Correlation does not equal causation

[Warpy]

I found a handy dandy list to bookmark to reference when antivaxers rear their heads. Example, the correlation between cheese consumption and dying by getting tangled in bedding:



They're all good, only I thought the margarine/divorce one might hae something to it. Margarine is nasty stuff.

http://www.tylervigen.com/

[Archae]

1. Rachel Maddow a couple days ago showed some graphs like this.

Some were kind of funny.

[trotsky]

2. I honestly had no idea it was possible to die like that.

Weird.

[Warpy]

3. It doesn't take much for infants and frail elderly

Scary.

[edhopper]

4. This is a flawed chart

Cheese consumption rose by about 9%, while the deaths almost doubled. The two vertical axis seem to be arbitrary and don't correlate in to each other's amounts. To be equal the Cheese axis should go from 29 to 97, not 34. So bogus charts. I also question the rise in deaths, I would guess it's more about reportage than actual incidents.
Too many of their charts do not have the two vertical axis match in percentage.
If they want to make a point about the math being used, they should get their math right in the first place. This kind of mistake negates any argument they make.
There is no true correlation here and it gives a false impression to the real problems of correlation/causation in many studies.

[EnvironmentalVK]

5. Correlation and Causation - Quack Watch

The alternative medicine salesman does not want you to know about "correlation causation" and would give you charts.


I suggest to examine Quack Watch Steven Barrett Content.
http://www.quackwatch.com/03HealthPromotion/lowfat.html