
Originally Posted by
VegasRenegade
The clasic statistic mistake. see explanation from Weiki below. If it is Causation at all I would think it is the other way around. More People demand more Oil. Not more oil makes more people
exactly my point. More people demand more water = water consumption HAS to go up. Dwindling water supply = less people. Doesn't matter which one causes which, just that population growth requires resources.
Correlation does not imply causation" (related to "ignoring a common cause" and questionable cause) is a phrase used in science and statistics to emphasize that correlation between two variables does not automatically imply that one causes the other (though correlation is necessary for linear causation in the absence of any third and countervailing causative variable, and can indicate possible causes or areas for further investigation; in other words, correlation can be a hint).[1][2]
The opposite belief, correlation proves causation, is a logical fallacy by which two events that occur together are claimed to have a cause-and-effect relationship. The fallacy is also known as cum hoc ergo propter hoc (Latin for "with this, therefore because of this") and false cause. By contrast, the fallacy post hoc ergo propter hoc requires that one event occur before the other and so may be considered a type of cum hoc fallacy.