This is a similar issue that’s going on in another thread where people feel you’re cherrypicking results rather than sampling randomly in a way that will paint an accurate picture. Perhaps this dialogue can help to explain the concerns that others have expressed:
Person One: Here are 5 studies showing that coffee causes cancer, which suggests we should limit our coffee consumption.
Person Two: Actually if you do a comprehensive survey of the literature, you’ll fine 3 studies showing that coffee causes cancer, 17 showing no effect, and 3 showing the coffee prevents cancer. On balance there’s no stronger evidence that coffee causes cancer than that it prevents it, and in fact it probably has no effect.
Person One: Thanks for the correction! [Edits post to say: “Here are 3 studies showing that coffee causes cancer, which suggests we should limit our coffee consumption.”]
Person Two: I mean… that’s technically true, but I don’t feel the problem is solved.
This is a similar issue that’s going on in another thread where people feel you’re cherrypicking results rather than sampling randomly in a way that will paint an accurate picture. Perhaps this dialogue can help to explain the concerns that others have expressed:
Person One: Here are 5 studies showing that coffee causes cancer, which suggests we should limit our coffee consumption.
Person Two: Actually if you do a comprehensive survey of the literature, you’ll fine 3 studies showing that coffee causes cancer, 17 showing no effect, and 3 showing the coffee prevents cancer. On balance there’s no stronger evidence that coffee causes cancer than that it prevents it, and in fact it probably has no effect.
Person One: Thanks for the correction! [Edits post to say: “Here are 3 studies showing that coffee causes cancer, which suggests we should limit our coffee consumption.”]
Person Two: I mean… that’s technically true, but I don’t feel the problem is solved.