Cows with Names Make More Milk

[AndyC]

Well, it actually makes a lot of sense. I'm just amazed somebody did a study.
http://www.livescience.com/animals/090127-cows-names-milk.html

[WilliamWeird1313]

I can just see some farmer just running through his field yelling at cows: "You're Sam! You're Pete! You're Mary! You're Arnold! BWAHAHAHAHAHA! I'M GONNA BE THE RICHEST DAIRY FARMER IN THE WORLD! You, you're Frank! You're Margaret! You're Johann! You're-"

[Doggett]

How many gags can we squeeze out of this story 

[Mr. DS]

I wouldn't Doggett...it could go sour.

[AndyC]

How dairy you make such a lame pun.

[Leah]

from the cow's perspective awwww... he called me Cow

[Mofo Rising]

Ouch. That's a lot of bad science all in one place at one time.

Well, the article does state that farmers who actually care about their cows beyond being pure milk producers will probably have healthier cows (which will produce more milk). Sure, if you actually pay attention to your animals, they will be healthier overall.

Unfortunately, they also go for the soundbite (name your cows!). It's alright, that's endemic to every popular science article.

But then it leads to false positives. Like, "if you talk to your plant, they will be stronger and healthier." Well, if you're the sort of person who talks to their plants, you are also the sort of person who will pay more attention to your plants. It's the attention to overall health that makes the difference, the talking has nothing to do with it.

Not to hijack, but correlation does not necessarily demonstrate causation. My favorite example is this: Smoking shows a negative correlation to Alzheimer's. One way of looking at that is that if you smoke cigarettes, you are less likely to develop Alzheimer's. Another way of looking at that is that if you smoke cigarettes, there is a less likely chance that you will live long enough to get to the point where developing Alzheimer's is a serious concern. Strong correlation, but probably not anything anybody would recommend.

Anyway, back to the puns.

[Rev. Powell]

Ouch. That's a lot of bad science all in one place at one time.

Well, the article does state that farmers who actually care about their cows beyond being pure milk producers will probably have healthier cows (which will produce more milk). Sure, if you actually pay attention to your animals, they will be healthier overall.

Unfortunately, they also go for the soundbite (name your cows!). It's alright, that's endemic to every popular science article.

But then it leads to false positives. Like, "if you talk to your plant, they will be stronger and healthier." Well, if you're the sort of person who talks to their plants, you are also the sort of person who will pay more attention to your plants. It's the attention to overall health that makes the difference, the talking has nothing to do with it.

Not to hijack, but correlation does not necessarily demonstrate causation. My favorite example is this: Smoking shows a negative correlation to Alzheimer's. One way of looking at that is that if you smoke cigarettes, you are less likely to develop Alzheimer's. Another way of looking at that is that if you smoke cigarettes, there is a less likely chance that you will live long enough to get to the point where developing Alzheimer's is a serious concern. Strong correlation, but probably not anything anybody would recommend.

Anyway, back to the puns.

Don't have a cow, man!

[Leah]

i love bad MOOOVies.org 

[AndyC]

Ouch. That's a lot of bad science all in one place at one time.

Well, the article does state that farmers who actually care about their cows beyond being pure milk producers will probably have healthier cows (which will produce more milk). Sure, if you actually pay attention to your animals, they will be healthier overall.

Unfortunately, they also go for the soundbite (name your cows!). It's alright, that's endemic to every popular science article.

But then it leads to false positives. Like, "if you talk to your plant, they will be stronger and healthier." Well, if you're the sort of person who talks to their plants, you are also the sort of person who will pay more attention to your plants. It's the attention to overall health that makes the difference, the talking has nothing to do with it.

Not to hijack, but correlation does not necessarily demonstrate causation. My favorite example is this: Smoking shows a negative correlation to Alzheimer's. One way of looking at that is that if you smoke cigarettes, you are less likely to develop Alzheimer's. Another way of looking at that is that if you smoke cigarettes, there is a less likely chance that you will live long enough to get to the point where developing Alzheimer's is a serious concern. Strong correlation, but probably not anything anybody would recommend.

Anyway, back to the puns.

You're right. It's udderly ridiculous.

[Rev. Powell]

i love bad MOOOVies.org 

I guess we should have been expecting a cow joke from BULL.