Related but slightly different fallacy: there are likely to be more auto accidents on days when a lot of people carry umbrellas. This does not mean socially discouraging umbrellas will result in fewer auto accidents.
Here in California we passed Proposition 65 that requires businesses to put signs up warning consumers if a product contains possible carcinogens. Naturally, the signs are everywhere nowdays. I'd like to see nationwide legislation requiring warning labels on anything that could possibly contribute to climate change so that someday mittens will have to have warning labels stating they could lead to harsh winters and AVI will have to edit this post. :)
For a while now I've suspected that lower serum cholesterol was about as effective for lessening heart disease risk as artificially lowering white blood cell counts would be for combatting infection. If we ever get a handle on this causation/correlation thing, our science is going to be blazingly powerful.
Someday, some genius will start putting little "PROPOSITION 65 WARNING: This label contains substances known to the State of California to cause cancer" labels on every Prop 65 label they can find in the state. I'm sure the inks or the plastic used to laminate them cause cancer when fed to mice in sufficient quantities.
Related but slightly different fallacy: there are likely to be more auto accidents on days when a lot of people carry umbrellas. This does not mean socially discouraging umbrellas will result in fewer auto accidents.
ReplyDeletehttp://tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations
ReplyDeleteWell, darn. So I was wrong in thinking losing my mittens and forgetting my umbrella were helping mankind???
ReplyDeleteWell, all I can say is crossing my fingers improves the results of my wishes.
ReplyDeleteHere in California we passed Proposition 65 that requires businesses to put signs up warning consumers if a product contains possible carcinogens. Naturally, the signs are everywhere nowdays. I'd like to see nationwide legislation requiring warning labels on anything that could possibly contribute to climate change so that someday mittens will have to have warning labels stating they could lead to harsh winters and AVI will have to edit this post. :)
ReplyDeleteProp 65 itself no doubt contains carcinogens.
ReplyDeleteFor a while now I've suspected that lower serum cholesterol was about as effective for lessening heart disease risk as artificially lowering white blood cell counts would be for combatting infection. If we ever get a handle on this causation/correlation thing, our science is going to be blazingly powerful.
ReplyDeleteSomeday, some genius will start putting little "PROPOSITION 65 WARNING: This label contains substances known to the State of California to cause cancer" labels on every Prop 65 label they can find in the state. I'm sure the inks or the plastic used to laminate them cause cancer when fed to mice in sufficient quantities.
ReplyDelete