[Discuss] BLU's SEO

[Richard Pieri]

Derek Martin wrote:
> You're missing a key qualifier: reproducable *within an acceptable
> margin of error*.  All empirical data has some margin of error as our

You are correct. I took it to be understood. This is one of the reasons 
why experiments must not only be repeatable but repeated. This is also 
why rigorous controls are necessary.


> phenomena is highly imperfect, and relies on statistical modeling to
> establish correlation, rather than exact measurement.

That's bad science for a simple reason: correlation does not imply 
causation. Science requires quantifiable evidence. Probabilities can 
help an experimenter narrow down where to look but they aren't the 
evidence necessary to prove the hypothesis.

You don't get a bye in real science if you can't solve these problems 
and prove your hypotheses.


> Statistics isn't science; applying it to describe a phenomena IS.

Almost. Using statistics to describe phenomena is a /tool/ of science. 
All forms of math are tools of science.


> Sociology is considered to be a science by academics everywhere; it's

This statement is patently false. Sociology is not considered to be a 
science by the scientists at the Laboratory for Nuclear Science at MIT 
where I work. Some of the experimental physicists at LNS say that the 
theoretical physicists at LNS aren't scientists. "They're just 
mathematicians." That's when they're being polite about it. I don't dare 
ask for opinions about psychology and sociology. I like my job.

As for the Bachelor of Science degrees? That's because there are only 
two kinds of baccalaureate degrees in the US: Arts and Science. 
Sociology and psychology are too focused for most Liberal Arts 
requirements. That leaves only one option.

Anyway, stick with the softies' definitions if you will. But let me 
finish with this: if you're going to accept a hard-core marketing 
person's definition of "marketing" then it's only fair that you accept a 
hard-core science person's definition of "science".

-- 
Rich P.