4 ms·

Anecdotes have value. Stories have value. Opinions can have value. Evidence is not a condition that necessarily drives change. Your total dismissal of the piece

• BookmarkSaver 11y ago
  There are over 300 million people in this country alone. The fact that anecdotes about ageism exist means almost literally nothing. There needs to be actual data that there is a problem. Several people just won over $100 million in the lottery. Just because you know one of them doesn't make your anecdote about lottery players a valid basis for writing an article encouraging readers to try the lottery. Without evidence, without actual data, attempting to make an argument about a societal trend is less than useless, it is just empty rhetoric that only exists to distract from actual discussions that might have a chance of encouraging positive change. "Anecdotes" and "stories" and "opinions" might have value, but in this context they can only be used to illustrate a point. Not as the basis for making that point. Total dismissal is warranted. This guy isn't a family member or friend venting to you, this is a guy publishing an op-ed on a big website. It requires either solid logic or data. He provides neither.
  • aklemm 11y ago
    It's in the opinion section where it belongs. You're setting a standard so high for public discourse that it's essential worthless (I'll get you a source for that asap.)
• SerLava 11y ago
  "Ageism: A Worsening Epidemic" can only be interpreted as an assertion that the incidence of ageism is increasing. Anecdotes can have value, but they have no value in confirming this assertion.