Stethoscope as weapon of mass distraction

Re:Stethoscope as weapon of mass distraction by nmc on Saturday January 03, 2015 @02:48PM (#8831758)

> "the stethoscope is being misused, all the time"

If I understand correctly, which is not likely at all, this is about the stethoscope being misused in scientific research, not in the practice of medicine, right?

Then the claim quoted above would be utterly false, since I am pretty sure that most of the times someone uses a stethoscope, that person is a doctor, and is:

a) listening to another person's heart and lungs; and

b) not publishing dubious research findings.

Please enlighten me here, I feel like I am plenty wrong.

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Re:Stethoscope as weapon of mass distraction by knieveltech on Saturday January 03, 2015 @02:55PM (#8831773)

Statistical analysis is the "stethoscope" the author is talking about, and yes, they are talking about scientific research.

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Re:Stethoscope as weapon of mass distraction by chrismcb on Saturday January 03, 2015 @04:29PM (#8832063)

"Stethoscope" is a metaphor

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Re:Stethoscope as weapon of mass distraction by nmc on Monday January 05, 2015 @10:18AM (#8839199)

Thank you knieveltech and chrismcb for enlightening me.

You made me feel very stupid though.

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Re:Stethoscope as weapon of mass distraction by knieveltech on Wednesday January 07, 2015 @07:42PM (#8854363)

I don't think anyone thinks you're stupid. Metaphors can be tricky.

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