Date:         Wed, 2 Dec 2009 18:23:19 -0500
Reply-To:     Arthur Tabachneck <art297@NETSCAPE.NET>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Arthur Tabachneck <art297@NETSCAPE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Slightly OT: Graphic of Unemployment in the United States
Comments: To: Jonathan Goldberg <jgoldberg@BIOMEDSYS.COM>

Jonathan,

I was quite willing to leave this with agreeing to disagree, but you can't
"complete disagree" with my statement that I find something confusing.

I don't know if I saw the map in its original colors, I looked at the
version found at: http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/229-vital-
statistics-of-a-deadly-campaign-the-minard-map/

or, in short form: http://xrl.us/bgeyxz

But, even though both Wainer and Tufte had high accolades for that map, I
still have high doubts that the general public would take the time to
understand what it contains.  Since my own audience is the general public,
again, I wouldn't use the technique as I find that including too much
information defeats the purpose of conveying or supporting an idea.

Art
---------
 On Wed, 2 Dec 2009 14:02:47 -0500, Jonathan Goldberg
<jgoldberg@BIOMEDSYS.COM> wrote:

>I completely disagree with:
>
>"What the author identifies as "the best graph ever made" is one that is so
>confusing (to me) that I would never try to replicate the methods used as
>I'm sure it would totally confuse at least some readers."
>
>It helps to see it in good resolution and color.  The graph is indeed
>amazing in packing a lot of information onto one page in clear, easy to
>decode form.
>
>Like Wainer and Tufte (AKA god) I think that in almost all cases more
>information is better if it can be done clearly.
>
>As a general rule, concerning graphics, Tufte is right.  Think hard before
>disagreeing with him.