• PeriodicallyPedantic@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    That phrase is used exactly to say that there is a third unseen force influencing both events. It’d be pretty strange to use that phrase to say the opposite.

    Typically further discussion of the 3rd event isn’t relevant, because they’re not trying to find the cause, they’re trying to disprove a hypothesis.

    • Duamerthrax@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      I’ve seen it used to end discussions. People repeat the wisdom of the phrase without understanding what you just said.