monk ratios, primary and offhand choices

[Troxx]

Let’s say I wanted to investigate a novel therapy, say … extract of bamboo root … for perianal streptococcus (google at your own risk). I go out and find 3 patients with it and give it to all 3. 2 of those 3 get better in the first week. The other fails to get better so we treat it with antibiotics.

Were I to publish a paper citing that extract of bamboo root was 66.6% effective in treating perianal strep (again, google at your own risk) and provide a lecture at the regional infectious disease symposium, every eyeball in every eye socket would roll out of each respective head and out the door.

Why? The sample size was laughably small. The condition itself has a relatively high rate of spontaneous resolution. There was no control arm, attempts to account for know variables. There was no placebo or double blinding.

The “evidence” you have typically provided has been about as worthwhile as the above fictitious study.

But what about bamboo extract? Does it or does it not work? See that’s the thing. Maybe it does work! Maybe I just had a scientific breakthrough! Unfortunately, my study so was laughably conducted that nobody will ever believe me. Perhaps this situation applies to some of the junk you have vomited onto these forums over the years. But nobody will believe it.

Bcbrown is an engineer. I’m a doctor. There are a lot of other actually really smart people on these forums. You don’t win an argument by doing 2-3 minutes of really sloppy work and then parading it around endlessly as “factually full of factual facts”. Not all “evidence” is actual evidence. Not all actual evidence is of high quality.

At the end of the day the important thing isn’t winning or losing an argument on these boards. There are no ‘cool points’ and you certainly have no reputation left. Nobody wins arguments on the internet.

Just know that there are people here who actually have a better understanding of the game than you. It typically come from having an engaged, open, and curious mind. So yeah - if you actually care - get out there and parse for reasons that are your own … not just to win a dumb argument on an irrelevant message board about a 25 year old elf sim.


…. Crap I gotta get dressed. As entertaining as you are I’m gonna be late to work.

Adios muchacho. I’ll try to check in again later.