The other day there was a thread on gun control. In the thread, US and Japan were compared. And a comment said, "it's comparing apples and oranges."
To some extent, it is correct.
But if you really want to be knowledgeable on the subject, in the case gun control and gun death relations, comparing US and Japan, then Sweden, Norway, Germany, Spain, China, Korea, Australia, and so on, is a valid approach. Eventually you'll have a broader knowledge and case studies on the subject.
Don't be afraid of comparing Apples and Oranges. Don't stop thinking by the phrase "comparing apples and oranges", but keep comparing bananas, melons, mangoes, strawberries,...... you'll have better idea about fruits.
And such knowledge can help you to be a solver of a problem.
When "Apples and Oranges" idiom is used, it can be worthwhile to check whether the idiom guides you to stop thinking or not.
