4 ms·

It must be okay to say things that are only 95% true. Otherwise we cannot say anything at all.

groby_b 6y ago
It is. Note that OP wasn't criticized for the statement per se, but that PP suggested an amendment to that statement. It must be equally OK to amend incomplete statements, otherwise we stagnate.
- muench 6y ago
  Something like "But I'd suggest..." is a good example for using "'And' NOT Bbut'" [0] to avoid the connotation of contradiction implied when using 'but'. Very useful like in this case where the intention is amendment rather than contradiction. [0] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inviting-monkey-tea/201302/and-not-the-secret-healthy-relationships https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inviting-monkey-tea/...
jpitz 6y ago
It is ok to say things that are only 95% true. It is ok to point out the 5%.
- AbrahamParangi 6y ago
  Yes.
  - bergstromm466 6y ago
    Not sure if you misread it but your “yes” sounds like maybe you read this as a question: “Is it...”, and not the “It is...” that OP wrote. I want to reiterate that for people with few spoons [1], they don’t need to get permission to be allowed to only do what works for them, or to feel shame for not being able to do what can seem easier for others: i.e. ‘powering through’. I’ve seen this ugly thing where people make all sorts of assumptions about me, and perhaps unconsciously, yet verbally, speak out their train of thought, which means they often say something that ‘excuses me’ for not ‘powering through’, or that after reminding them of my background, that they now understand why I do not force myself to ‘power through’. It feels shit and it sucks because it’s a constant reminder of the ruthless productivity that is expected in many areas in modern life. A conversation like this can also slowly lure me back into taking on way too much, way too fast, and not properly looking after myself or others. Not all disabilities are visible. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory
    - jhardy54 6y ago
      Yes.
- giantDinosaur 6y ago
  Just as often pointing out the 5% is then used as an excuse to not do something, even when the advice does apply. The number of times I've brought up how much a healthy lifestyle matters to have it dismissed because someone they knew/heard of died at 30 from cancer despite being vegetarian and exercising all the time is rather high.
  - kaitai 6y ago
    Hey, this ties in with the Weak Man Superweapon thread! https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25876554 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25876554
  - stkdump 6y ago
    These are probably people that don't want to live a healthy lifestyle and no amount of pointing at the negatives will change that. Their point isn't "healthy lifestyle doesn't help" but rather "some people beat themself up and make themself miserable with this health stuff and then don't even reap the benefits of that".
orzig 6y ago
Worth noting that the portion of people dealing with something that could drain at least some energy each day is almost certainly more than 5% It could be as simple as having a young child, for example.

It is. Note that OP wasn't criticized for the statement per se, but that PP suggested an amendment to that statement. It must be equally OK to amend incomplete statements, otherwise we stagnate.

muench 6y ago
Something like "But I'd suggest..." is a good example for using "'And' NOT Bbut'" [0] to avoid the connotation of contradiction implied when using 'but'. Very useful like in this case where the intention is amendment rather than contradiction. [0] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inviting-monkey-tea/201302/and-not-the-secret-healthy-relationships https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inviting-monkey-tea/...

jpitz 6y ago

It is ok to say things that are only 95% true. It is ok to point out the 5%.

AbrahamParangi 6y ago
Yes.
- bergstromm466 6y ago
  Not sure if you misread it but your “yes” sounds like maybe you read this as a question: “Is it...”, and not the “It is...” that OP wrote. I want to reiterate that for people with few spoons [1], they don’t need to get permission to be allowed to only do what works for them, or to feel shame for not being able to do what can seem easier for others: i.e. ‘powering through’. I’ve seen this ugly thing where people make all sorts of assumptions about me, and perhaps unconsciously, yet verbally, speak out their train of thought, which means they often say something that ‘excuses me’ for not ‘powering through’, or that after reminding them of my background, that they now understand why I do not force myself to ‘power through’. It feels shit and it sucks because it’s a constant reminder of the ruthless productivity that is expected in many areas in modern life. A conversation like this can also slowly lure me back into taking on way too much, way too fast, and not properly looking after myself or others. Not all disabilities are visible. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory
  - jhardy54 6y ago
    Yes.
giantDinosaur 6y ago
Just as often pointing out the 5% is then used as an excuse to not do something, even when the advice does apply. The number of times I've brought up how much a healthy lifestyle matters to have it dismissed because someone they knew/heard of died at 30 from cancer despite being vegetarian and exercising all the time is rather high.
- kaitai 6y ago
  Hey, this ties in with the Weak Man Superweapon thread! https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25876554 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25876554
- stkdump 6y ago
  These are probably people that don't want to live a healthy lifestyle and no amount of pointing at the negatives will change that. Their point isn't "healthy lifestyle doesn't help" but rather "some people beat themself up and make themself miserable with this health stuff and then don't even reap the benefits of that".

orzig 6y ago

Worth noting that the portion of people dealing with something that could drain at least some energy each day is almost certainly more than 5% It could be as simple as having a young child, for example.