this post was submitted on 25 May 2024
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Science Memes

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Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!

A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.



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  1. Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
  2. Keep it rooted (on topic).
  3. No spam.
  4. Infographics welcome, get schooled.


If you are here asking: "Is this a science meme?"

Probably, yes. We use the Dawkins definition of meme: a replicating idea, not just an image macro with a fact on it. A good post here doesn't need to teach you something. It needs to make you ask something: who, what, where, when, and especially why or how.

Science isn't a filing cabinet of facts, it's a conversation. For example, a photo of an eel or other localized wildlife counts because most people never see one, and wonder is the first step of inquiry. A car meme counts if it makes you curious about what's under the bonnet. If you want to talk about something you noticed in the world, chances are someone else wants to talk about it too.

We moderate for vibe, not category. Pruning is light, especially where a post creates interesting discussion. Experimenting is encouraged.

See the pinned paper on Shitposting as Public Pedagogy if you want the academic case for why this works.



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[–] Bobmighty@lemmy.world 20 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Companies**. Also, the word they're looking for is hypothesis, not theory.

[–] RGB3x3@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago (2 children)

The most annoying thing about all those arguments is the complete misunderstanding of what "theory" actually means.

[–] Feathercrown@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Any argument that centers on the phrase "scientific theory" instantly goes in the trash and should tell you all you need to know about the person making it

[–] InternetPerson@lemmings.world 1 points 2 years ago

Sometimes a common error, as people just have a rather ordinary interpretation on the meaning of the word "theory" and sometimes it's an intentional attempt of discrediting.

Words can mean different things in different contexts. A scientific theory is not the same as the general or ordinary every-day meaning of "theory".

Classic example and mistake by followers of creationist religions: "evolution is just a theory".

Well, what if I told you, that, for example, our modern electronic means of communication are part of the wide field of "information theory"?