Quote:
For instance, here’s a seemingly reasonable statement:
1. “I ate corn for six months, and I didn’t gain weight or feel worse. Therefore corn is healthy to eat.”
It’s certainly tempting to make these sorts of statements—but I find that temptation is best resisted. To illustrate why, here’s an equivalent statement that we can all agree isn’t reasonable:
2. “I started smoking six months ago, and I feel fine. Therefore smoking is healthy.”
Permit me to drive the point home with force:
3. “I started eating strontium-90 six months ago, and I haven’t got cancer yet. Therefore radiation exposure is healthy.”
4. “I started shooting heroin six months ago. It’s solved all my anxiety issues, and I’ve lost twenty pounds! Therefore shooting heroin is healthy.”
5. “I started having unprotected sex with Tanzanian hookers six months ago, and I feel great! Therefore unprotected sex with high-risk strangers is healthy.”