4 ms·

I agree with the sentiment of tracing a headline back to the topic's best coverage. But posting plain studies directly to non-industry forums is often not idea

I agree with the sentiment of tracing a headline back to the topic's best coverage. But posting plain studies directly to non-industry forums is often not ideal. The studies are not written for a general audience and rely on jargon, shorthand, assumptions, and shared education that general audience readers are at least as likely to misinterpret as professional science writers. We like to beat up on science writers for writing poor and misrepresentative coverage of research, but are you sure a bunch of random (and often compulsively contrarian) intellectuals trying to earn internet points are an improvement? The best of both worlds is probably to find the best coverage, and then add the study in a comment.

nightpool 4y ago
The GP said that you should submit the best article on any given topic, not just the original study. In fact, they specifically called out the press release by the original authors (which can be viewed on Mt Sinai's blog: https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2022/fesearchers-find-spaceflight-may-be-associated-with-dna-mutations-and-increased-risk-of-developing-heart-disease-and-cancer https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2022/fesearchers-f...) as being "much better" then the original article. I'm not a researcher, but as a member of the public I also agree that the press release seems to do a good job at explaining things for the public while also not dumbing things down or exaggerating the findings too much. Nobody is saying you should just post the original study devoid of any context
- swatcoder 4y ago
  Totally. I wasn't challenging the GP, just elaborating on nuance.
Dalewyn 4y ago
>posting plain studies directly to non-industry forums is often not ideal. The studies are not written for a general audience and rely on jargon, shorthand, assumptions, and shared education that general audience readers are at least as likely to misinterpret as professional science writers. I think there's an argument to be made that, regardless the specific subject of discussion, a forum like HN is not a "general" audience and can appreciate content that hasn't been watered down for the general masses.
- icpmacdo 4y ago
  Hacker News is beholden to witty titles

nightpool 4y ago

The GP said that you should submit the best article on any given topic, not just the original study. In fact, they specifically called out the press release by the original authors (which can be viewed on Mt Sinai's blog: https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2022/fesearchers-find-spaceflight-may-be-associated-with-dna-mutations-and-increased-risk-of-developing-heart-disease-and-cancer https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2022/fesearchers-f...) as being "much better" then the original article. I'm not a researcher, but as a member of the public I also agree that the press release seems to do a good job at explaining things for the public while also not dumbing things down or exaggerating the findings too much. Nobody is saying you should just post the original study devoid of any context

swatcoder 4y ago
Totally. I wasn't challenging the GP, just elaborating on nuance.

Dalewyn 4y ago

>posting plain studies directly to non-industry forums is often not ideal. The studies are not written for a general audience and rely on jargon, shorthand, assumptions, and shared education that general audience readers are at least as likely to misinterpret as professional science writers. I think there's an argument to be made that, regardless the specific subject of discussion, a forum like HN is not a "general" audience and can appreciate content that hasn't been watered down for the general masses.

icpmacdo 4y ago
Hacker News is beholden to witty titles