Quote:
Originally Posted by rem736
if you have flown before and have subsequently gotten scared because of it, then yes, you get to answer the question.
but if you have never flown (and your fear was from another source), then you can't objectively compare the two modes of transportation in terms of preference. there is no point of comparison if there is no experience.
you can say that you've always traveled by train and given the choice of other modes of transportation, would still prefer to travel by train. and the valid stats would be just x% uses this and y% uses that. you can't infer x% and y% as preferences, just usage. but in a comparison study of this vs. that, you have to be experienced with both this and that to make a valid preference decision.
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If a survey asks me if I prefer train or plane, they're not looking for an objective analysis of the merits of each. They're looking for my personal preference--my subjective opinion--which can be based on anything, logical or illogical, sensible or stupid. I may have experience to back up my opinion, or I may not. It's still my opinion, and I get to tell it to the survey takers, and they get to tick off the proper boxes.