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Tossing Out IRB for Pry

philaquilina.com

11–20 of 25 posts

Re: Tossing Out IRB for Pry

#13
post #7
post #5

Nice and all, but I clicked the link wondering why Institutional Review Boards were being tossed, seeing as how they're required by federal law to oversee ethics in research at publicly funded universities.

Context clues. If I was in a sportsbar and heard someone dissing the NFL, I wouldn't think "What do they have against the National Forensics League?" On HN, if you see an acronym where it doesn't make sense to you, great! Most likely you're being presented the opportunity to learn about some cool technology.

I did (learn something), but not knowing what "Py" was, there were no other context clues in the headline. HN is friendly to researchers too, so the setting is appropriate for the other interpretation of the acronym (and makes the football analogy mildly condescending).

Re: Tossing Out IRB for Pry

#14
One of the coolest things about pry is how it doesn't need to monkey-patch Object in order to add custom functionality. The command-system stands above the ruby level.

Re: Tossing Out IRB for Pry

#15
post #13
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Context clues. If I was in a sportsbar and heard someone dissing the NFL, I wouldn't think "What do they have against the National Forensics League?" On HN, if you see an acronym where it doesn't make sense to you, great! Most likely you're being presented the opportunity to learn about some cool technology.

I did (learn something), but not knowing what "Py" was, there were no other context clues in the headline. HN is friendly to researchers too, so the setting is appropriate for the other interpretation of the acronym (and makes the football analogy mildly condescending).

But accurate.

Re: Tossing Out IRB for Pry

#17

Are you by any chance Maltese, or do you have Maltese parents? Just deducing from your last name and the 8 pointed flag favicon for your blog.

Good eye! I am indeed half maltese. Although atheist, I've always subscribed to the (secular) symbolism of the the 8 points on the cross, so I thought it a good symbol for the site.

Re: Tossing Out IRB for Pry

#18

Are you by any chance Maltese, or do you have Maltese parents? Just deducing from your last name and the 8 pointed flag favicon for your blog.

Good eye! I am indeed half maltese. Although atheist, I've always subscribed to the (secular) symbolism of the the 8 points on the cross, so I thought it a good symbol for the site.

Well, I am Maltese myself, so it was a surprise to see another Maltese on hackernews. Props!

Re: Tossing Out IRB for Pry

#19
post #5

Nice and all, but I clicked the link wondering why Institutional Review Boards were being tossed, seeing as how they're required by federal law to oversee ethics in research at publicly funded universities.

Don't feel bad, you weren't the only one. When I first read the title I already read it as "Institutional Review Board", whose paperwork requirements normally increases my blood pressure by several points.

Opening the URL made it obvious what it was referring to, however. And then I immediately installed the package to try it out.

Re: Tossing Out IRB for Pry

#20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good eye! I am indeed half maltese. Although atheist, I've always subscribed to the (secular) symbolism of the the 8 points on the cross, so I thought it a good symbol for the site.

Well, I am Maltese myself, so it was a surprise to see another Maltese on hackernews. Props!

Half Maltese here too!
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