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https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/scandinavia





Also Nackled black licorice. Honestly, what the hell is the matter with twins separated at birth?


Can anyone give some context for this comic? Why does a lot of data come from there?

It's a lil' bit convoluted:

Each person in each Scandi country has a "Social Security Number", essentially a way by which the state identifies you, given at birth (or when you move to the country). I imagine it sounds somewhat surveillance-y to people unfamiliar with it, but with the vast amount of benefits the state provides, it makes sense they would have to identify people somehow. The number is used essentially every time you're in contact with an official entity - claiming benefits, going to the doctor, enrolling in schools, etc.

So the state doesn't read your emails, but knows where you live, when you were born, and a lot of sort of general big-picture stuff you're currently doing. This make it very easy to:
Make big statistical data sets.
Send letters out to a large number of people of appropriate age groups or specific demographics or whichever, inviting them to participate in studies.
Track twins living under different circumstances, then invite them to participate in studies etc.

This last one - twin studies - is especially interesting as it allows some measurement of the age-old nature vs. nurture question. Are you born to like pickled herring, or raised to like pickled herring. Are your political views dependent on your biological parents or the people who raise you. That sorta thing.

Thanks!

FWIW that's not alien to me, here in Israel we also have an ID number for every citizen, and they also keep track of your basic info, where you live, etc. It's also how they manage elections - you are only allowed to vote in a place near your home, and you get an invitation in the post.

It's definitely better than the what-the-hell-are-you-fucking-doing system that USA has. What the hell is a social security number? If is not built for the purpose it's used in!

Everyone have different concerns about social science and I am glad to see in this comic here. It is clear that some of us are attracted to the idea of being a data scientist, while others are more interested in learning how to build a business or develop products. I just visited 99papers review to know outstanding comments of people as I am going to write some papers on social science topic.

Because this is so helpful to me, I believe that this blog is among the best of those that are available to me. I am grateful that you have made this helpful information freely available. run 3

NeatNit wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 11, 2019 10:11 pm

Thanks!

FWIW that's not alien to me, here in Israel we also have an ID number for every citizen, and they also keep track of your basic info, where you live, etc. It's also how they manage elections - you are only allowed to vote in a place near your home, and you get an invitation in the post.

It's definitely better than the what-the-hell-are-you-fucking-doing system that USA has. What the hell is a social security number? If is not built for the purpose it's used in!

There are a few things that I'm not so sure about when it comes to my nationality. For example, is it really "Israeli" or "Jewish?" I've never really been sure, and I'm not the only one. Many people in Israel don't really know what their country's identity is, io games or even what the word "Israeli" actually stands for. But that's changing now.