False equivalency: A misleading comparison where the comparison targets are forcibly balanced while ignoring relevant differences. For example, claiming that banning guns also requires banning cars. Both cause harm to human life, but guns are designed for lethality and are closely linked to crime, whereas automobiles are meant for transportation and sometimes cause fatalities in traffic accidents as side effects. Comparing these two as if they are the same constitutes a false equivalency. Similarly, saying that apples and oranges are the same because they are both fruits and round is also a false equivalency. We are easily misled by such false comparisons. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
One hundred seventy years ago, tuberculosis was a lethal disease. This illness posed a significant threat to humanity, resulting in an estimated 1 billion deaths between 1700 and 1900. Notably, traces of tuberculosis have been found in the mummies of ancient Egyptian kings. In the late 1840s, German botanist Hermann Brehmer, confronted with the fatality of tuberculosis, relocated to the Himalayas in search of fresh air. Remarkably, he survived and is believed to have successfully fought off Mycobacterium tuberculosis in that less favorable environment for bacterial growth. As a result, numerous nursing homes emerged across Europe and the United States, including specialized facilities for tuberculosis care and luxury accommodations for the affluent. However, by the 1940s, many of these nursing homes began closing due to the emergence of antibiotics, which drastically changed their economic viability. Throughout history, it seems that economic value often proves transient. - Joseph’s “j...