3 ms·

Pluto is a dwarf planet. It feels like less of a "is and is not" situation, and more of an "isn't, but was once thought to be" situation. Some people remember

Pluto is a dwarf planet. It feels like less of a "is and is not" situation, and more of an "isn't, but was once thought to be" situation. Some people remember being told that it was a planet when they were kids and they cling to that even though we've learned that it doesn't make sense to call it a planet anymore. Apart from that it shows up as a planet in literature, almost all of which was written before we knew better, just like how the idea of earth being at the center of the universe shows up in literature and was once a part of our culture. The geocentric model had passionate holdouts too, but we've mostly moved on from that idea since and I think we're better off for it. For scientists and laypersons who aren't just holding onto "planet" for sentimental reasons, I'd recommend the book "How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming"

odyssey7 1mo ago
A geocentric model is observably incorrect. The word “planet” is neither true nor false. Different people use it to refer to different things. Kind of like the word “tree.” Some things are trees and some things are not — and it really depends on whom you ask and when you ask them. Most people are able to get along and allow people to refer to whatever trees they want to, because it’s a free country and it really doesn’t make sense to try to control other people over something like that.
- autoexec 1mo ago
  > because it’s a free country and it really doesn’t make sense to try to control other people over something like that No one is trying to control you by defining what words mean. In fact, you're still fully free to call anything you like whatever you want. You risk being misunderstood in certain contexts or assumed to be ignorant in others, but no one will stop you. My guess is that what you personally call a planet or not wont come up very often and will matter very little to anyone else.
  - odyssey7 1mo ago
    A mention of “the planet Pluto” carries risk that you will be derailed by people who think they are very scientific but in fact are just excited to be able to correct someone. My language has become politicized. Either I go with the flow and surrender something about my own language, or I risk getting called out or misunderstood as being incorrect if I continue. It’s easier to let them think they corrected you than to explain your position. People believing that correcting others over superficial word choices counts as being scientific… it’s disappointing.
    - lirolero 1mo ago
      [flagged]
BoxOfRain 1mo ago
That book title and my vague memory the same author had a hand in naming Eris makes me think they've encountered the Principia Discordia at one time or another.

odyssey7 1mo ago

A geocentric model is observably incorrect. The word “planet” is neither true nor false. Different people use it to refer to different things. Kind of like the word “tree.” Some things are trees and some things are not — and it really depends on whom you ask and when you ask them. Most people are able to get along and allow people to refer to whatever trees they want to, because it’s a free country and it really doesn’t make sense to try to control other people over something like that.

autoexec 1mo ago
> because it’s a free country and it really doesn’t make sense to try to control other people over something like that No one is trying to control you by defining what words mean. In fact, you're still fully free to call anything you like whatever you want. You risk being misunderstood in certain contexts or assumed to be ignorant in others, but no one will stop you. My guess is that what you personally call a planet or not wont come up very often and will matter very little to anyone else.
- odyssey7 1mo ago
  A mention of “the planet Pluto” carries risk that you will be derailed by people who think they are very scientific but in fact are just excited to be able to correct someone. My language has become politicized. Either I go with the flow and surrender something about my own language, or I risk getting called out or misunderstood as being incorrect if I continue. It’s easier to let them think they corrected you than to explain your position. People believing that correcting others over superficial word choices counts as being scientific… it’s disappointing.
  - lirolero 1mo ago
    [flagged]

BoxOfRain 1mo ago

That book title and my vague memory the same author had a hand in naming Eris makes me think they've encountered the Principia Discordia at one time or another.