Scientific studies are not Legos.
You can't pull out the pieces that you like and play with just those
No, they're not, but (even tho I am not sure I agree with him) what H was arguing is that YOU stated that a methodological flaw in the study is enough to discount the whole study and then pointed out that the WHO study that you cited used Lightfoot-Klein's research (which is supposedly flawed) to support one of their claims.
Now, that doesn't support any of Holmes' other claims or citations (or discount any of yours), but, if WHO is using "faulty" research to support certain claims (but not others) then doesn't that also throw the WHO cite into question (even tho they are a respected entity)? You know, Legos...
I am mostly on "your side." That is why I am questioning your tactics. Just because someone is being obtuse is no reason to forget your own argument.
Also, it is quite irritating to ask for full scientific paper references in a debate on an internet forum with laypeople (especially in cultural anthropology when the main focus of the forum is biological science) and then say that those who have no access to your papers are SOL. I realize that in order to fully comprehend the topics under discussion one might have to have a background or access to those who do, but the arrogance associated with the expectation of everyone here debating having access to technical papers is appalling. Not only to those debating you, but to those lurkers (like me) who cannot follow your arguments because we cannot read your cites. Citing papers when all we can see are abstracts and then condemning someone who cites abstracts does nothing for your argument. It might make you feel vindicated, but it doesn't help your argument in a public forum.
"You are metaphysicians. You can prove anything by metaphysics; and having done so, every metaphysician can prove every other metaphysician wrong--to his own satisfaction. You are anarchists in the realm of thought. And you are mad cosmos-makers. Each of you dwells in a cosmos of his own making, created out of his own fancies and desires. You do not know the real world in which you live, and your thinking has no place in the real world except in so far as it is phenomena of mental aberration." -
The Iron Heel by Jack London
"Hazards exist that are not marked" - some bar in Chelsea
™ Version 4.2
