4 ms·

Death by Internet

9 points by astine 18y ago

endtime 18y ago
A study published in Biologist, the journal of the British Institute of Biology, details...how the lack of real-world social interaction can increase your susceptibility to cancer, dementia, heart disease, diabetes, influenza, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus - even the common cold. When I read this at the top, I thought to myself, "Wow, I wonder how they showed that! Especially since one would think that isolation would, at least, decrease exposure to flu and cold viruses. I better scroll down and find out." Then I scrolled down, and: Other studies have proven that social isolation reduces the effectiveness of tumor-fighting cytokines. Sigman cites a number of studies that have shown that socially active women with breast and ovarian cancer produce more and more-effective tumor-fighters, including the charmingly named Natural Killer cells. Sigh. Correlation != causation. It gets worse. Women with fewer social relationships experience strokes at more than twice the rate of those with more social relationships, and those with smaller social networks have narrower arteries - approximately one-third narrower, to be specific. No, it stays the same. Correlation is still not causation. Real-world friendships help prevent heart attacks. They don't even offer justification for this one.
- kingkongrevenge 18y ago
  > Correlation != causation You obviously haven't read any of the source research. What point are you trying to make?
  - endtime 18y ago
    My point is that the article is poorly written. If there's real science backing up the article's points, great, but it sure doesn't give that impression. I don't have time to go off reading papers every time I read a bad article.
CalmQuiet 18y ago
TheRegister = Mainstream Media => Link Bait Headlines Of course anything can be overdone. Generalizations included. You really need to look at individual situations. Consider one "Osama bin Laden": I'm betting on (and he's banking on) social isolation hugely extending his life expectancy.
- Tichy 18y ago
  I doubt that Osama bin Laden is socially isolated. Wouldn't he be surrounded by his "minions"?
  - dmpayton 18y ago
    I think "socially isolated" => "isolated from society at large" which is, in this case, spot on.
    - Tichy 18y ago
      I thought the health risks are associated with not being face to face with other people, not with society at large.

9 points by astine 18y ago

A study published in Biologist, the journal of the British Institute of Biology, details...how the lack of real-world social interaction can increase your susceptibility to cancer, dementia, heart disease, diabetes, influenza, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus - even the common cold. When I read this at the top, I thought to myself, "Wow, I wonder how they showed that! Especially since one would think that isolation would, at least, decrease exposure to flu and cold viruses. I better scroll down and find out." Then I scrolled down, and: Other studies have proven that social isolation reduces the effectiveness of tumor-fighting cytokines. Sigman cites a number of studies that have shown that socially active women with breast and ovarian cancer produce more and more-effective tumor-fighters, including the charmingly named Natural Killer cells. Sigh. Correlation != causation. It gets worse. Women with fewer social relationships experience strokes at more than twice the rate of those with more social relationships, and those with smaller social networks have narrower arteries - approximately one-third narrower, to be specific. No, it stays the same. Correlation is still not causation. Real-world friendships help prevent heart attacks. They don't even offer justification for this one.

kingkongrevenge 18y ago
> Correlation != causation You obviously haven't read any of the source research. What point are you trying to make?
- endtime 18y ago
  My point is that the article is poorly written. If there's real science backing up the article's points, great, but it sure doesn't give that impression. I don't have time to go off reading papers every time I read a bad article.

CalmQuiet 18y ago

TheRegister = Mainstream Media => Link Bait Headlines Of course anything can be overdone. Generalizations included. You really need to look at individual situations. Consider one "Osama bin Laden": I'm betting on (and he's banking on) social isolation hugely extending his life expectancy.

Tichy 18y ago
I doubt that Osama bin Laden is socially isolated. Wouldn't he be surrounded by his "minions"?
- dmpayton 18y ago
  I think "socially isolated" => "isolated from society at large" which is, in this case, spot on.
  - Tichy 18y ago
    I thought the health risks are associated with not being face to face with other people, not with society at large.