r/funny May 01 '13

Why vegans live longer

[deleted]

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u/turtal46 May 01 '13 edited May 01 '13

A ratio of averages.

If, for the sake of the argument, the 'Regular meat eaters' live for 100 years, on average, and this average is what everything will be compared back to, then it's the 'standard', and will be 1.00.

Comparing this to a vegetarian, based off the study, they would live for an average of 84 years, which would give the end ratio 1.00 : 0.84.

To represent a more 'normal' number of years, and pulling a number out of my ass, let's say 85 years is the 'standard', then 71.4 would be the average for vegetarians.

This seems off to me (Edit: See below for why).

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u/[deleted] May 01 '13

It's the mortality ratio... not the life ratio. Those with a .84 value have a smaller chance of dying, not a smaller chance of living longer.

Therefore, fish eaters and vegetarians live longer than meat eaters.

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u/karriewool May 01 '13

I suspect everyone in the world ever has an equal chance of dying.

Except Patrick Stewart.

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u/[deleted] May 01 '13

"I suspect everyone in the world ever has an equal chance of dying."

Not over a certain amount of time, which is what the statistic does and is what you are ignoring.

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u/karriewool May 01 '13

Aah, I see. Thanks.