Sally, I think Amy was just giving her opinion, as everyone else does in this thread. No need to leave, unless you just don't like it here!
I also am a great lover of science and put a lot of stock in scientific research papers. What is very common (and I'm NOT saying you do this) is that someone will take a study and then apply it to other groups and other situations that the original study did not cover. Then it becomes a blanket "truth" people believe instead of just the results of a study of a particular group or situation.
Most studies are looking for statistical differences. Which means the theory will not hold true for every subject, just for the majority. Studies have shown that cigarette smoking increases your chance of getting lung cancer. Some people have taken that to believe that everyone who smokes will get lung cancer. (FALSE) Believing that is just like believing if you smoke 3 packs a day it won't hurt your lungs just because someone knows someone who smoked 3 packs a day and lived to 102.
I also am a great lover of science and put a lot of stock in scientific research papers. What is very common (and I'm NOT saying you do this) is that someone will take a study and then apply it to other groups and other situations that the original study did not cover. Then it becomes a blanket "truth" people believe instead of just the results of a study of a particular group or situation.
Most studies are looking for statistical differences. Which means the theory will not hold true for every subject, just for the majority. Studies have shown that cigarette smoking increases your chance of getting lung cancer. Some people have taken that to believe that everyone who smokes will get lung cancer. (FALSE) Believing that is just like believing if you smoke 3 packs a day it won't hurt your lungs just because someone knows someone who smoked 3 packs a day and lived to 102.