4 ms·

Correlation is not causation. How many times do people need to hear it?

• danielmarkbruce 4y ago
  If X & Y are correlated, it absolutely can be because X causes Y. And if X & Y are correlated, it's more likely X causes Y than if they were not correlated. Parroting "correlation isn't causation" every time someone trots out an argument which isn't water tight is dumb.
• grapeskin 4y ago
  When a correlation is observed all around the world, shouting “correlation is not causation” becomes a clearly weak dismissal. Open flames and house fires are very strongly correlated.
• _carbyau_ 4y ago
  Correct! Correlation is not causation. But it is a pretty serious hint worth checking to see if a causal link is there. Outright dismissal of a lead in resolving a problem is NOT helping anyone.
• l33t2328 4y ago
  So how should we investigate what _is_ a potential for causation
  • matwood 4y ago
    And only recently has the US government started allowing funds again study the answer to that question: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03882-w https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03882-w