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My dumb brain had to read it 3 times before realizing that by saying "the findings were not inconsistent with what I'd expect" you meant "the findings _were_ co

My dumb brain had to read it 3 times before realizing that by saying "the findings were not inconsistent with what I'd expect" you meant "the findings _were_ consistent with what I'd expect"

freep1zza 2y ago
One should try to avoid using double negatives in both speech and programming to make intent more obvious ;-)
- gorlilla 2y ago
  Except the ambiguity was the intent.
- Brian_K_White 2y ago
  Human language is not math. It needs to convey concepts that are infinitely variable rather than binary. When a poet or novelist says something in an unusual way, they are being more accurate not less accurate. If there is ambiguity, it is because the concept or observation they mean to express has some ambiguous element. Trying to avoid that is just downsampling analog color reality to a 200ppi 1bpp fax. A related concept that even the most aspbergers STEM head should be able to understand, is how a scientist almost never asserts anything unequivocally. Almost every statement is qualified with whatever is appropriate to the context. Even the most fundamental constants of the universe like the speed of light are famously relative. Are those scientists being more or less ambiguous when they decline to say something simple and direct? Everything they don't say is deliberate and carefully crafted to be as correct as possible, not some sloppy ommission.
  - croemer 2y ago
    The speed of light _is_ constant, how could it otherwise be a fundamental constant? I think you might have meant time/distance is relative?
    - alanbernstein 2y ago
      Perhaps they're thinking of how it's dependent on the transmission material?
    - Brian_K_White 2y ago
      What is the definition of speed?
Brian_K_White 2y ago
"not inconsistent" is a common phrase and is used for a reason. It's a subtle difference but "not inconsistent" is not exactly the same as "is consistent".
simonklitj 2y ago
That’s not necessarily what was meant though. “Not inconsistent” is more cautious and less assertive. It allows for some ambiguity rather than claiming perfect consistency.

My dumb brain had to read it 3 times before realizing that by saying "the findings were not inconsistent with what I'd expect" you meant "the findings _were_ consistent with what I'd expect"

freep1zza 2y ago

One should try to avoid using double negatives in both speech and programming to make intent more obvious ;-)

gorlilla 2y ago
Except the ambiguity was the intent.
Brian_K_White 2y ago
Human language is not math. It needs to convey concepts that are infinitely variable rather than binary. When a poet or novelist says something in an unusual way, they are being more accurate not less accurate. If there is ambiguity, it is because the concept or observation they mean to express has some ambiguous element. Trying to avoid that is just downsampling analog color reality to a 200ppi 1bpp fax. A related concept that even the most aspbergers STEM head should be able to understand, is how a scientist almost never asserts anything unequivocally. Almost every statement is qualified with whatever is appropriate to the context. Even the most fundamental constants of the universe like the speed of light are famously relative. Are those scientists being more or less ambiguous when they decline to say something simple and direct? Everything they don't say is deliberate and carefully crafted to be as correct as possible, not some sloppy ommission.
- croemer 2y ago
  The speed of light _is_ constant, how could it otherwise be a fundamental constant? I think you might have meant time/distance is relative?
  - alanbernstein 2y ago
    Perhaps they're thinking of how it's dependent on the transmission material?
  - Brian_K_White 2y ago
    What is the definition of speed?

Brian_K_White 2y ago

"not inconsistent" is a common phrase and is used for a reason. It's a subtle difference but "not inconsistent" is not exactly the same as "is consistent".

simonklitj 2y ago

That’s not necessarily what was meant though. “Not inconsistent” is more cautious and less assertive. It allows for some ambiguity rather than claiming perfect consistency.