You're assuming that ANTSANTS is generalizing from zero. Since he's linked to one example of one individual that is mature enough to realize that the importance of that common bitmap isn't its origin but what concepts and ideas in the field of image compression those set of pixels have been used to demonstrate, and how those ideas relate to machine learning. Pointers Gone Wild is a great blog, with great technical content, written by someone that is actually accomplishing something because they are fully focused on what actually matters instead of the accidental origin of those pixels.
ANTSANTS' anecdotal evidence serves as a counterpoint to your anecdotal evidence, but you know what they say, the plural of anecdotes is not data. Instead you may want to work from a statistically significant sample size when making your point. If not, don't be surprised when people discount any conclusions you have made based on anecdotes.
> You're assuming that ANTSANTS is generalizing from zero.
No, I'm not. I'm asking: "I'm curious if you're basing this belief on actual information from the people in question, or just your intuition about what they probably think." If he's got statistically stronger evidence than my anecdotes (which are more than two, but yes, still anecdotes), I'd love to hear it! If not, I'm curious what other evidence or argument he has for the claim he made.
ANTSANTS' anecdotal evidence serves as a counterpoint to your anecdotal evidence, but you know what they say, the plural of anecdotes is not data. Instead you may want to work from a statistically significant sample size when making your point. If not, don't be surprised when people discount any conclusions you have made based on anecdotes.