Do you understand what the word theory means in a scientific context?

[The End]

I was reading over a bunch of older threads and posts, and shame! Shame on many of you!

There appears to be great confusion and misunderstanding over what the word theory means.

People mix it up with the layman use, or think it means something yet to be tested, and many other confusing mix ups.

And in the information age, this is simply unacceptable.

What do you think the word theory means?

Have you previously thought the word theory (as used in science) to mean one thing, then realized you were wrong? Perhaps through reading this very thread! Please drop by and share your confusion experience.

 

[KevanG]

I don't know if I want to share my confusion experience with you... Oh, you mean with the word theory.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Wild, baseless conjecture?

 

[Spider-X]

Well...I could be wrong...but I believe theory is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.

 

[Senator Pleasury]

Wild, baseless conjecture?

In the theory, yes.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

I believe it's a kind of drink you order, right?

 

[Kryptonian Warrior]

I always thought it was describing a way of putting the "rooster" into the "hen house".

 

[Perfect Cell]

Well...I could be wrong...but I believe theory is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.

When in Rome...

Dammit, I love that movie. I'm afraid to see the sequel, since I couldn't see how it could live up to the first. But a lot of people seem to like it, so I'll bite the bullet eventually.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Yes, understood it for years
The "People originated from Mars" discussion added a simple extra bit to the meaning

 

[Doctor Evo]

I theoretically understand the word, "theory."

 

[Anita18]

I am not surprised to what this thread has become. This is SHH, after all.

 

[KevanG]

Why hasn't The End come back to enlighten us all?

 

[Immortalfire]

A theory is a crusty, orange substance that is attached to the back of a truck. It emits secret messages that...only a dog can hear.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

A theory is a crusty, orange substance that is attached to the back of a truck. It emits secret messages that...only a dog can hear.

That's not what MY dog says.

 

[Immortalfire]

Your dog is a liar.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Your dog is a liar.

That's just what he said your dog would have you say to me.

 

[Victarion]

A hypothesis that has withstood attempts to disprove it?

 

[Siby]

Why hasn't The End come back to enlighten us all?

Sadly, due to his name he can only make one post and its... The End. t:

I think he had a good topic for discussion but the thread got hijacked by nincompoops (and I mean that in the nicest way).

There are some really intelligent posters on this site though. There was a great thread on the supernatural, religion, and God where people pointed out the difference between the layman use of the word theory and the scientific use.

 

[NickNitro]

I wish I could say "this is my theory" at work and people take me seriously. They get to be like "well this seems to make some sort of sense, I can get $millions in funding for something I'm making up!"

Scientists......adult versions of our child self

 

[Doctor Evo]

I wish I could say "this is my theory" at work and people take me seriously. They get to be like "well this seems to make some sort of sense, I can get $millions in funding for something I'm making up!"

Scientists......adult versions of our child self

Except for the fact that once you propose such an idea within the scientific community, the first thing everyone does is try to shred it to pieces.

 

[Anita18]

Except for the fact that once you propose such an idea within the scientific community, the first thing everyone does is try to shred it to pieces.

Yup.

Gotta be able to take the heat!

 

[Mee]

I was reading over a bunch of older threads and posts, and shame! Shame on many of you!

There appears to be great confusion and misunderstanding over what the word theory means.

Well good thing you were combing through the old threads to bring this to our attention.

 

[C. Lee]

Theory - the act of being being constantly afraid of things.

Example - I would go hunting them zombies, but I theory they will kill me.

 

[KevanG]

Sadly, due to his name he can only make one post and its... The End. t:

I think he had a good topic for discussion but the thread got hijacked by nincompoops (and I mean that in the nicest way).

There are some really intelligent posters on this site though. There was a great thread on the supernatural, religion, and God where people pointed out the difference between the layman use of the word theory and the scientific use.

*looks at second post* Ya don't say.

 

[Doctor Evo]

There are some really intelligent posters on this site though. There was a great thread on the supernatural, religion, and God where people pointed out the difference between the layman use of the word theory and the scientific use.

That same conversation has occurred countless times on these boards in a number of threads, often in the hope of avoiding the misunderstanding in the future. Unfortunately, it never seems to stick.