Lying with gambling numbers

Last week Thursday, the Observer carried a caption which said, 'Views split on whether gambling is acceptable', based on the results of a Don Anderson poll. The news story said "Jamaicans remain sharply divided on the long controversial issue of gambling with a 13 percentage point difference between both sides." However, a 13 per cent difference between those for and against cannot be regarded as 'sharply divided' or 'views split'.

When one read that views were split one was led to believe that it was a 51 per cent to 49 per cent, perhaps even 52 per cent to 48 per cent, at most a four per cent difference but not a massive 13 per cent. A 13 per cent difference between political parties in a general election would lead to a landslide victory for one side. And in any endeavour a difference of 13 per cent in one's favour would be a handsome victory or considered a dominant position.

It is confusing to classify a 13 per cent difference as 'Views split' because almost every poll result and its analysis would be liable to be seen as spilt views.

This national poll conducted by Market Research Services Limited asked Jamaicans whether they agreed with the statement "gambling is acceptable". This Don Anderson poll found 43 per cent agreeing that there was no real problem with gambling and indicated that this is an acceptable form of behaviour. However, 56 per cent disagreed with the notion of the acceptability of gambling.

It is said that persons, especially 'spin doctors', engage in 'lying with statistics' and in the same manner the Observer could be charged with 'lying with gambling numbers.' It must be a setback to business interests and the gambling lobby to discover that after the massive media advertising campaign, the majority of Jamaicans agree with the position of the Church, that gambling is not an acceptable social behaviour.

The media practitioners must be careful of twisting data to suit their purposes and interests. It will affect their trustworthiness and credibility.

Trust scores

In a recent Don Anderson poll concerning who Jamaicans found to be most trustworthy, the Observer said, " ... while media personalities and business persons recorded trust scores in excess of 46 per cent each ..." What does 'in excess of 46 per cent' mean? 47 per cent or 59 per cent, a mere 13 per cent difference? It is little wonder that most Jamaicans do not trust the media!

Obviously, ordinary Jamaicans have had the experience that gambling has many more negatives than positives. They recognise that while a few have won, especially owners of gambling enterprises, the vast majority of Jamaicans have lost money in gambling ventures. They have also witnessed many families suffer because persons have become addicted to gambling.

Unacceptable behaviour

The poll discovered that gambling is an unacceptable behaviour and the analysis is also unacceptable.

PS: Recently, a family member of Colin Campbell said my article titled 'Trafigura revisited' (September 16) was malicious. In the article I said, "Furthermore, there was a settlement by a bank with Colin Campbell, in which he was awarded a large sum. I understand that an employee infringed his rights. However, this award gives the impression that Colin Campbell has been able to enrich himself from a scandal. This should not be, and sends the wrong signal." She took umbrage at that, claiming that Mr Campbell did not enrich himself but has lost money over this Trafigura episode. She did not, perhaps understandably, tell me how much he had lost or was awarded.

I was stating a principle which I believe in and had no intention to be malicious. And if he did not enrich himself from a scandal then my point would not apply to him.

Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'The Cross and the Machete: Native Baptists of Jamaica - Identity, Ministry and Legacy'. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com