Getting paid to be wrong

This Dilbert cartoon in another blog reminded me of conversations I use to have with my Dad. His biggest pet peeve was weather forecasters.  He held them personally responsible for bad forecasts. I grew up in the Philly area and we used to watch the ABC affiliate and the weather guy was Dave Roberts. He was there forever. If he said the weather was going to be nice on the weekend, my Dad held him at his word. If it ended up cloudy or rainy, Dave's ears must have been burning. "That fucking Dave Roberts said it was going to be nice, he should be fired, I'm writing them a letter"  I would try to explain that the best a weatherman can do from an accuracy standpoint is tell you what happened yesterday and today. Tomorrow? A best guess most of the time, even with all the fancy computers today.  I remember one year, one of the stations started a contest with their forecast against the Farmers Almanac. The Almanac publishes their forecast about 16 months in advance (like they release it in September for the following 16 months I think)  My recollection is that the station stopper the contest after a few months as they were getting their asses kicked. So these guys get paid big bucks for being wrong all the time.

Dave Roberts has a famous son, who is he?

I can't for the life of me figure out why any station has a weather man or woman or person. Can't the anchor guy/gal  just read the weather?







Who else gets paid for being wrong all the time? How about economists?  These guys hardly agree on anything. Not only are they wrong on predicting the economy but they are usually wrong on telling you what happened in the past. So, they're a rung down from weathermen in that regard.  Every once in a while I see an economist getting an award for the most accurate forecast. Usually you never hear from that person again. It's the blind squirrel finding an acorn thing.

How about stock picking experts?  Wrong all the time.

Guys who draft in the NFL?  The world is littered with First round picks that are now picking up trash for a living.

If I was wrong as often as these guys in my job, I would be seeking employment elsewhere.


Want to add to my list?  Feel free!