Is accusing scientists of mixing up causality with correlation the latest fashion

[daedalus_dude]

of the anti-knowledge crowd.

It seems like anytime posts a controversial study here, someone will respond with "well, they are mixing causality and correlation".

Pretty much like any thread on medical studies will get at least one "that is probably just the placebo effect".

The difference between causality and correlation is something any trained scientist knows. For them to mix it up is about as likely as an auto mechanic mixing up the clutch with the gas pedal.

Also, its good to be a sceptic, but just because something is controversial doesn't mean its wrong (or right). All interesting science is controversial. If a scientists wants to discover anything non-trivial he must keep an open ear for "anecdotal evidence".

Stuff that anyone can read up on wikipedia is not interesting science, and probably no big deal anymore in the community.