An Anecdote about Anecdotes

I often hear academic types, and general arguers, get all puffed up, on their high horse, about how anecdotes don’t prove anything.  The main idea is that it isn’t a scientific experiment (like experiments flawless), and is no evidence at all.  And in fact that an anecdote should be looked upon in disdain.  Well, as far as I can see this is just formalized brain-washing to denigrate these little stories when in fact the often have value.  Firstly, while they don’t prove an idea, a real life example related to the idea can definitely lend support to the truth of the matter.  This experience could be an exception, or fall in the minority of cases, but it is still evidence.  But there is one case where an anecdote can conclusively prove or disprove an idea.  That’s when someone states a generality.  Like “All apples are red.”  Well, I say, “Yesterday, I ate a green apple.”  My little one incident anecdote totally and thoroughly disproves the statement.

Now, anecdotes can be misused by a particular person, if they claim that their one incident of some happening proves that all cases are the same.  This would just be bad logic.  But the more anecdotes supporting an idea, the more evidence builds up, especially if there is not evidence to the contrary.  That means perhaps serious attention ought to be given to the idea supported by the numerous anecdotes, though further conclusive evidence must be gathered.  So, lay off the anecdotes, OK?

Burbamania

We live in a pretty little suburban area, on a cul-de-sac, with nice green lawns and lots of trees.  The other day I looked out the front door and saw it was a nice day, not too hot, and thought it would be good to sit out on the lawn and enjoy the sun, breeze, and greenery.  But suddenly I realized, people don’t do this in the suburbs.  You never ever see anyone sitting out on a lawn chair in their front yard.  Never.  People would look at you and think you are weird.  There are no porches or any facility for sitting or hanging out in the front of the house.This is absurd I thought.  Rural people sit on their porches.  Way back when I remember my grandparents homes had porches in the front of the house.  Where and when did this become taboo.  Now days, in the burbs, if you do any sitting around outside the house its in your private back yard, or a patio.  And the back yards in the burbs all have walls and fences.  It would be unheard of to have a unobstructed view of your neighbor’s house.  Every single house, block after block has fences and walls all around the side and back of their property, if not the front.  But always in the back.

So, I am wondering, when did this become the agreed upon convention.  It is a definitely solid agreement that this is the way things are supposed to be, but how did it get there.  I am sure that a new born baby doesn’t have these ideas.  It me makes consider that there must be many more such agreements that have secretly slipped into my mind without notice.  How many agreements have I made along the way to accepting life in the burbs.  Maybe its time to move to the country, and sit at the front of my house, and look at the land and trees.

Back …

After a long hiatus I have recently had this little thought niggling* at me that I should return and write some more.  At first I just tried to ignore it like the dogs next door who bark when I am trying to take a nap.  But being a persistent little bitch it returned again and again.  So, then I decided it was fate, or the Fates, that was giving me a me a message.  Alas, I am back …

*a nerdy thought that wiggles into consciousness