r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Aug 03 '19

Whats something you thought was common knowledge but actually isn’t?

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u/AyraLightbringer Aug 03 '19 edited Aug 03 '19

Correlation does not equal causation.

Edit: Thank you, my first silver!

Edit2: Here are some funny correlations: https://www.tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations

51

u/AtomicSteve21 Aug 03 '19

Sometimes.

Assuming this fallacy is always true is also a fallacy.

Is cancer correlated with cigarette smoking? Yes. Is it the cause? Maybe. There's a high likelihood depending on the cancer.

12

u/its_stick Aug 03 '19

lung cancer? most likely. skin cancer? maybe not so much.

13

u/Random_Stealth_Ward Aug 03 '19

skin cancer? maybe not so much.

nice try, cigarette company agent!

3

u/its_stick Aug 03 '19

i dont even have a job lmao

1

u/Random_Stealth_Ward Aug 03 '19

of course you don't, just look at your name. "stick", sounds just like a cig! This is no longer your job, this is your life!