From: Gerhard Kessell-Haak (gerhard_kessell-haak@mail.tait.co.nz)
Date: Mon Oct 05 1998 - 17:06:49 MDT
>Considering that transients might end up dying of throat cancer in
>Amsterdam then the fact that they bring their ailments with them creates
>a very strong statistic.
Let me state the assumptions here:
1. The throat cancer rate in Amsterdam is unusually high (statistic).
2. Excessive use of a certain herb may be a causative agent in the
formation of throat cancer (statistical link).
3. Usage of the herb by natives is no higher in Amsterdam than in the
rest of Europe (assumed from statistic).
4. Usage of the herb by transients is higer than natives h in Amsterdam
(statistic).
And from this the conclusion was reached that the throat cancer rate is
caused by the transients (?)
I'm sure you can see the holes in that little argument :o)
>My point was however that a link once baited in
>peoples minds is very hard to shake. At least I changed my smoking
>habits after stumbling onto this fact.
Fair enough.
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