I think there’s another category to consider: not rigorously true, but not importantly false either, and it conveys a feeling and attitude. The purpose of the intro is not to denigrate Lunch or Midnight Snacks or whatever, it’s to affirm that it’s worthwhile to put effort into breakfast. I’m sure some do believe it literally, but it’s a belief that pays no rent, so there’s no harm whether they’re right or wrong on any given day for any given person.
The grade-school assignment was bullshit, no argument. But that’s school, and 80% of it it bullshit, with this as a pretty minor example. “Breakfast is the most important meal” is a very old meme, quite possibly a corporate marketing ploy, and even so the lack of rigor doesn’t bring it to the level of “bullshit”, IMO.
Good point. And I like that phrasing of “not rigorously true, but not importantly false either”. Maybe I’m being too literal and it’s just clear to everyone that the true message is that it’s worthwhile to put effort into breakfast. I’m not sure. But even if that is the message I still suspect the author isn’t confident of it, in which case a weaker version of what I was saying in the post applies.
I’m sure some do believe it literally, but it’s a belief that pays no rent, so there’s no harm whether they’re right or wrong on any given day for any given person.
I don’t think that 1) it pays no rent or 2) it does harm on any given day for any given person are true. For (1) the rent it pays is the prediction that eating (a good) breakfast will have physical/cognitive/whatever benefits. For (2) this is a bit of a stretch, but I could see someone who buys a version of the breakfast idea making an effort to sit down and have a big plate of pancakes, eggs and bacon every morning and subsequently feeling lethargic every day. It’s probably not too harmful most of the time though, so I’m only quibbling here.
quite possibly a corporate marketing ploy
Oh, interesting. I actually don’t think I’ve ever had that thought but I could see it. Still gotta work on my cynicism.
the lack of rigor doesn’t bring it to the level of “bullshit”, IMO.
I’m not sure I understand your point here. Are you saying that because it is such a popular meme it’s clear to people that they’re “just words” and that the speaker doesn’t actually mean them?
I think there’s another category to consider: not rigorously true, but not importantly false either, and it conveys a feeling and attitude. The purpose of the intro is not to denigrate Lunch or Midnight Snacks or whatever, it’s to affirm that it’s worthwhile to put effort into breakfast. I’m sure some do believe it literally, but it’s a belief that pays no rent, so there’s no harm whether they’re right or wrong on any given day for any given person.
The grade-school assignment was bullshit, no argument. But that’s school, and 80% of it it bullshit, with this as a pretty minor example. “Breakfast is the most important meal” is a very old meme, quite possibly a corporate marketing ploy, and even so the lack of rigor doesn’t bring it to the level of “bullshit”, IMO.
Good point. And I like that phrasing of “not rigorously true, but not importantly false either”. Maybe I’m being too literal and it’s just clear to everyone that the true message is that it’s worthwhile to put effort into breakfast. I’m not sure. But even if that is the message I still suspect the author isn’t confident of it, in which case a weaker version of what I was saying in the post applies.
I don’t think that 1) it pays no rent or 2) it does harm on any given day for any given person are true. For (1) the rent it pays is the prediction that eating (a good) breakfast will have physical/cognitive/whatever benefits. For (2) this is a bit of a stretch, but I could see someone who buys a version of the breakfast idea making an effort to sit down and have a big plate of pancakes, eggs and bacon every morning and subsequently feeling lethargic every day. It’s probably not too harmful most of the time though, so I’m only quibbling here.
Oh, interesting. I actually don’t think I’ve ever had that thought but I could see it. Still gotta work on my cynicism.
I’m not sure I understand your point here. Are you saying that because it is such a popular meme it’s clear to people that they’re “just words” and that the speaker doesn’t actually mean them?