this post was submitted on 07 Aug 2024
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Science Memes

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[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 56 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

The word theory has become (or at best is becoming) a clusterfuck of whatever, much like the word literally.

And we don't even have (normal/easy/exact) replacements for those words.
Those words were already the scientific terms for nerds. But normies normied them into normedom, literally theorised into a fuck.

(Also unfortunately Im a normie, but that doesn't mean I can't bitch about it)

[–] Zwiebel@feddit.org 25 points 3 months ago (4 children)

I like the word "model", I think it's a better fit even. We're modeling reality. Some models turn out to be shit, while others are well tested giving confidence that they mimic reality well.

[–] Ranger@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 3 months ago

But isn't model used differently in different disciplines?

[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 3 months ago (2 children)

~~Some~~ Most models turn out to be shit

Ftfy

[–] lostme@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

All models are shit. Some of them are useful tho

[–] jaybone@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

Like my model of fecal matter.

[–] Malgas@beehaw.org 6 points 3 months ago

Every model is wrong. Some are useful.

Yeah I like that.

I use "theory" for theoretical things, like theoretical physics and math, that can be proven (in a mathematical way).

I use the word "model" for practical things, like practical physics. Models don't need to be proven, but their accuracy can be more or less helpful, depending on the context.

[–] kaffiene@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

Yes I agree entirely.

[–] kaffiene@lemmy.world 0 points 3 months ago

The word predates science