Comments on: U.N. Overstated H.I.V. Cases by Millions

By: RWB

RWB — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:18:42 +0000

James,
I did not mean to imply that you trivialized the problem. You did not trivialize the number, but some of the commenters have.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:15:40 +0000

I think one of the problems is there are many people who considered estimates as undisputable facts.facts.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:05:34 +0000

How dare they inflate such a trivial number.

I'm not saying that the number is trivial, merely that it was overstated by millions. Heck, I'm not saying it -- it's the NYT and the UN.

By: RWB

RWB — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:56:52 +0000

What a fraud; 39 million was a disaster, but only 33 million is nothing. How dare they inflate such a trivial number.

By: Micah Tillman

Micah Tillman — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:43:30 +0000

Any word on whether relief groups see this as a good thing or a bad thing?

Less of a crisis means their goal is being achieved to a greater extent than they thought. But less of a crisis may mean lower support.

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:33:20 +0000

Ten years from now I suspect we will be seeing similar articles about global warming. Any time the political positioning starts to overwhelm the rigorous use of the scientific method you are likely to get these "Oops, the crisis isn't as bad as we thought" explanations later.