4 ms·

I refuse to accept that playing Startcraft is comprehensive measure of my brain's performance.

by juliocc 13y ago

dang 13y ago
Yes. Professional headline writers regularly exaggerate these things. It's a subgenre of linkbait. The HN guidelines call for changing a title when it's misleading or linkbait. I rewrote this one accordingly. Suggestions for further improvement are welcome. User comments that suggest more accurate, less baity titles are often helpful in cases like this. We're working on a bit of software to make it easier for people to suggest title (and url) changes. It should be ready soon and we'll do a Tell HN post about it.
- juliocc 13y ago
  I was a bit outraged by the article and didn't really think about suggesting a better title. Will do next time.
- baddox 13y ago
  I don't see anything incorrect about this headline. "Age-related brain decline starts at 24" is a pretty safe title that accurately represents the contents of the article. The subtitle "Popular game Starcraft 2 used as a measure of brain speed" provides additional clarification, as subtitles are intended to do.
  - dang 13y ago
    In my view, the headline is linkbait, plus it's misleading to use the word "brain" for one kind of cognitive reaction. There are probably some brain functions that are most active in babies, but that wouldn't make it correct to say "brain decline begins in infancy".
- zobzu 13y ago
  have you played starcraft at high level? this is actually very demanding on brain functions. i find the "high speed chess" description not too far from the truth. it's not because it's a "game" that it's simple, easy, or "just require no-life practicing". Don't make that mistake. Top players are actually geniuses at making the best choice the fastest and tracking multiple tasks at the same time. All this happens in milliseconds, constantly, there is no break until the game is over. I believe that the basic brain function is actually choice-making, which makes.. this benchmark pretty accurate. Wisdom, etc.. all this comes with experience and isn't related to the brain's ability to function at it's peak level.
baddox 13y ago
Note the difference between "speed" and "performance."

I refuse to accept that playing Startcraft is comprehensive measure of my brain's performance.

by juliocc 13y ago

I refuse to accept that playing Startcraft is comprehensive measure of my brain's performance.

dang 13y ago

Yes. Professional headline writers regularly exaggerate these things. It's a subgenre of linkbait. The HN guidelines call for changing a title when it's misleading or linkbait. I rewrote this one accordingly. Suggestions for further improvement are welcome. User comments that suggest more accurate, less baity titles are often helpful in cases like this. We're working on a bit of software to make it easier for people to suggest title (and url) changes. It should be ready soon and we'll do a Tell HN post about it.

juliocc 13y ago
I was a bit outraged by the article and didn't really think about suggesting a better title. Will do next time.
baddox 13y ago
I don't see anything incorrect about this headline. "Age-related brain decline starts at 24" is a pretty safe title that accurately represents the contents of the article. The subtitle "Popular game Starcraft 2 used as a measure of brain speed" provides additional clarification, as subtitles are intended to do.
- dang 13y ago
  In my view, the headline is linkbait, plus it's misleading to use the word "brain" for one kind of cognitive reaction. There are probably some brain functions that are most active in babies, but that wouldn't make it correct to say "brain decline begins in infancy".
zobzu 13y ago
have you played starcraft at high level? this is actually very demanding on brain functions. i find the "high speed chess" description not too far from the truth. it's not because it's a "game" that it's simple, easy, or "just require no-life practicing". Don't make that mistake. Top players are actually geniuses at making the best choice the fastest and tracking multiple tasks at the same time. All this happens in milliseconds, constantly, there is no break until the game is over. I believe that the basic brain function is actually choice-making, which makes.. this benchmark pretty accurate. Wisdom, etc.. all this comes with experience and isn't related to the brain's ability to function at it's peak level.

baddox 13y ago

Note the difference between "speed" and "performance."