Anecdotal Evidence Criticism

Commenters repeatedly dismiss personal anecdotes as insufficient evidence, emphasizing that 'the plural of anecdote is not data' and preferring empirical studies or verifiable data in various debates.

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Keywords

IMHO a.k anecdote anecdotes anecdotal anecdotal evidence evidence data plural conclusion personal distribution

Sample Comments

113 Oct 2, 2018 View on HN

What you're saying is anecdotal.

SantalBlush May 29, 2022 View on HN

Your personal anecdote is just that. It doesn't make for very strong evidence.

goatlover Dec 27, 2017 View on HN

Anecdotes don't prove anything other than exceptions exist. The article and all the comments are anecdotal in favor or against the analysis, but there's been no actual data presented.

hackerboos Dec 29, 2015 View on HN

Anecdotes aren't evidence.

throwaway2048 Jul 19, 2019 View on HN

One person's anecdote doesn't strengthen much of anything.

Invictus0 Oct 26, 2022 View on HN

Your anecdote isn't really evidence of anything and I'm skeptical that this is the case.

SOMA_BOFH Jun 12, 2021 View on HN

your anecdotal evidence is quite entertaining. please continue.

Turing_Machine Sep 4, 2012 View on HN

Your anecdote does not trump data.Sorry.

Waterluvian Oct 21, 2025 View on HN

Where are you getting the sense that anecdotal evidence is being dismissed?

dblohm7 May 8, 2017 View on HN

Your evidence is very much anecdotal.