• Duamerthrax@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    I mostly agree with you, but it’s often used as a phrase to shut down further discussion even when there could be an invisible third event that’s the cause for the two seemingly unrelated events. It’s gets over used by people who want to be quick to sound smart.

    • PeriodicallyPedantic@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      That phrase is used exactly to say that there is a third unseen force influencing both events. It’d be pretty strange to use that phrase to say the opposite.

      Typically further discussion of the 3rd event isn’t relevant, because they’re not trying to find the cause, they’re trying to disprove a hypothesis.

      • Duamerthrax@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        I’ve seen it used to end discussions. People repeat the wisdom of the phrase without understanding what you just said.