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by terravion 3181 days ago
Academic credentials do not create truth. If she works at 538 and knowing nothing else about here, I'd wager she is probably better at statistics than most academics, especially those in social sciences who are likely to study this problem. If you actually have a problem with her research, point out the error. Employing an ad hominem like credentialism only makes her findings more credible at first glance.
2 comments

> If she works at 538 and knowing nothing else about here, I'd wager she is probably better at statistics than most academics, especially those in social sciences who are likely to study this problem.

I wouldn't assume that. It's clear that Nate Silver is excellent at what he does, but that doesn't mean everyobe who has ever been affiliated with 538 in any capacity is an expert at the use of statistics; the employment-based credentialing you propose is at least as invalid as the academic credentialism you criticize.

Worked at 538, past tense. Moved on a few months ago, though well after the gun investigation she took the data from. I think she's at [Wave](https://www.wave.com/), now.