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Disagree that headline argues causality.

the same formula can be used with not correlation but simply timing:

"As Rome burns, Nero fiddles away."

"Detroit housing prices at record prices, even as millions leave the city."

"As the average salary in the City approaches six figures, those without a job are having trouble finding any job at all."

Does it make sense to set this backdrop, even without correlation? Of course - it's interesting.

however, in this case the author does a good job by setting this backdrop:

if the craze of playing games on Facebook has waned -- something the article hopefully establishes or reports on, then it is an interesting backdrop to news that Zynga's share price is falling - wouldn't you say?

(If fewer people are playing Zynga's games on Facebook, which is where most of Zynga's games are played.)

Whether this is just a backdrop or a causal relationship with Zynga's profit and share price is for you to decide however you want. The headline doesn't force it on you, but simply set a backdrop of a macro-trend.

I think it's a very interesting and well-written headline. It's better than most of them.



The headline might not argue causality but I think it certainly is written in a way to imply it. This is a common structure for headlines about stock prices moving large amounts in either direction. The average reader does not like to think that finding a singular reason for something like this is impossible.




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