4 ms·

For most people, “X is useless” is a short way of saying: Based on the headlines and search results I’ve skimmed, X has not been proven useful in whatever hand

For most people, “X is useless” is a short way of saying: Based on the headlines and search results I’ve skimmed, X has not been proven useful in whatever handful of demographic and contextual cross-sections have been studied. In accordance with other intuitions of my own, I extrapolate this to mean that X is useless in all demographics and contexts, that the question of value is conclusively answered in the negative, and — for some reason — it’s now important to me that you draw the same conclusion, even if you have reason to keep an open mind or conclude otherwise. The shorthand phrasing omits all the pesky subjective, unscientific stuff as well as the weird emotional investment in other people’s thinking, so it might be helpful to just keep the long form version in mind when you hear the parrots.

bicijay 4y ago
Same thing happens with GABA, theoretically it should not work in a supplement form because it does not cross the BBB. And it always comes with the same "GABA is useless" advice. Except im literally dreaming again after starting taking it. Could it be a placebo? Sure. But if its working, why should i believe its useless? I know HN is probably not the right place to say it, but taking every decision in your life (even minimals one like starting take a vitamin) based on underfunded studies might lead you to miss some some improvements in your life.
- switchbak 4y ago
  I'm the kind of personality that doesn't often take those statements as gospel anyway. I've found a lot of value in life by going against the (mainstream) grain and digging in on occasion, it's certainly happened enough times that I've become super skeptical of those that come off as reactionary skeptics. But that probably means I've wasted a lot of time proving things people just told me. It's a trade I'm happy with :)

bicijay 4y ago

Same thing happens with GABA, theoretically it should not work in a supplement form because it does not cross the BBB. And it always comes with the same "GABA is useless" advice. Except im literally dreaming again after starting taking it. Could it be a placebo? Sure. But if its working, why should i believe its useless? I know HN is probably not the right place to say it, but taking every decision in your life (even minimals one like starting take a vitamin) based on underfunded studies might lead you to miss some some improvements in your life.

switchbak 4y ago
I'm the kind of personality that doesn't often take those statements as gospel anyway. I've found a lot of value in life by going against the (mainstream) grain and digging in on occasion, it's certainly happened enough times that I've become super skeptical of those that come off as reactionary skeptics. But that probably means I've wasted a lot of time proving things people just told me. It's a trade I'm happy with :)