[AccessD] [dba-OT] Why You Shouldn't Use Spreadsheets For Important Work

Actually, it's very interesting reading the various discussions starting at
the original link in Gary's post.  If I understood correctly:

1. The author (Piketty) made all his data publicly available - which is why
the analysis was even possible - so he was unlikely trying to hide anything.
2. The possibly erroneous data only affected one chapter of his book.
3. After reworking his data to 'fix' it, the Economist displayed the
differences, and basically figured that his overall conclusions wouldn't
have changed anyway.

Doug


On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 11:23 AM, John Bartow <jbartow at winhaven.net> wrote:

> Lol. Another good post James.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of James Button
> Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 12:59 PM
> To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] [dba-OT] Why You Shouldn't Use Spreadsheets For
> Important Work
>
> Maybe the lesson that needs to be absorbed is:
>
> Don't trust declarations from those who are not truly competent in the
> facilities they are using.
>
> Now that would also cover lots of politicians dealing with social support,
> law finance, regulatory and enforcement organisations as opposed to
> oration.
>
>
> JimB
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of John Bartow
> Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 6:22 PM
> To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] [dba-OT] Why You Shouldn't Use Spreadsheets For
> Important Work
>
> Lol. Good post Gary.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Gary Kjos
> Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 9:14 PM
> To: Off Topic
> Cc: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] [dba-OT] Why You Shouldn't Use Spreadsheets For
> Important Work
>
> And so WHY exactly shouldn't we trust them?  I never got that. Because shit
> is in there that could be fucked up?  Just like ANY freaking program.  What
> a crock.
>
> There are ways of testing spreadsheets. No doubt spreadsheets get misused.
> But to say all spreadsheets are evil is not right at all either.
>
> Here's a one word tip.  Crossfoot.
>
> GK
>
> GK
>
>
> On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 8:50 PM, <aclawhon at hiwaay.net> wrote:
>
> > I haven't read this (yet), but it looks like an economics professor
> > has written a book advancing a hypothesis that all us wage slaves are
> > doomed to misery and poverty while the folks who own and control
> > capital will eventually own and control everything.  (I suppose this
> > is the long overdue update of "Das Capital" by Karl Marx.)
> >
> > The only problem with this professor's theory is that he relied on
> > erroneous error-plagued spreadsheet data to support his "facts" and
> > conclusions.
> >
> >   http://science.slashdot.org/story/14/05/27/220202/why-you-
> > shouldnt-use-spreadsheets-for-important-work
> >
> > Susan, maybe you can insert a chapter (or a few pages) into your
> > upcoming Excel book warning people not to get too infatuated with
> > spreadsheets.  (I wonder why articles like this aren't more prevalent
> > about the misuse and/or misinterpretation of data generated from
> > databases?)
> >
> > Positive Alan of Huntsville
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Gary Kjos
> garykjos at gmail.com
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