Sal Paradise

The nutritional supplements industry does have those millions necessary for clinical trials. A peer-reviewed clinical study is likely to further boost their sales. We don't know exactly why there hasn't been another study commissioned. One likely explanation to me seems to be that there is low confidence in achieving results that prove the suggested "extremely huge" impact, and an inherent risk of being reduced to the efficiency level of chicken soup.

There is a case to be made to amend the DSHEA of 1994 (or equivalent legislation in the EU) to enforce more... (read more)

Let me start by saying my question was genuine. 30 year old research in medicine triggers scepticism in me.

"Yes, that says quite bad things about the medical community that they are only focused on things that can be patented to make money. It's another reason to be distrustful of doctors."

Sorry, I don't subscribe to this. "The medical community" is vastly diverse and merit is not only gained through patentable research.

Which is proven by the point there actually has been ongoing research into the effect of chicken soup on influenza as well as the effect ... (read more)

I agree with your premise but would expect any decent doctor to actually enter a serious discussion with you to find the best med when you say one doesn't work for you. You are proving from your own experience, and the vast variability in reactions is something well documented in the medical field.

You should not need to bring studies for this and not have to prove via academia. I will maintain that bringing print-outs shifts the interaction from patient-doctor to adversarial peer-review. Many doctors will dig in, not concede.

No, you should not fault them for any of it. If you are healthy and not taking regular medicine, the initial assumption — that you have to talk to your doctor about supplements — is wrong.

Yes, doctors should follow up on current research but also prioritize what is most relevant. How to have a slight effect on common infections and influenza is definitely not top of mind. Cross-medication effects for the elderly are just one example of much more relevant research to stay on top of, amid a myriad of topics.

You are definitely not supposed to have papers prin... (read more)

I am not in AI, but I work with highly analytical people in different career stages.

I enjoyed your approach and calculating the possible trajectories. However I feel the human aspect falls too short. While "I can probably learn anything" might be true (within bounds), it is a trap. The people I have observed who were truly memorable and had impact all had an intrinsic pull towards their field - not a strategized, optimized fit. And I am not talking generally within a field but also within the sub-specializations. While you argue against the emphasis on "pe... (read more)

I like the observation of additive coding behaviour.

I think you are not taking into account the different ways vibe coding is used in business practice:

It is used by established professionals who increase their efficiency - and they will be able to maintain the code also in the future, disregarding AI limitations.

It is used by small businesses and executives and potential entrepreneurs to quickly deploy on single issue items. One small piece of software for one particular task. It is just as likely a year from now it will get rewritten by newer coding age... (read more)

To pick up some repeating arguments.

Re Taiwan: I don't think this serves as a counterargument. The remnants of the non-communist Kuomintang forces retreated to Taiwan as a last base. For mainland China to consider this a "left over territory to conquer which we didn't complete in 1949" is historically and culturally more justifiable than what international foreign intervention usually means.

Re China's internal despotism: China being not militaristically expansionist does not equal China being a humanistic society or desirable system of state or societal or... (read more)