How is a per-capita incarceration rate, with a reference to the superset included directly on the plot, misleading? Other than including more than El Salvador for the sake of external reference, which is almost certainly a size issue.

[–] sexy_peach@feddit.org 2 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

I thought the states were being compared to other countries. Didn't look properly on the phone.

[–] then_three_more@lemmy.world 15 points 16 hours ago

They are (which is the point) the countries are in orange USA (as an overall average) and el Salvador are the only countries that make it on to the list.

[–] naught@sh.itjust.works 11 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

They are! The other countries are so far down on the graph they are not visible

[–] sexy_peach@feddit.org 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Well yes because the US as a whole has a high number. If you added cities they would have even more in the high numbers. What's the point about that?

[–] maniclucky@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Because US states have populations and areas comparable to other countries. Just the US topping the charts is expected. How many states you have to get through to see other countries is interesting.

[–] sexy_peach@feddit.org 1 points 18 minutes ago

See? This makes it look like it's as misleading as I said. This is prisoners per 100.000, that means it doesn't matter how populous a state or country is. That's exactly why comparing states with countries is misleading. For every state that has a higher number than the US average there's states that have a lower number.