4 ms·

That’s just careful wording. Scientists are wary of making hard statements, unless they have absolute proof, which in this case requires massive epidemiological

That’s just careful wording. Scientists are wary of making hard statements, unless they have absolute proof, which in this case requires massive epidemiological studies over many decades. It doesn’t mean there isn’t any reason to look at the potential risks; on the contrary, the sooner we acknowledge the risks and take steps to mitigate them, the sooner we have pre-empted any possible health outcomes, independent of what exactly the cause and effect turns out to be. That is, unless you really, really believe microplastics are somehow good for you.

robertlagrant 5y ago
> That is, unless you really, really believe microplastics are somehow good for you. This is excluding the middle. Scientists aren't careful because that's some natural state of scientists that has no meaning in the real world. They're careful because drawing noncareful conclusions (or fallacious ones such as excluded middle) is just making stuff up.
brigandish 5y ago
I'm fully aware of careful wording. I'm also aware that to presume some meaning other than what the wording explicitly states as if that is the most likely possibility is not careful. Not only that, to infer something stronger and then imply that it is the actual meaning of that careful wording is simply an assumption not merited by the facts. > It doesn’t mean there isn’t any reason to look at the potential risks Yes, that is what the careful wording actually implies. If you'd been more careful with your reading then you could've saved writing the first 2 paragraphs. > That is, unless you really, really believe microplastics are somehow good for you. You provided some evidence (that is a generous description) wrapped in some snark that didn't back up your claims. What I believe has nothing to do with that, and to intimate that my assessment is based on belief is absurd, I read the results you "provided" - believers don't tend to bother with facts that might contradict them. Be more careful with your words in future, that'd be my advice.

robertlagrant 5y ago

> That is, unless you really, really believe microplastics are somehow good for you. This is excluding the middle. Scientists aren't careful because that's some natural state of scientists that has no meaning in the real world. They're careful because drawing noncareful conclusions (or fallacious ones such as excluded middle) is just making stuff up.

brigandish 5y ago

I'm fully aware of careful wording. I'm also aware that to presume some meaning other than what the wording explicitly states as if that is the most likely possibility is not careful. Not only that, to infer something stronger and then imply that it is the actual meaning of that careful wording is simply an assumption not merited by the facts. > It doesn’t mean there isn’t any reason to look at the potential risks Yes, that is what the careful wording actually implies. If you'd been more careful with your reading then you could've saved writing the first 2 paragraphs. > That is, unless you really, really believe microplastics are somehow good for you. You provided some evidence (that is a generous description) wrapped in some snark that didn't back up your claims. What I believe has nothing to do with that, and to intimate that my assessment is based on belief is absurd, I read the results you "provided" - believers don't tend to bother with facts that might contradict them. Be more careful with your words in future, that'd be my advice.