"Alex Horvath" wrote in message
om...
One often hears statistics such as deaths from scuba diving being
approximately equal to mowing lawns. Are these statistics based on the
population that regularly engages in these activities or the total
population?

If the person making the comparison didn't qualify the quoted statistic, and
cite the source, it is pretty much meaningless. Most of what you hear
otherwise may even qualify as urban legends.

IE: donkeys more dangerous then airplanes:
http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/donkey.htm