The Sun has an interesting graphic featuring self-reported data on which neighbourhoods through the Lower Mainland have the most trick-or-treaters. It may not seem like earth shattering stuff on the face of it but the accompanying article makes an interesting point. I've discussed before on this board how the social interconnectedness of a population plays a role in driving its social behaviours (e.g. attending football games) and in a similar fashion this article indicates that trick-or-treating data such as these can offer clues as to how socially interconnected a neighbourhood is. Now, I won't attempt to say anything from this graphic about which neighbourhoods have more Lions fans but it does strike me as an interesting social indicator nonetheless. Certainly one might suppose that neighbourhoods that get more kids have lower crime rates, for example.
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/ma ... story.html
Excerpt:
The trick-or-treat count is the brainchild of Andy Yan, a researcher with BTA Works, the research arm of Bing Thom Architects.
In addition to being fun, Yan believes the count can also be a useful indicator of the social cohesion of a neighbourhood.
A neighbourhood with lots of trick-or-treaters is one where parents feel comfortable enough to let their kids knock on neighbours’ doors — and where those neighbours, in turn, feel connected enough to the kids to give them free candy.
“It’s one of the ongoing challenges for urban planning,” said Yan. “How do we ensure, as we grow all the cities in Metro Vancouver, that we have a level of family-friendliness.”
Urban design is also important, said Yan, with dense, pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods being more trick-or-treat friendly than wide suburban lots or security-controlled highrises.
Sports can be a peculiar thing. When partaking in fiction, like a book or movie, we adopt a "Willing Suspension of Disbelief" for enjoyment's sake. There's a similar force at work in sports: "Willing Suspension of Rationality". If you doubt this, listen to any conversation between rival team fans. You even see it among fans of the same team. Fans argue over who's the better QB or goalie, and selectively cite stats that support their views while ignoring those that don't.
