Anecdotal Evidence

[RoadRunner79]

Before this atrocity of equivocation goes any further, maybe we should take a look at what RoadRunner's looking for.

Anecdotes are never going to be accepted as evidence of anything, legal or otherwise. They are not evidence in any way, shape or form, nor are they meant to be.

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anecdote
[an-ik-doht]

1. a short account of a particular incident or event, especially of an interesting or amusing nature.
2. a short, obscure historical or biographical account.

Testimony, on the other hand, can be used as evidence.

testimony
[tes-tuh-moh-nee, or, esp. British, -muh-nee]

1. Law. the statement or declaration of a witness under oath or affirmation, usually in court.
2. evidence in support of a fact or statement; proof.
3. open declaration or profession, as of faith.
4. Usually, testimonies. the precepts of God.
5. the Decalogue as inscribed on the two tables of the law, or the ark in which the tables were kept. Ex. 16:34; 25:16.
6. Archaic. a declaration of disapproval; protest.

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Maybe you'd like to re-phrase the question RoadRunner since there really isn't such a thing as "anecdotal evidence." Even if we go with testimony, I've never heard of a conviction being handed down solely on the strength of witness testimony (please provide evidence of any claim to the contrary). Evidence is weightier than testimony and anecdotes aren't even that. They're stories for fucks sake. Many people use them to illustrate a point or as a teaching tool, but they're still only stories

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I too would like to hear RoadRunner's thoughts on all the anecdotes (and even witness testimony) of alien abductions seeing as he merely dodged the question put to him by Rhythm.

I agree with you, and it's why I have been saying since the beginning, that I think that the use of anecdote (as I have found it used here at times) is awkward.

I don't have a specific example to look up (and don't think it would be that easy to google) as far as a conviction based only on witness testimony, however the following, gives many examples concerning the weight of testimony. http://randalrauser.com/2013/12/rd-miksa...testimony/

As to the testimony concerning alien's, I do think that some accounts can be explained, but there are some also, which do have a hint of credibility to them. There are some interesting parallels in abductions claims but most only have single witness support. I am somewhat skeptical.