ydoaPs Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 swansont seems to have a penchant for awesome quotes, so I think we should have a thread of swansontisms. Here are some of the ones I can think of off the top of my head: One of the functions of science is to limit the scope of uncertainty contained in "for all we know," and its utility includes neither argument from incredulity nor argument from ignorance. Moving at 1/35 c with respect to what? Without defining a reference, it's like asking, "What the difference between a duck?" I have never understood the phenomenon of wearing one's ignorance as a badge of honor. Civil discourse does not extend all the way to walking on eggshells to accommodate fragile egos. Got any more? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharonY Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 I want a swansont bobblehead on my desk. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooeypoo Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 (edited) I want a swansont bobblehead on my desk. I want one too, if only to pretend he's always agreeing with me. What do you think, swansont? <nod nod nod nod nod> We should totally start selling those in our online store: http://www.bobblemaker.com/james-bond-custom-bobble-head-2 Edited July 2, 2010 by mooeypoo 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharonY Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Uhhh that is perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilded Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 "Swanson, Tom Swanson. Swoon before my high tech wristwatch that shoots a violent cascade of neutrinos that will go right through you. Literally." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 "Swanson, Tom Swanson. Swoon before my high tech wristwatch that shoots a violent cascade of neutrinos that will go right through you. Literally." Before my bobblehead gets too swelled I have to point out that I don't wear a wristwatch, though I do carry one in my pocket. It's a $20 Casio. However, any neutrinos it shoots will indeed go right through you. But by all means, carry on. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap'n Refsmmat Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Before my bobblehead gets too swelled I have to point out that I don't wear a wristwatch, though I do carry one in my pocket. It's a $20 Casio. However, any neutrinos it shoots will indeed go right through you. But by all means, carry on. "Swanson, Tom Swanson. Swoon before my oscillating crystals." Right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ydoaPs Posted July 11, 2010 Author Share Posted July 11, 2010 The phrasing "just a theory" should make one's word processor explode. IMO. ... Bald assertion doesn't go over too well, and it's especially loathsome when it's blatantly wrong. We like evidence. Try and differentiate yourself from the ELIZA program that ran on my Commodore PET 25 years ago. Please. You're passing the Turing test in the wrong way. Merged post follows: Consecutive posts mergedThe plural of "anecdote" is "anecdotes' date='" not "evidence."[/quote'] I almost forgot this one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharonY Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 The plural of "anecdote" is "anecdotes," not "evidence." This is one is great. I shall remember and cherish it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 I like it and I've obviously used it, but it did not originate with me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ydoaPs Posted July 11, 2010 Author Share Posted July 11, 2010 I like it and I've obviously used it, but it did not originate with me. From whence hath such verbiage come? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ydoaPs Posted August 9, 2010 Author Share Posted August 9, 2010 "If you decide to hypothetically violate a physical law, then you can do pretty much whatever you damn well please." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 From whence hath such verbiage come? Googling "plural of anecdote is not evidence" gives more than 14k hits. I can't remember where I first read it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJBruce Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 View PostiNow, on 24 August 2010 - 07:34 AM, said:I've got a proverbial hard on for some bar graphs, DJ. You'd better not disappoint. Please don't express this in the form of a bar graph. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ydoaPs Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 It may ask the big questions, but it doesn't answer them. If you can find an answer, it's science. This is a good one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tres Juicy Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Don't anthropomorphise particles/waves They hate that This one made me laugh 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michel123456 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 If a posted idea is contrary to accepted physics, one is within his/her right to call it rubbish. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iNow Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 We should compile these into a book. stating one's ignorance coupled with a declaration that, in effect, one doesn't want to be taught or contradicted — on a frikkin' science forum — is asshattery of the first order. One of the first things you have to get used to in science is that many of the thoughts you have will be wrong. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ydoaPs Posted February 8, 2013 Author Share Posted February 8, 2013 (edited) Quoting someone who agrees with you is not proof of anything other than that person agrees with you.This one is from yesterday. Edited February 8, 2013 by ydoaPs 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ydoaPs Posted March 7, 2013 Author Share Posted March 7, 2013 That made me immediately think of: "Without defining a reference, it's like asking, 'What the difference between a duck?'". 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iNow Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 This isn't jazz. You don't listen to the "notes you don't play" and attach meaning to them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imatfaal Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Put another way: there are two types of people in the world. Those who can extrapolate from incomplete information. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg H. Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 I have to admit, I use the plural of anecdote pretty frequently now thanks to swansont. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phi for All Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 It frustrates me that I can't convey how I know that you are wrong in a way that you will understand, because you have already convinced yourself that you're right, and wear your obstinate contrariness like a badge of honor. But the view from inside science is incredible, and there's nothing (except for you) keeping you from learning actual science. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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