I just had a conversation on the favorite sex positions of fictional characters.

  • borokov@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    Was discussing about physics, relativity, quantum, etc… with a colleague after a few beer and he told me “a model is just a model, it’s not the reality.” Mind blowing moment. I’ve always considered the physics we learned at school was a description of reality, but no. It will always be just an approximation.

    • absGeekNZ@lemmy.nz
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      4 days ago

      Well yes. A model is just describes reality, the tools used in the description govern how accurate the model is.

      e.g. the speedo in your car, is a model of reality. Obviously it only models a very tiny part, but depending on the quality of the tool; it is more or less describing reality covered by the model.

      • IttihadChe@lemmy.ml
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        3 days ago

        the speedo in your car, is a model of reality. Obviously it only models a very tiny part, but depending on the quality of the tool; it is more or less describing reality covered by the model.

        No way this wasn’t intentional.

        Speedo, Very tiny part, quality of the tool…

      • olivier@lemmy.fait.ch
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        4 days ago

        this. that’s why a model is as good as its known margin of error and limits

        and it’s important to remember models work well outside of edge cases ; in your speedometer example, if you brake on ice and your car drifts out of control, the speedometer will show no speed, when you’ll probably have one … but in most cases, it’s a good enough model