Every dataset asks a simple question: will you let one number move the story? The mean listens to everyone… including the loudest guest. The median keeps its balance even when someone shouts. Neither is “better.” They’re different kinds of fairness. If you’re setting policy where a few extreme values would distort resources, lean median. If you’re assessing cumulative effort where every unit should count, lean mean. Show both when the stakes are high: “Median = 12 minutes; Mean = 18 (skewed by three 90-minute sessions).” The point isn’t picking a pet statistic; it’s picking the truth that fits your decision.
