Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Launch HN: OurWorldInData (YC W19 Nonprofit) – Data on World’s Largest Problems

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 68 posts

Re: Launch HN: OurWorldInData (YC W19 Nonprofit) – Data on World’s Largest Problems

#51

Post by mushufasa »

Hannah_OWID wrote: post #45
mushufasa wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the navigation bar is very busy. It shows up over multiple lines, with different sized and shaded buttons. On mobile/tablet, it takes multiple screen lengths. It seems overwhelming and unfocused. Perhaps because the navigation is overwhelming, you decided to duplicate your dropdown menu for most of the landing page. I'm not sure why there is such an emphasis on your media coverage and authors at the top of th…

Thanks so much for this detailed feedback on the website and our design flow. It's really valuable to get an honest critique of how people find using the site. These questions/issues of navigation, landing page, structure are all things we're grappling with at the moment and have been making small tweaks then reviewing what difference this makes to how visitors explore. The rationale for highlighting media coverage a…

I think the rigor of the data-driven analysis speaks for itself in terms of credibility and trust, and is the unique strength of your initiative to highlight. Your 'about' page is already very strong to demonstrate your organization and affiliations.

Re: Launch HN: OurWorldInData (YC W19 Nonprofit) – Data on World’s Largest Problems

#52

Post by korax »

ourworldindata wrote: post #38
ikeboy wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A subreddit would be great, no minimum size to open

I didn't think of that. Sounds like a good idea!

Or a Kialo argument tree, in case you want to facilitate, capture and visualize thoughtful reasoning in a multi layered argument tree.

Here is one I participated in about G censoring in CN: https://www.kialo.com/18304/

Re: Launch HN: OurWorldInData (YC W19 Nonprofit) – Data on World’s Largest Problems

#53

Post by andrewmutz »

nettamar wrote: post #41
kauffj wrote: post #6

One possible improvement is to provide a way for the community at large to discuss/criticize possible problems with the data as well as for Our World in Data to respond to criticisms from the public. Recently, Bill Gates issued a Tweet demonstrating excitement for progress in diminishing global poverty, citing Our World in Data: https://twitter.com/BillGates/status/1086662632587907072 This received substantial push b…

The Guardian article by Hickel is misinforming readers. Hickel just wants attention for himself. Nothing else. He does not care about the steps the world's poorest have made. Yes, small steps, but it's important and it's awful to spread misinformation like he does. (Also, for The Guardian he chose the headline 'Bill Gates says poverty is decreasing. He couldn’t be more wrong' and elsewhere Hickel is acknowledging tha…

I think a more charitable interpretation of Hickel's article is that all people experience confirmation bias and much of the data presented on OurWorldInData is inconsistent with the Hickel's political beliefs.

It is not just Hickel that experiences this. Many people have a world view and political view that assumes that the current world is in terrible shape and the prevailing political establishment is failing all of us. When people with these entrenched views encounter the trends cataloged on OurWorldInData, a great deal of motivated reasoning occurs in order to discredit the trends.

Re: Launch HN: OurWorldInData (YC W19 Nonprofit) – Data on World’s Largest Problems

#54

Post by elefanten »

Quanttek wrote: post #31
ourworldindata wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A community discussion forum to discuss research would be great. I'd be interested in hearing what you would suggest? We have discussed whether something like StackOverflow, but for global development, would be possible. I think we are too small for it though. If we'd build a platform we'd need a big group of engaged contributors and we don't think we are big enough for that yet. I read the newspaper article and have…

I'm on mobile, so I can't provide you the full run-down. In short, I feel like the main problem is an understanding of "development" that may agree with popular conceptions, the UN, and the concept used by economists. However, this doesn't incorporate the thoughtful critiques of critical scholars that show the limits of such a narrow concept centered around economic development. There's a lot on how the cultural, soc…

I really doubt that people working on development in 2019 haven't even heard of critical development studies, especially Shiva who's been making these arguments for like 40 years.

Like, twenty years ago, a basic education on the topic would make the notion of "how the cultural, social, political, and ecological dimensions are neglected" a primary subject.

Every "popular" economist and UN official has doubtless engaged with these ideas. The fact that their work doesn't revolve around them or immediately agree with every component of them doesn't mean the development community is following narrow ideologies from 60 years ago.

Re: Launch HN: OurWorldInData (YC W19 Nonprofit) – Data on World’s Largest Problems

#55

Post by elefanten »

janimo wrote: post #9

"Facts can be a powerful weapon against fear, a gloomy worldview, learned helplessness". This is so true. However I also notice a frequent and not so helpful use of such data, namely as a way of countering people's legitimate complains about their current state. It is especially concerning when the positive trends are touted as consequences of certain public policies, even when the correlation is questionable. There…

Have any recommendations for good pieces related to this debate you mention?

I'm sure there are lots of heated online debates, but any good ones in mind?

Re: Launch HN: OurWorldInData (YC W19 Nonprofit) – Data on World’s Largest Problems

#57

Post by [deleted] »

janimo wrote: post #9

"Facts can be a powerful weapon against fear, a gloomy worldview, learned helplessness". This is so true. However I also notice a frequent and not so helpful use of such data, namely as a way of countering people's legitimate complains about their current state. It is especially concerning when the positive trends are touted as consequences of certain public policies, even when the correlation is questionable. There…

[deleted]

Re: Launch HN: OurWorldInData (YC W19 Nonprofit) – Data on World’s Largest Problems

#58

Post by rvrabec »

I like the idea of shifting to a demand-driven model. Unrelatedly, check out https://datausa.io/ if you haven't. Deloitte/MIT created a similar platform for US statistics. Doesn't seem like it's being maintained but it looks pretty/is easy to navigate.

Re: Launch HN: OurWorldInData (YC W19 Nonprofit) – Data on World’s Largest Problems

#59

Post by alphakilo »

This look really interesting. I am really happy to see something with great benefit to society in YC. I would suggest looking at Future Agenda [1]. I have worked with them in the university setting and both OWID and FA seem to be in line.

[1] https://www.futureagenda.org/

Post reply on HN