Anecdotal Evidence

[Ravenshire]

I'm not really sure, though, what life decisions you could be referring to.  Home, job, spouse, children?  I didn't make any of these decisions based upon anecdotal evidence...that would be foolish and irresponsible, at best.

How did you make them? It could just be that I'm using "anecdotal evidence" more broadly than you are. It's very common to talk to friends in different areas before deciding where to buy a home, or to talk to people in different fields before choosing a college major or a job, etc. I don't see that doing so is "foolish and irresponsible."

You're asking for, and receiving, testimony, not anecdotes. Anecdotes, while occasionally useful for making a moral point or amusing your coworkers, are in no way, shape or form evidence of anything.

anecdote:
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:
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.


It's folks like you, who conflate the two terms and treat them as if they're equal, that leads to the confusion found in this thread.

There's no such thing as anecdotal evidence, period. Testimony, despite it's flaws and failures, can be accepted as evidence. Anecdotes cannot.

"Don't buy a house in this neighborhood." or "Go to this college, I've heard it's really good for people studying that." are examples of testimony, even if one is hearsay, not anecdotes.