Expert: Hank Hokamp - 5/30/2008

Question
can you explain to me in detail why it is wrong to compare, juxtapose, commensurate apples and oranges? thanks.

Answer
   Good Morning, Mikaail:

   In the more germane area of environmental Comparative Risk Assessment (CRA), I have found it useful to distinguish between two different kinds of comparative activities that differ in motivation as well as in methodology. For want of a better pair of descriptions, these can be called the "small" and "large" versions of  CRA. "Small" CRA involves the quantitative side-by-side comparison of single risks. Ten or fifteen years ago, the most well-known (actually, notorious) examples of "small" CRA were the juxtaposition of markedly dissimilar risks, often with one of the pair voluntary and the other the result of involuntary exposure. Such "hang-gliding is riskier than benzene" comparisons fell into disrepute because they were seen by many as manipulative and grounded in numerical sleight-of-hand rather than in a neutral desire to inform and help put risks in perspective. Still, the "didactic" type of CRA where disparate risks are compared has never fallen completely out of favor and may in fact be making a comeback. As recently as April 1994, a televised documentary used as its centerpiece a table of risks purporting to show, among other things, that smoking cigarettes takes several years off the life of the average person while exposure to pesticide residues only reduces life expectancy by 27 days on average.

   By the way, JUXTAPOSITION means two random objects moving in parallel, a technique intended to stimulate creativity. On balance: You can't compare apples and oranges.

   Hope this helps, Mikaail.

                                        HANK