this post was submitted on 23 Apr 2025
1227 points (99.4% liked)
me_irl
5898 readers
1106 users here now
All posts need to have the same title: me_irl it is allowed to use an emoji instead of the underscore _
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
If someone says the Earth is round, are we seriously concerned that enough data has not been collected to consider this an accurate fact?
It is, in fact approximately round - it's more precisely an oblate spheroid.
I'd say go as accurate as is relevant to the current situation.
I debated whether or not to call it an oblate spheroid like a huge nerd or just use the "earth is round" shorthand that most people are familiar with. While not perfectly round, I think most people would agree an oblate spheroid is a round shape in the general sense.
That was actually what I was getting at - there are too many variables in life. Only go as correct as you need to in the moment, and be understanding when others aren't precisely correct either.
(which I think is what you were getting at, too?)
I disagreed with your statement that "no one could ever get all the data and present accurate facts" and sought to use a ubiquitously understood example that is somehow divisive (see: flat-earthers) despite science that's been well understood for hundreds of years making it obviously factual.
I disagree. I would argue it is "of consequence" if someone is unable to look at the available data and come to the conclusion that the planet we're standing on is round. Especially if that person is in a position of power or influence over others, because their capacity to make rational conclusions from available information is profoundly corrupted. e.g.: They shouldn't be a science teacher at a school because they don't understand even basic scientific principles that are universally understood.
Good thing I didn't say that, then!
Pareto principle, 80% of the effect is determined by 20% of the variables. To get "all of the data" on an open ended question would be fruitless, but you can be reasonably sure of a theory the more evidence corroborates it. Nothing can ever truly be known in a Platonic sense, but the basis of science is in "most likely"s.
I'm not fine with 90%, but 90% is significantly more reassuring and evidence-based than 0%. And if measuring that last 10% would mean some type of logistical nightmare, then we can act with relative assurance on a 90% likelihood. If you didn't know, that's how every fucking scientific test works. P-value of 0.1.
I don't get it. Are you rejecting science as a tool for discerning truth? Did you even read my post? Because I did answer your question about the 90%.