Propeller Head Plaza Technical and scientific discussion of amps, cables and other topics.

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Placebo

Posted by Jim Austin on February 11, 2006 at 06:09:07

In Reply to: I don't rule out the placebo effect either... posted by Wellfed on February 11, 2006 at 05:52:06:

>>I just think that little critter gets way more attention than he deserves.<<

And though it might get some attention, I think it deserves greater understanding and respect. Then again, I'm not sure human beings--including me-are even CAPABLE of comprehending just how vulnerable they (we) are to the power of suggestion. We--many of us--have got this idea that our senses have some direct connection to what really exists. But the evidence suggests that everything is filtered through a, well, a filter of bias, prejudice, prior belief and expectations.

Some of us strive to understand, and in vain to overcome, those limitations. Others are happier having faith in their perceptions and don't like to question. I don't know which "side" you're on (or whether, as seems likely, you're somewhere in the middle). I do know that that"questioners" vs "believers" is a very important distinction in society. Some people want to work to get make sure they get it right. Others prefer to work even harder to justify their belief that they already have it right. The chief difficulty with this last group is they're vulnerable to hucksters, and there's no shortage of them in audio or politics. But that's a digression.

Like I've said, it is at least plausible (in contrast to the IC) that something could be happening with these optical treatments; it's plausible that a change in the optics of an optical storage device could have an effect. But I cannot conceive of any effect that isn't related either to errors on the amplitude axis (bits is bits) or the time axis (jitter). Just because I can't conceive of it does not mean it doesn't exist. But I remain skeptical: even if it is mechanical resonance, it ought to manifest itself as changes in data integrity or as jitter.

Best,

Jim

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