Comments on: Oxytocin: the hype hormone

By: Amelie

Amelie — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 05:51:14 +0000

Ed, I get the feeling your sense of esteem needs no oxytocin boosts but I still say, cripes this was brilliant. 14 comments here? That’s it? It’s a crime!

I am so tired of these well meaning but annoying TED Berkeley Portlandia love gurus who wade in self affirmation. And call it science. Where’s the mention of caveats and limitations? Never mind the so-called happiness studies that don’t even differentiate between different types of happiness and the hilariously morose Beyond Belief “happiness” seminars with the lot of unsmiling cranks at the wheel.

There, my rant is complete too.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 08:31:41 +0000

Was it something I said?

If people are referring to comments I made in the Amazon discussion, please respond to them THERE rather than here. You may understand what you’re talking about, but I’m certain that nobody else does. Even in that context, I’m not sure I understand what you said. Or meant.

By: Tony

Tony — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 08:28:23 +0000

Will Oxytocin make me want to punch kittens? I may have to think twice about taking it.

By: Ed Yong

Ed Yong — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 08:18:39 +0000

“Ed, are you serious about your claims that unconditionally loving and taking care of an autistic child is somehow harmful to him or her?”

Equally I could ask if you, Lindsay, are serious about your claims that it’s okay to punch kittens.

(See how it’s galling when someone just makes up opinions for you?)

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 03:42:27 +0000

Airy Head, that guy actually has a point – you shouldn’t be posting your “critical” (is that how you call your nonsensical diarrhea?) review of a book that you haven’t even read. Ed, are you serious about your claims that unconditionally loving and taking care of an autistic child is somehow harmful to him or her? Of course you’ll get attention on Twitter – any crap like this can be spread quickly and efficiently. Seriously, guys, you desperately need some love, as you sound like a bunch of loonies. Ed, you should be out there ranting against the stupid paper you cited in your “in-depth” report – but no, those idiots’ argument agrees with yours.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:58:25 +0000

@Pat Your comment to me (Aer O’Head) refers to what exactly? Something I posted in THIS discussion? Or on the Amazon discussion? I’m not sure who “they” refers to, or why you got on this particular tangent. As for “branding” oxytocin as anything at all — especially anything with a cute and catchy phrase — I think that’s exactly what Ed Yong seems to be addressing here. This is a multifaceted hormone, and it won’t fit nicely into any particular pigeonhole. But yes, I suppose it could factor into trolling.

By: Pat

Pat — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:27:15 +0000

Well, Aer O’Head, if they have been taking oxytocin they will be more aggressive to someone who appears to be in a distant and opposing group, in some situations if I understand correctly.

How about branding it the troll hormone?

By: Ed Yong

Ed Yong — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:05:53 +0000

Yep, really. Actually, I think it worked quite well. I had already written that New Scientist piece, which is essentially a longer prose critique, but with little attention. Twitter’s immediacy makes it easier to bring the issue to wider attention. It allows people to spread the word very quickly, it puts stuff in front of a lot of other science writers and journalists who follow me, and the hashtag allows everything to be collected easily, as above.

By: joe

joe — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 10:43:25 +0000

Tweeting a critique? Really? Pretty much the worst venue.

By: Ed Yong

Ed Yong — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 10:36:36 +0000

@ChasCPeterson – that’s fair. I actually thought that after I tweeted it but for the sake of completeness, the full rant is there. Mainly wanted to point out the hormone’s ancient and multi-faceted history.