# Column ideas 4/6/23 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 6, 2023, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/column-ideas-4-6-23/982266 "2023-04-06T18:21:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cecil\_Adams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cecil\_Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecil_Adams)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/column-ideas-4-6-23/982266/61 "2023-05-01T18:17:02Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > My understanding of “gain of function” research is that there’s sort of two definitions of the term. One is am umbrella term for using any technique invented by Ron Fouchier, Frances Arnold, Ralph Baric, etc. These are used widely and openly, for a variety of reasons (e.g. to ensure that a vaccine will stay effective against a descendant of the target virus). And, secondly, the use of these techniques to purposefully create or with the risk of creating diseases of sufficient danger to humanity. When Fauci says, “The NIH doesn’t fund that sort of thing.” I assume that he’s referring to the second definition, rather than the first. > > Things that I’m not sure of: > > 1. Is there a positive use of “gain of function” in the biochemistry world (like I gave above) or was the term developed by a group who was opposed to these technologies, and it’s this group who lumped them together? Who is that group? If they’re biochemists, how big of a percentage are they and how are they viewed by the rest? > 2. In a recent press release by Pfizer (below), they say that the US government has required them to use gain of function techniques. Is there a specific regulation that they’re referring to? Or was this part of the approval discussion with the FDA? Important topic but I don’t see it working as a column as things stand. The problem is it’s been well covered online and it’s not clear what the Straight Dope could add. I take your point that GOF research can be defined in multiple ways, and that some ways are scary while others may be relatively benign. However, from what I can tell so far: 1. GOF research, as the term is now understood, is relatively new and was considered alarming in the scientific community from the outset. Here for example is a piece that appeared in Science a year before COVID hit: [https://www.science.org/content/article/exclusive-controversial-experiments-make-bird-flu-more-risky-poised-resume#:~:text=In%202011%2C%20Fouchier%20and%20Kawaoka,spread%20and%20plan%20for%20pandemics](https://www.science.org/content/article/exclusive-controversial-experiments-make-bird-flu-more-risky-poised-resume#:~:text=In%202011%2C%20Fouchier%20and%20Kawaoka,spread%20and%20plan%20for%20pandemics). 1. GOF research remains controversial. Here are a couple commentaries from the recent years: [https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/gain-function](https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/gain-function) [https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02903-x](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02903-x) Both of these pieces make the same point you do, namely that GOF is poorly defined, resulting in arguments and confusion. The Nature piece is particularly thorough on this score - GOF was an innocuous term until its application in virology made it seem ominous. Unless some new insight came to light, the Straight Dope would just be cribbing from this piece. 1. Normally what I do when looking at high profile topics like this is browse among the lesser-known journals on PubMed looking for overlooked angles. However, everything I’m seeing is old. Shows the challenge of doing the Straight Dope these days. You want to bring something new to the conversation, not just repeat stuff. Not seeing a way to do that so far. A subject well worth looking into, though, so thanks for that. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2023, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/column-ideas-4-6-23/982266/62 "2023-05-02T02:05:53Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The column’s strength was always the fact that it covered topics that seemed fresh and new and distinct. Those topics keep being harder to find, The existence of and universal use of Google and the internet/web in general has put a bit of a damper on Cecil taking on fun general questions that used to not be easily looked up but now can be answered in 5 seconds with a smart phone. Would it be possible to do a column about what kinds of questions can NOT be easily answered by Googling? This could also touch on the “Dark Web” and other inaccessible info on the internet, all of which could possibly be a column topic in it’s own right.\*\* but is not the main thrust of this topic suggestion. **BONUS!!** – the answers Cecil finds would give him access to a whole new treasure trove of column ideas! A sort of “meta” column in that it’s about the very situation that has changed Cecil’s approach to choosing topics to address. (Or just do one on adult ADHD. Not really, but I threw that in there because–as with everything I post here–this post’s quality was greatly affected by my inability to keep focus even on something I wrote in the last paragraph.) \*\* “What’s up with this Dark Web? What’s there? How would I get there? Is it all just illicit transactions of drugs, sex, and hitmen or is there more to it?” ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2023, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/column-ideas-4-6-23/982266/63 "2023-05-02T02:22:10Z")
Okay, so maybe [my post above](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/column-ideas-4-6-23/982266/51) was TL,DR, but if we don’t answer my basic question, how will we be able to determine what are good topics and what aren’t? > [@commasense](#): > > What is the reason for resuming the column, and what is it intended to accomplish? What do you say @Cecil_Adams? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2023, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/column-ideas-4-6-23/982266/64 "2023-05-02T02:51:41Z")
> [@Cecil\_Adams](#): > > You want to bring something new to the conversation, not just repeat stuff. Not seeing a way to do that so far. People always want the world explained to them. Slate has The Explainer. The Washington Post has Andrew van Dam’s Department of Data. Randall Monroe made a fortune on his What If? questions. The old column would fit in with those because it dealt with facts. There are no factual answers to the question “What led to Trump” but there have been a million explanations. People stopped reading them years ago. I love facts. Facts are amazing. No only are they endlessly fascinating, but many kick at my brain, demanding answers as to why they should be true. We have a tremendously popular thread right here on the Dope: > [@Tell us an interesting random fact you stumbled across](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across/851674): > > I suspect many dopers are interested in lots of far-flung concepts and disciplines beyond what the daily grind demands. As an hommage to liberal arts education and pop culture and that spirit of lifelong learning, give us a random fact you learned. Quirky, unexpected, funny, something that made you say “a-ha!” or whatever you like… And you can play more than once if you like. I’ll start: Harry S. Truman’s middle name is S. Wikipedia says: His middle name, “S” honors his grandfathers, Ander… 6438 posts. Lots of wonders. Very few answers. You could mine that one thread for years, the Dope feeding you softballs down the middle of the plate. That’s your strength. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/column-ideas-4-6-23/982266/65 "2023-05-02T23:20:35Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I love facts. Facts are amazing. No only are they endlessly fascinating, but many kick at my brain, demanding answers as to why they should be true. I agree, which is why I said: > [@commasense](#): > > These are light-hearted but interesting questions that many people might have wondered about without pursuing on their own. And perhaps most importantly, they had arguably verifiable answers that Cecil could assert authoritatively. (Not that he wasn’t subsequently corrected on occasion.) ---
**Author:** ![Cecil\_Adams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cecil\_Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecil_Adams)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/column-ideas-4-6-23/982266/66 "2023-05-25T22:33:50Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Okay, so maybe [my post above](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/column-ideas-4-6-23/982266/51) was TL,DR, but if we don’t answer my basic question, how will we be able to determine what are good topics and what aren’t? > > > [@commasense](#): > > > > What is the reason for resuming the column, and what is it intended to accomplish? > > What do you say @Cecil_Adams? Two reasons: 1. The personal reason is I kinda miss writing columns and engaging with readers. A weekly column with no assistance is too much trouble. Biweekly so far seems more doable. 2. The business reason is I want to gauge the possibility of reviving the Straight Dope brand - at least to the point that it’d be worth doing another Straight Dope book (or ebook). I had a publisher (not Ballantine) interested in doing a book before the column was discontinued, but as soon as STM pulled the plug, said interest evaporated. Some complexities here I’m not at liberty to go into; the important thing right now is to establish whether people are still interested in reading TSD. Long shot I suppose; then again, it’s not like world ignorance has been eradicated. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/column-ideas-4-6-23/982266/67 "2023-05-25T22:46:02Z")
World ignorance is worse than ever. See what happens when publishing stops? There could be a market for Straight Dope. But after a couple decades of Ask Jeeves, Wikipedia, blogs, information overload, more doomscrolling and less reading, the medium matters. People still here like it. But coming up with good original questions is harder than ever. Maybe this is optional. I know nothing about what you can use from the online thing, but there are lots of gems there. A general book, even a nostalgic rehash, might do well. Some publishers might want some success as an e-book? Some of the stuff might play well to niche markets: is Scholastic children’s version of that is still a thing? Science education? “How America works”? A better version of Uncle John? Play to Chicago nostalgia? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/column-ideas-4-6-23/982266/68 "2023-06-02T17:18:56Z")
Here’s a question for a column: What’s the deal with metformin and muscles? I see a fair amount of somewhat contradictory info when googling about it. Some results say it inhibits increase in muscle mass due to exercise; others say it prevents the loss of muscle mass. As a regular cyclist who’s also been diagnosed as diabetic, I’d like to know whether to take it or not. My doctor was unaware of the results about inhibiting muscle building, so I don’t think he’s the best person to ask. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/column-ideas-4-6-23/982266.md?page=3)