Gaslighting via Statistics
Truncated axes, cherry-picked baselines, removed context and selective time windows make ordinary noise look like a crisis or a triumph; the chart persuades before the reader thinks.
An everyday example
A 'revenue collapse' chart whose y-axis runs from 98 to 100.
What it can cost you
Reacting to a manufactured trend; accepting a favourable comparison whose baseline was chosen for the purpose.
Warning signs
- The chart moved me before I read the numbers.
- The baseline was chosen by the presenter.
One thing to do
For any chart, check the axis origin, the time window and the baseline; ask for the full series and the denominator.
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