# Technology doesn't work that way - SamuelA's Pit Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 3, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420 "2017-12-03T00:52:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/221 "2017-12-28T18:56:49Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > It is not only kosher, it’s perfectly cromulent and embiggens our language. 🙂 Fer sure. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/222 "2017-12-28T18:59:18Z")
For a word to be kosher, does it have to be posted on a board that doesn’t mention meat? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/223 "2017-12-28T19:00:06Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Don’t you mean [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZuktUfF0nE)? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/224 "2017-12-28T19:15:52Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Are you self-aware enough to understand that your argument that “close enough is good enough” in regards to English is the same defense you use in regards to scientific principles? Are you knowledgable enough to realize “close enough” is _not_ a scientific principle, even though you constantly argue as if it is? > > Rule: You can’t conduct science by using analogies! Well, [actually](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_modelling)…this is a [well respected part of science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_problem)… Given how fundamental this is to science, and how if you even went to university at all this kind of thing is covered in the very first lectures (yes, a spherical cow is a perfectly valid approximation, it’s ok to be 90% correct instead of 100%, all of science itself is about being 99.9…% correct, nothing is actually certain). So it appears that you should stick to _your_ domain of expertise, which is apparently nitpicking and using uncommon english words. Another poster pits themself. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/225 "2017-12-28T19:30:11Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Sammy. Try to understand, it’s not you. Yes it is. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/226 "2017-12-28T19:30:21Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Maybe all the other posters are too mentally lazy to click the link and read the thread and analyze it. Shrug. Humans are stupid, what can I say. It is amusing, your total lack of self-awareness. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/227 "2017-12-28T19:32:15Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Are you self-aware enough to understand that your argument We can guess this question is a rhetorical question… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/228 "2017-12-28T19:35:37Z")
The nice thing about being on his “Ignore” list is that I can say anything I want, and he can’t contradict me even if he actually has a coherent point to make. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/229 "2017-12-28T19:42:42Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Fer sure. Fo sho, you mean. [Urban Dictionary: fo sho](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fo%20sho) Gosh, how ignorant can you be. /s ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/230 "2017-12-28T19:44:38Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Fo sho, you mean. [Urban Dictionary: fo sho](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fo%20sho) > > Gosh, how ignorant can you be. /s You should really quit while you’re a behind. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/231 "2017-12-28T19:56:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > … **Sam,** did you go and put someone else on ignore? You did that after our talk? Didn’t we decide that wasn’t a good thing to do? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/232 "2017-12-28T20:02:29Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Fo sho, you mean. [Urban Dictionary: fo sho](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fo%20sho) > > Gosh, how ignorant can you be. /s > **[Frank Zappa & Moon Zappa - Valley Girl Lyrics | AZLyrics.com](https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/frankzappa/valleygirl.html)** > > Frank Zappa & Moon Zappa "Valley Girl": Valley girl She's a valley girl Valley girl She's a valley girl Okay, fine Fer sure, fer sure She's... I mean… stop this. You’re just _so bad_ at this. You don’t know “obdurate” and you don’t recognize Val speak, but you are arrogant enough to correct (wrongly) on both. Just… stop. For your own good. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/233 "2017-12-28T20:09:23Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Well, [actually](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_modelling)…this is a [well respected part of science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_problem)… > > Given how fundamental this is to science, and how if you even went to university at all this kind of thing is covered in the very first lectures (yes, a spherical cow is a perfectly valid approximation, it’s ok to be 90% correct instead of 100%, all of science itself is about being 99.9…% correct, nothing is actually certain). So it appears that you should stick to _your_ domain of expertise, which is apparently nitpicking and using uncommon english words. > > Another poster pits themself. I would be completely set back by the scientific modeling argument if you actually modeled something scientific. Instead, you model ideas which are sciencefictiontific, which is hardly the same thing at all. The Fermi problem is about approximations and mental/mathematical shortcuts which are useful, no doubt about it. But try designing a bridge via Fermi-like approximations, see where that gets you. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/234 "2017-12-28T20:11:06Z")
[Also in the Urban Dictionary](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fer%20sure). ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/235 "2017-12-28T20:13:21Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > [Frank Zappa & Moon Zappa - Valley Girl Lyrics | AZLyrics.com](https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/frankzappa/valleygirl.html) > > I mean… stop this. You’re just _so bad_ at this. You don’t know “obdurate” and you don’t recognize Val speak, but you are arrogant enough to correct (wrongly) on both. > > Just… stop. For your own good. Holy shit! You’re 16, right? Because this is what my kid does! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/236 "2017-12-28T20:18:41Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Holy shit! You’re 16, right? Because this is what my kid does! 😃 Your kid quotes himself? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/237 "2017-12-28T20:19:52Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Holy shit! You’re 16, right? Because this is what my kid does! 😃 That’s my guess. It’s an awkward age and but get through it with time. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/238 "2017-12-28T20:22:41Z")
Are you kidding? Have you ever met my daughter? She thinks she’s the star in a movie all about her… of course she quotes herself, almost as often as she likes to argue about things in which she knows very little. 🙂 (But, yeah, didn’t do the multi-quote thing correctly. My bad.) ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/239 "2017-12-28T20:29:28Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I would be completely set back by the scientific modeling argument if you actually modeled something scientific. Instead, you model ideas which are sciencefictiontific, which is hardly the same thing at all. > > The Fermi problem is about approximations and mental/mathematical shortcuts which are useful, no doubt about it. But try designing a bridge via Fermi-like approximations, see where that gets you. If you apply these Fermi estimates…or very detailed ones…to problems like nanotechnology, it shows it’s gonna work. If you do a Fermi estimate and it says a bridge is _feasible_, even if it’s over a farther distance than ever before, you’d be a fucking moron if you said the bridge was “science fiction”. For instance, you can work out the mission requirements for a mission to Mars. Lots of details you might just estimate because you haven’t spent billions of dollars engineering the exact optimal decelerator vehicle for the actual landing, or the actual closed loop life support systems. But you can pretty damn confidently say ‘well, if we have somewhere between 60 billion and a trillion, we could probably get some astronaut boots to Mars’. You’d be a fucking moron if you called such a mission proposal ‘science fiction’. Well, other people have done these estimates for things like brain preservation and hard nanotechnology. Guess what, they fucking pass and we have overwhelming evidence, in the fact that your own thick skull contains a chunk of working nanotechnology, that you can do this eventually. So no. You should stick to your ignorance. Unless you are more credible than, oh, Eric Drexler or other lights in the field, you should shut the fuck up. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/240 "2017-12-28T20:33:08Z")
:sniff: ☹ A mission proposal with a $940 billion variance is not a mission proposal. Even your analogies fail on the specifics. And if I do “shut the fuck up”, well, that’s one more time I’m getting laid, and you’re not. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420.md?page=13)