• leftytighty@slrpnk.net
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    2 days ago

    I don’t think you’re getting it.

    If Canada has 10 people and 6 of them are heroin addicts, and China has 1000 people and 60 of them are heroin addicts, then even though China has 10 times as many addicts they’re doing a better job curbing addiction since only 6% rather than 60% of people are addicted.

    • Joe Dyrt@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      2 days ago

      I understand percentages. But in your example of addicts, it’s the number of people that counts in my book, not whether or percentage is lower. I also understand that more people, pollute more, absolutely. So to think that our small population needs to make a significant effort to reduce pollution , which is absolute, is a guilt reaction.

        • Joe Dyrt@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          54 minutes ago

          It is certainly one way to compare. But in terms of global change, absolute numbers must be considered. No matter hours many people there are, we all breathe the same air. With more people in the area, there’s more pollutants in the air, whether it’s per capita or not. So while it may be logical to compare per capita, it’s not really the practical reality.