Duncan Heenan wrote:
"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Duncan
Heenan
writes


More people die in bed than anywhere else, so statistically
laying
in bed is
the most dangerous thing you can do.

Rubbish.

You may be seeking a clever way to make a point, but please don't
denigrate a serious science in doing so.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the
river"

What serious science do you refer to? Medicine or Statistics?
I was using twisted irony to illustrate the difficulty in some
cases
of deciding causality when interpreting statistical data, which has
been something I've been involved in professionally for much of my
adult life. I find that in serious issues it often helps to
exercise
one's sense of humour; I apologise that in this case it led to a
failure in yours. Serious science doesn't have to be solemn
science.
As for Medicine, I am still waiting for the apology from the
medical
world for forcing me to drink full fat milk at school, because 'it
was good for me', and now condemning me when I do so. I was also
taught at school that sunshine was good for me, and now I'm told
it's
not. I wonder what the next fashion in that 'serious science' will
be?

Sure, sure. As a statistician you understand the problems. The clot
who says "My grandad smoked forty a day and lived to 97", however,
does not understand the statistical basis of epidemiology, and is
usually drawing an inference you would not draw. You know that
knowledge advances unevenly, and with set-backs; and there are indeed
intellectual fashions; but even the least solemn medical science does
discover facts.

Mike.