The problem with people

So, I've been arguing with this whacko over on sci.med.vision. His Grand Crackpot Theory is that myopia is caused by personality factors, chiefly shyness. Apparently us myopes are all deeply afraid of other people, and the ones who don't realise it are suffering so badly that we're in denial. I'm sure you've all met the guy who likes to psychoanalyse people on the basis of five minutes' conversation, this is him.

As with a lot of crackpots, he'd rather adjust the data to fit the theory than correct the theory to explain the data. This is made easier by using a definition of 'myopic personality traits' that's so vague and fuzzy that anybody can be interpreted as fitting into it. I tried to point out the flaw by using his own prescription history to make some 'guesses' about his personality:

> You like people, but sometimes you find them quite frustrating - in
> particular, the left eye/right eye difference suggests that you love your
> family, but sometimes have trouble communicating with them.
>
> You worry about your health - although you're not neurotic about it -
> and your astigmatism tells me you should be eating more healthy food.
> The change in your axis measurements over the last few years suggests
> that you're more in tune with yourself than you used to be, with a better
> awareness of the world in which you live in.

He replied, congratulating me on the accuracy of my predictions.

*wham wham wham wham wham*

"Most people would sooner die than think. Indeed, many do.