The use of "anecdotal" here is a rhetorical device, mirroring parent's language to emphasize that strongly biased data isn't necessarily any more valuable than mere anecdote. This is a conversation, not a peer review.
Please don't tell someone what words they are allowed to use in what contexts.
1. "Please don't" is hardly offensive or authoritative.
2. If you disagree, you were laughably hypocritical in your post.
Please don't define what phrases are "offensive" or "authoritative" in a conversation, especially after those phrases have been used. Context will have already defined them for you.