things about this article lead me to believe that is very much tongue-in-cheek rather than any real sort of study.

1. The figure of the worlds population at 1600. I'm sorry, we can't pin down the world's poplation to a single unit nowadays using much more comprehensive census methods and record sorting technologies today. How the hell could they back in 1600? 536,870,911 just screams of a number plucked out of the air to me.

2. What kind of academic would honestly state "Not only does the public believe in such topics, but the percentages are at dangerously high level." I mean COME ON, dangerously high levels? What exactly is a "dangerous" level for belief in things like vampires and zombies? And who would honestly think that a significant percentage of the population truly believes in them, anyhow.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

2. What kind of academic would honestly state "Not only does the public believe in such topics, but the percentages are at dangerously high level." I mean COME ON, dangerously high levels? What exactly is a "dangerous" level for belief in things like vampires and zombies? And who would honestly think that a significant percentage of the population truly believes in them, anyhow.

The question is: To who is this at a dangerously high level? Obviously, the belief alone doesn't do much harm in this case to humanity. But if to many people believe in Vampires, they might take precautions. Vampires are in the media, and so are the techniques usable against them. So, obviously, "belief" in Vampires is harmful to them. Others have pointed out before that this scientist is most likely a Vampire himself trying to conceal the existence of Vampires.

1. The figure of the worlds population at 1600. I'm sorry, we can't pin down the world's poplation to a single unit nowadays using much more comprehensive census methods and record sorting technologies today. How the hell could they back in 1600? 536,870,911 just screams of a number plucked out of the air to me.

If the theory is correct that the scientist is a Vampire, he might simply have counted the world population in 1600, and is using that figure now.

Remember:

You realize, the sesame street Count stems from the Slavic believe that vampires have extreme cases of OCD and cannot pass by any group of objects without first counting how many there are. This is why they'd pour sawdust or pile up salt or sand... the vampire would be compelled to count each grain, unable to do anything else until finished, thus giving you time to stake the poor critter.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

I have it on good authority that the interview was conducted at night time.

Make of that what you will.

 

[Andor]

Of course the 'Vampire Armaggedon' scenario has been done too. There is a book called 'I am Legend' whose main character is the last human on earth.

 

[Rel]

Of course the 'Vampire Armaggedon' scenario has been done too. There is a book called 'I am Legend' whose main character is the last human on earth.

A great book. And a good thing too! I traded books with a guy I worked with (I swapped him my hardback "Jules Verne Greatest Hits" for I Am Legend) and then I got a new job and never saw him again!

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

I'm just wondering why the popular belief in these things is at "dangerously high levels."

I mean, I think it's pretty silly myself to believe in such things, but where exactly is the danger?

Because it demonstrates that a large proportion of people aren't smart enough to tell the silly beliefs from the non-silly beliefs. If they're believing in vampires or seances or bigfoot, that's harmless enough, but if they start believing in things that might end up getting people hurt or shaping public policy in nonsensical directions, that's not so harmless. Imagine if most people believed that people with green eyes were demons, despite the lack of any proof to back this up. It would be a short and brutal life for green-eyed babies, and for no reason other than stupidity.

Of course, to follow up a statement like that with a seriously flawed "proof" like that is even more worrying. Are these the defenders of right thought and good sense? There are a million reasons vampires don't exist. The exponential growth curve isn't one of them.

 

[Rel]

Of course, to follow up a statement like that with a seriously flawed "proof" like that is even more worrying. Are these the defenders of right thought and good sense? There are a million reasons vampires don't exist. The exponential growth curve isn't one of them.

There is probably a lot of money to be made in the "Idiots doing research for Morons" market.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

There is probably a lot of money to be made in the "Idiots doing research for Morons" market.

A growth industry during the 20th century, that market is now, unfortunately, glutted.