I'll give you an example. In several places stated as an accepted fact you find this little gem: Sperm counts in men tend to be higher in the morning. What a fantastic statement! Lets dig a little deeper however and ask why, or perhaps well start with an even easier question and ask about how the results were arrived at. Why does it matter? I'll show you!
I'll assume for the moment that someone used the scientific method if indeed this was tested at all. So we will have to assume that several people were tested over a period of months or years, with samples given at different times. How many of the people had 9 to 5 jobs? Does the question seem irrelevant? Look deeper. If the majority of the people tested had normal 9 to 5 jobs or simply simply kept a 1st shift schedule then morning for these people is shortly after they get out of bed. If this is the case it might suggest that sleep is the influencing factor for increased sperm count and not in fact the time of day. However if subjects on a different schedule were tested shortly after they awoke without the same results then it might suggest that sleep is not a factor at all and in fact the sunlight may be a causal factor.
One simple statement seemingly tested and completely accepted without any real understanding of the factors behind it. I am often accused of being suspicious of things. I have been told I don't tend to believe things unless they are proved to me. To me however it seems a grievous folly to accept things at face value. If I accept something as fact on faith then I have to trust that the source of this information has been as diligent as I would have been and all to often they have not.
Question everything! "They" say a lot of things. "They" tell us what is true and false, what can and cannot be done. If you follow the herd you will always end up where the herd is going. Think for yourself and you may find the herd is following you!
