The point of data

Data is an important piece of evidence in pursuit of the truth. However, any statistics student can attest that data must be interpreted. In other words, data describes certain aspects of reality, but meaning is not always part of that description. Data can suggest some causes, and rule out others, but it cannot give us a full picture. Which leads us to a key aspect of truth.

Out of thin air

An argument from silence is another trick that is substituted for evidence. Drawing a conclusion from something that has not been said is absurd in most cases. If I ask you not to step on my hand, it must mean that I would be perfectly happy for you to step on my foot. You see my point.