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349 points zdw | 2 comments | | HN request time: 0s | source
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justlikereddit ◴[] No.45653640[source]
Nutritional science have unfortunately been pretty bad at the science part for a rather long time.

There's a dark pattern hiding in the modern era where we assume hard evidence to exist where it doesn't, a projection of CAD engineering onto idle theory crafting and opinion.

replies(1): >>45656658 #
1. IAmBroom ◴[] No.45656658[source]
I followed you until that last bit...
replies(1): >>45666611 #
2. justlikereddit ◴[] No.45666611[source]
I will elaborate.

A bridge is built upon a solid foundation of something empirically tested, a hard science and good engineering practice if you will. And if not, it will not remain a bridge for long.

The innumerable electronic subcomponents in any of your electronic devices work very well for years. The MTBF is clearly high or it would be dead on arrival or soon afterwards.

We too easily extrapolate this reliability pattern onto the softer sciences, creating a biological mythology with an underpinning built on inherited opinion and untested speculation.

> "My doctor said blood letting will cure my tuberculosis"

> "Less stress and less coffee will cure my stomach ulcers"

> "Keep Peanuts away from my kid until he can legally drink so he won't be allergic to them!"

The romans built bridges that are still bridges 2000 years before any of above quotes went out of style. Whatever kept them alive for so long can be nothing but a weakly described, but very durable and still present dark pattern of the mind and the public discourse.