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I feel this is just a case of correlation != causation. I remember once someone, perhaps here, posted something that would randomly link things together based
by axaxs 8y ago
I feel this is just a case of correlation != causation. I remember once someone, perhaps here, posted something that would randomly link things together based on loose trends, oftentime to ridiculous results. There are a -lot- of societal changes in those years. If lead were the sole culprit, crime would have dropped off a cliff.
- refurb 8y agoAgreed. Not sure why this is the favorite pet theory on HN. It’s interesting, but very little data to actually support the connection.
- DFHippie 8y agoIt's popular largely because of the convincing data. Read the article, or any of the many other articles by Kevin Drum on the subject.
- refurb 8y agoIt's largely popular because because people gravitate towards simply explanations. It makes them feel good. Is there directional data to suggest a connection? Sure. But there have been plenty of theories like this that have turned out to be complete bunk.
- workinthehead 8y agoCould be worse. One of Reddit's favorite pet theories is that one's skull shape reliably indicates their "race".
- Elrac 8y agoDid you read the article?
- axaxs 8y agoYou can disagree with me, downvote me, and tell me why i'm wrong, but please don't make comments like this. It's rude and against guidelines. Please don't insinuate that someone hasn't read an article. "Did you even read the article? It mentions that" can be shortened to "The article mentions that."
- 1_800_UNICORN 8y agoYour comment implied that the author doesn't address this in depth in the article. Your article flippantly compares this to people finding random correlations, which is so far from the content of the article that I'd personally consider your comment rude and in bad faith.
- axaxs 8y agoMy comment was not directed at anyone, unless maybe the author himself found it rude. I did read the article, and I still don't buy it and don't like that it's presented as fact. I did not in fact mean to make light of what research was done, only that it's easy to fall into a trap of finding correlations and 'proving' them. As I read the article, I could almost immediately come up with an equally logical, unrelated-to-lead counterpoint.
- gf263 8y agoRelax