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Posted by: eddie ( )
Date: October 06, 2010 08:55PM
Proof by Anecdote

This seems to be one of TBMs' favorite fallacies:

"Many people believe that their own experience trumps scientific evidence, and that merely relating that experience is sufficient to prove a given claim.

Starling: "Every scientific test of magical energy bracelets shows that they have no effect whatsoever."
Bombo: "But they work for me, therefore I know for a fact they're valid and that science is wrong."

Is Bombo's analysis of his own experience wrong? If it disagrees with well-performed controlled testing, then yes, he probably is wrong. Personal experiences are subject to influences, biases, preconceived notions, random variances, and are uncontrolled. Relating an anecdotal experience proves nothing."

http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4217

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Posted by: Rebeckah ( )
Date: October 06, 2010 11:02PM
Yes. Subjective evidence is highly unreliable (although everyone tends to favor it).

Objective evidence is the most reliable, though. :)

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Posted by: Rebecca ( )
Date: October 07, 2010 07:43AM
Its just like proof by example. For example: All odd numbers are prime

1 - check
3 - check
5 - check
7 - check
9 - experimental error
11 - check
13 - check

See, all odd numbers are prime!

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