14 Comments

All so great! However, a complaint about #4, although it's brilliant, isn't this supposed to be about meaningless graphs?

Expand full comment
Jan 23, 2022·edited Jan 23, 2022

it's the "United States" qualifier that absolutely makes that donut chart.

Expand full comment

I needed a good laugh, and this provided it

Expand full comment

I'd like to see the raw data on the duck flying Sounth. With these trying times, how do you know that higher lower fewer more ducks arent flying Nonrth?

Expand full comment

The y axis shows rate of change, which is change divided by time. The X axis is shown in units of time. This is confusing, to have time as both a divisor and a unit of measurement on the same graph.

If we multiply both the y- and x-axis values by time, we can re-express Change as a function of time-squared for both human adaptability and technology., where Change = Mt^2. M evidently is a constant that may differ for each.

This is very close to Einstein's E=Mc^2. I don't know if Mr. Friedman realizes the profundity of this, but he may have accidently linked equations that govern physical reality with equations that govern the evolution of group mind in the form of culture and technological innovation.

If you keep looking at something long enough, you can eventually see it no matter where it is.

Expand full comment

Ah, Matt, I'm so pleased to see these again. I very well remember the contribution of @leafbeetle as the funniest, just perfect. And that of @bosco_hoggins as bitingly satirical. The position of TED Talks and Malcolm Gladwell on that curve nicely expresses the zeitgeist.

Expand full comment

I remember this contest, and laughing really hard at the winners. One of my favorites was a graph where the curve was a drawing of Friedman’s mustache.

Expand full comment

SOOOO FUNNY!

Expand full comment

While friedman’s graph is trash because of it’s vagueness, i agree with the sentiment that something is off with humans and our ability to beneficially adapt to (some) technology.

Expand full comment

I know this isn't the most important point but the change (solution?) in Friendmans second human adaptability graph doesn't really cut it anyways. It would solve the problem at that very moment but it wouldn't change the underlying dynamic (according to his well defined graph) that technological change is moving faster than human adaptability.

Expand full comment

Honestly, they got a lot more fun starting with "Self Regard"

Expand full comment