4 ms·

to some of us (ahem, yours truly) the idea that there's a "mystery of sleep" might seem a bit, well, strange. Don't we sleep because we get tired? Quotes like

by jjallen 10y ago

to some of us (ahem, yours truly) the idea that there's a "mystery of sleep" might seem a bit, well, strange. Don't we sleep because we get tired? Quotes like this are typical of the American tendency to be pseudo-proud of being unintelligent, uneducated or apathetic. I'm surprised they included it and disappointed they did. Perhaps to help the readership identify with the columnist? But then again the readers are actually reading something scientific, so I don't get it.

CPLX 10y ago
It's a rhetorical device. Asking a dumb question and giving a smart answer is sort of a dielectical approach to writing that helps move a narrative along while conveying a bunch of technical information.
- Snesker 10y ago
  What problem does including a narrative when conveying technical information solve? Is it in the reader's interests? Would the reader rather be told the facts simply, or be given a mile of corny, identify-with-me fluff that never works to sit through?
omonra 10y ago
I think the purpose of this device is to provide context to the problem. If you are about to provide the scientific explanation for something all of us experience every day "Why do things fall down" / "Why is sugar sweet" it helps to take a step back and remind the reader that there is a scientific explanation for the phenomenon they are so familiar with (so much so that it feels unnatural to even question it in the first place).
- bllguo 10y ago
  maybe he dislikes the "ahem, yours truly" part? Although I agree with your point, to me that phrase strongly conveys the "pseudo-proud" attitude the parent OP was referring to
jpttsn 10y ago
I agree, it's unappealing. Quote sounds like something an editor would request, on behalf of the wider readership. Perhaps a remnant from print newspapers where readers can't be assumed to have picked this exact article.
vacri 10y ago
Frankly, I find the neuroscientist that pretends that we have no clue as to why we sleep to be far more obnoxious. While we don't know the full picture, we have plenty of knowledge of things that sleep is for. I did a neuropsych degree in the early-mid 90s and worked as a sleep tech in the late 90s - we knew certain things then, so it's pretty obnoxious to have this guy come along 20 years later and pretend it's a great big mystery. There's definitely stuff we don't know, but plenty of stuff we do.

by jjallen 10y ago

CPLX 10y ago

It's a rhetorical device. Asking a dumb question and giving a smart answer is sort of a dielectical approach to writing that helps move a narrative along while conveying a bunch of technical information.

Snesker 10y ago
What problem does including a narrative when conveying technical information solve? Is it in the reader's interests? Would the reader rather be told the facts simply, or be given a mile of corny, identify-with-me fluff that never works to sit through?

omonra 10y ago

I think the purpose of this device is to provide context to the problem. If you are about to provide the scientific explanation for something all of us experience every day "Why do things fall down" / "Why is sugar sweet" it helps to take a step back and remind the reader that there is a scientific explanation for the phenomenon they are so familiar with (so much so that it feels unnatural to even question it in the first place).

bllguo 10y ago
maybe he dislikes the "ahem, yours truly" part? Although I agree with your point, to me that phrase strongly conveys the "pseudo-proud" attitude the parent OP was referring to

jpttsn 10y ago

I agree, it's unappealing. Quote sounds like something an editor would request, on behalf of the wider readership. Perhaps a remnant from print newspapers where readers can't be assumed to have picked this exact article.

vacri 10y ago

Frankly, I find the neuroscientist that pretends that we have no clue as to why we sleep to be far more obnoxious. While we don't know the full picture, we have plenty of knowledge of things that sleep is for. I did a neuropsych degree in the early-mid 90s and worked as a sleep tech in the late 90s - we knew certain things then, so it's pretty obnoxious to have this guy come along 20 years later and pretend it's a great big mystery. There's definitely stuff we don't know, but plenty of stuff we do.