Anecdotal Evidence

[RoadRunner79]

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Thanks Benny,

I don't think that we are as far a part, as it may seem.  I agree, I think that some of the issue is semantics, and what is meant by evidence.  I appreciate you explaining your view; it helps me to understand quite a bit.  In contrast, I think that evidence, is more the reason, that I am persuaded rather than the other way around of becoming evidence; because I am persuaded by it (at least I hope so).  I believe that persuasion is subjective, and what you may find appealing, I may not.  Reason and thus what is reasonable I think are objective, and exist whether or not anyone is swayed by it.   I can provide you with evidence, but I cannot make you be persuaded.   I can also wrestle with and admit evidence, even though I may not be convinced by it.  

Again, I'm not saying, that you trust every claim that is thrown your way.   I am skeptical..... I check things out.   And despite the many imagined motivations for me creating this thread, a primary reason, was because I don't just buy into the claim that testimony is not evidence.  I don't automatically dismiss it either, and wanted to discuss and test this claim.   I'm not cynical enough, to just dismiss 99% of testimony as B.S.  And humility prevents me, from thinking that I know it all, or can judge based on what I know.  But I do question, and more likely than not, look for collaborating evidence.

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Testimony is not necessarily 100% bullshit, of course. But you can't ever rely on testimony as your primary evidence for claims that are non-mundane and especially that relate to knowledge about the way reality is and works.

I am willing to compromise.  I can believe that you all are either lying, crazy or delusional, until you provide empirical evidence to me and generally pretend to be hyper-skeptical.  Should make the next thread about a police officer involved shooting fairly interesting (although I may gain some haters).  I'll start by rejecting your claim about testimony and the way reality really works.