> No, it is what absolutely everybody does.

> To pick "facts" and stats that do not support one's own argument would be a form of mental illness.

A popular and serious misconception. That intelligent people believe it is an indictment of our educational system.

Research isn't about scoring points. It's about getting as close to the truth (and to the big picture) as possible.

Real researchers gather and report all the relevant facts, whether they tend to support their preconceptions or not. They at least try to make sense of them without personal bias. (Doing otherwise reminds me of the old saying, "My mind's made up, so don't confuse me with facts.")

Cherry-picking your favorite stats and suppressing the rest brings nobody closer to valid conclusions or helpful decisions. Of course, advertisers, politicians, and propagandists pick their stats all the time. Because they're trying to snow you, not trying to solve problems in the best informed manner.

And, as we all know, "Figures can't lie, but liars can figure."