Post by @juergen_hubert@mementomori.social

2026-07-27 04:19 UTC

Remember, kids: In proper scientific terms, an attempt to explain observable phenomena is called a "hypothesis". It is called a "theory" when it fits all the observable facts, and there is no observable evidence to the contrary. We don't call it a "truth" because there's always a chance that it might be overturned by later evidence - but as far as science is concerned, a "theory" is as hard as it gets. This is often confusing to people who dismiss science they don't like as "it's just a theory". But this distinction should be kept in mind when discussing things like the "Theory of Evolution", "Theory of Relativity", "Global Warming Theory", and "Dead Internet Theory". #PSA #Evolution #GlobalWarming #DeadInternetTheory #Science #Theory

Replies (14)

@deedo@mastodon.nl 2026-07-27 06:16

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social it goes the other way around as well. "No correlation has been found between doing X and outcome Y." "See! They can't prove it's false, gotcha!" Used in medicine a lot...

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@uastronomer@mastodon.monoceros.co.za 2026-07-27 07:08

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social A thought occurs: Older theories are often referred to as laws. Newton's laws of motion. The laws of thermodynamics. Presumably a relic from older and more confident ways of thinking about truth, but the problem is that we *still* call them laws.

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@bamfingle@cyberplace.social 2026-07-27 07:53

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social All hail science!

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@lritter@mastodon.gamedev.place 2026-07-27 08:05

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social not sure we're going to be able to fix the colloquial fubar of this one.

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@drukac@mementomori.social 2026-07-27 08:20

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social Yes, but then we have things like terrain theory which...eesh.

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@colinpurrington@flipping.rocks 2026-07-27 10:09

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social https://colinpurrington.com/2011/09/textbook-disclaimer-stickers/

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@vurpo@chitter.xyz 2026-07-27 10:33

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social i always understood that a "theory" is a working model intended for explaining observations, and a "hypothesis" is a proposed statement that is yet untested

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@xs4me2@mastodon.social 2026-07-27 10:53

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social 🎯

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@BoloMKXXVIII@mastodon.social 2026-07-27 11:13

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social Also, "Truths" are just a person's perspective. They don't even have to be based on reality. There is an entire social media platform full of them.

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@lifewithtrees@mstdn.social 2026-07-27 11:30

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social teacher here offering unsolicited advice. This is great info, however, starting it off with “remember kids” can come across as patronizing and so people may get their backs up and check out before they get to the great points you make.

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@lritter@mastodon.gamedev.place 2026-07-27 11:31

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social didn't help that you put "dead internet theory" in there, since wikipedia says it's just a concept. probably your pet hypothesis.

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@Guillotine_Jones@beige.party 2026-07-27 14:13

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social Ask yourself, "How can I find out more about the 'Dead Internet Theory'"? Then do it. Bong hits 4 Jesus. #DeadInternetTheory

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@bsh@social.tchncs.de 2026-07-28 08:11

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social the dead internet is a theory or conspiracy?

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@DubOnArrival@s.basspistol.org 2026-07-28 18:20

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social conspiracy hypothesis then?

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