4 ms·

I'm not a scientist, just a pithatician. I have no formal or informal education in this matter and my understanding is strictly derived from pleasure reading. B

by jpxxx 14y ago

I'm not a scientist, just a pithatician. I have no formal or informal education in this matter and my understanding is strictly derived from pleasure reading. But I think there's enough evidence to back up this general narrative without throwing asterisks everywhere.

domdelimar 14y ago
What do you mean by "pithatician"? Really, absolutely no results searching the web or trying to translate it. O_o
- aneth4 14y ago
  I'd guess an expert in being pithy.
- 001sky 14y ago
  I'm not a "pithatician", but methinks it has something to do with the word "pith" and its Variant "pithy". A quick google of said terms yielded the following points of note: Pith is the central idea or essence of something. If you’re in danger, you could exclaim, “I would greatly appreciate it if someone would provide assistance.” Or, you could get right to the pith of your point by shouting, “Help!” Following along this line of inquiry, one is led to consider the possibility (however remote) of this being an example of near-humour. Possibly of the genus: Pun, species: indirect. So, if one were to dress this up, it is perhaps alluded to as a Punnus Indirrectus. Or, maybe Not. =D
  - jpxxx 14y ago
    Ding ding ding! A stuffed animal for the man. :]
    - domdelimar 14y ago
      Thank you @001sky for explaining and @jpxxx for confirming. :)
jakek 14y ago
Agreed. I've been looking at ways of communicating complex science-based or data-driven insights in compelling ways, and I think easily digestible narratives, like this one, are a great way to get broad range of people interested. I would love to ask you some questions and get your advice on how to better do this. If you're interested, please drop me an email: jake at insightdatascience.com.
joelrunyon 14y ago
I don't think you need to throw asterisks everywhere. I think a simple opening statement like "our current theory is" followed by the main text would be more than enough, but it is good to remind people that theories are just that - theories.
- monkeypizza 14y ago
  "It's just a theory" is a common attack by creationists, based on the common usage of the word theory, rather than the scientific one.
  - koide 14y ago
    "Current evidence points to" then...
    - joelrunyon 14y ago
      That works well :)
  - infinite8s 14y ago
    What's the common usage of the word 'theory'? Maybe it's because I'm a former scientist, but I can't imagine how the public's definition would be different from the common dictionary definition: a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural and subject to experimentation
    - monkeypizza 14y ago
      to me, the common use is more like 'hypothesis' - a possible explanation, that is still waiting for "real" confirmation once the facts come in. but the scientific usage includes the fact that lots of facts have already been evaluated, and even that the new predictions by the theory have already been evaluated and found to be true.
      - joelrunyon 14y ago
klutometis 14y ago
"Pithatician" is a novel use of πείθειν, "to persuade;" it reminds me of pithiatism, which is supposed to be a form of hysteria curable by persuasive suggestion.

by jpxxx 14y ago

domdelimar 14y ago

What do you mean by "pithatician"? Really, absolutely no results searching the web or trying to translate it. O_o

aneth4 14y ago
I'd guess an expert in being pithy.
001sky 14y ago
I'm not a "pithatician", but methinks it has something to do with the word "pith" and its Variant "pithy". A quick google of said terms yielded the following points of note: Pith is the central idea or essence of something. If you’re in danger, you could exclaim, “I would greatly appreciate it if someone would provide assistance.” Or, you could get right to the pith of your point by shouting, “Help!” Following along this line of inquiry, one is led to consider the possibility (however remote) of this being an example of near-humour. Possibly of the genus: Pun, species: indirect. So, if one were to dress this up, it is perhaps alluded to as a Punnus Indirrectus. Or, maybe Not. =D
- jpxxx 14y ago
  Ding ding ding! A stuffed animal for the man. :]
  - domdelimar 14y ago
    Thank you @001sky for explaining and @jpxxx for confirming. :)

jakek 14y ago

Agreed. I've been looking at ways of communicating complex science-based or data-driven insights in compelling ways, and I think easily digestible narratives, like this one, are a great way to get broad range of people interested. I would love to ask you some questions and get your advice on how to better do this. If you're interested, please drop me an email: jake at insightdatascience.com.

joelrunyon 14y ago

I don't think you need to throw asterisks everywhere. I think a simple opening statement like "our current theory is" followed by the main text would be more than enough, but it is good to remind people that theories are just that - theories.

monkeypizza 14y ago
"It's just a theory" is a common attack by creationists, based on the common usage of the word theory, rather than the scientific one.
- koide 14y ago
  "Current evidence points to" then...
  - joelrunyon 14y ago
    That works well :)
- infinite8s 14y ago
  What's the common usage of the word 'theory'? Maybe it's because I'm a former scientist, but I can't imagine how the public's definition would be different from the common dictionary definition: a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural and subject to experimentation
  - monkeypizza 14y ago
    to me, the common use is more like 'hypothesis' - a possible explanation, that is still waiting for "real" confirmation once the facts come in. but the scientific usage includes the fact that lots of facts have already been evaluated, and even that the new predictions by the theory have already been evaluated and found to be true.
    - joelrunyon 14y ago

klutometis 14y ago

"Pithatician" is a novel use of πείθειν, "to persuade;" it reminds me of pithiatism, which is supposed to be a form of hysteria curable by persuasive suggestion.