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51Never ask for or give advice, makemistakes, accept mediocrity, enthuseTerry SpeedDivision of BioinformaticsWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchandDepartment of StatisticsUniversity of California, Berkeley, CAYes, that’s my advice to statisticians. Especially you, dear reader under 40, foryou are one of the people most likely to ask an older statistician for advice.But also you, dear reader over 40, for you are one of the people to whomyounger statisticians are most likely to turn for advice.Why 40? In the 1960s, which I lived through, the mantra was Never trustanyone over 30. Times change, and now 40 is (approximately) the cut-off forthe COPSS Presidents’ Award, so I think it’s a reasonable dividing line forseparating advisors and advisees. Of course people can and do give and takeadvice at any age, but I think we regard advice from peers very differentlyfrom advice from... advisors. That’s what I’m advising against. Please don’tget me wrong: I’m not being ageist here, at least not consciously. I’m being asplitter.Where am I going with all this? There is a sentence that used to be hearda lot on TV shows, both seriously and in jest: “Don’t try this at home.” Itwas usually said after showing a stupid or dangerous act, and was a way ofdisclaiming liability, as they knew it wouldn’t work well for most viewers.I often feel that people who give advice should act similarly, ending theiradvice with “Don’t take my advice!”51.1 Never ask for or give adviceWhat’s wrong with advice? For a start, people giving advice lie. That theydo so with the best intentions doesn’t alter this fact. This point has been615