query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1
value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
What happens to Debt and other stuff you owe to people when you die? | [
"It generally gets taken out of your estate, if there isn't enough in your estate then the rest will get written off. A family member may only have to keep paying off the debt if they're still mortgage left on the house that's been left to them and they decide to keep it."
] | [
"Why does it cost money to get divorced? Because it's worth it!"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
What is the piece of equipment that's always suspended from the crane at an inactive construction site (ie, during nighttime)? Why does it have to be suspended? | [
"Thinking this might be a portable generator or welding unit. Usually moved from a tow hitch, would be pretty easy to drive up pop the lock and drive off with it."
] | [
"I'm figuring you were concerned about the glass. There are several ways to remove it, but these are the most prevalent: 1. They remove the pane from the inside using suction devices and portable winches/pulley blocks. Also, sometimes the window pane you see from the ground is actually a glass pane inside a metal f... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Why does the Panama Canal has different gates? What would happen if they just let the water flow? | [
"The Panama canal is not flat. A large section of the canal is an artificial lake that is about 85 ft above sea level. If you were to remove the gates (locks), the water would flood out of the lake and into the oceans"
] | [
"Multiple reasons. Takes up too much space, the exit is too small, the height at which commercial airplanes fly as well as the speed would probably instantly kill people who would jump out."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How does the GPA system in US schools work? | [
"Some schools do it differently, but most are on a 4.0 scale (5.0 being the highest you can get on a 4.0 scale). In your classes, you get a letter grade: A, B, C, D, & F, those grades equal a GPA number. Now, many high schools, like mine, did away with the +/- system. The GPA:Letter Grade goes like this (usually)... | [
"Completely different requirements depending on the graduate degree you want. First determine the degree, then determine which school, and then call Admissions. Not every grad degree requires standardized testing."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
why are people trying to ban e-cigs? | [
"Well, tobacco companies don't want people thinking e-cigs are healthier because it'll cut in to their profits. (Note, I'm using \"healthier\" in a very loose way). If everyone is using e-cigs; then no one will want to buy regular cigarettes. They're just trying to protect thier profits. As far as other people; a l... | [
"Yes, but nowhere near as bad as cigarettes. & #x200B; There's no long term research into the effects of vaping tho, so vapists are practically strawberry shortcake puffing guinea pigs. & #x200B; I'll stick to the cigs tho, they make me look extremely cool."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
How can transgendered people have cisgendered identical twins? | [
"When a baby grows inside its mother, it grows according to a recipe (DNA). Depending on how well the recipe is followed, and under what conditions, the results can be everything from the same every time to completely different every time. Twins have the same DNA, but because they get different treatment in the wom... | [
"Someone with a boy body and a boy brain who dresses like a girl when he feels like it is a transvestite. People will dress up like another gender for all sorts of reasons even if they don't think of themselves as that gender. Some do it for fun or sexual kinks, like Dr. Frank N Furter from *The Rocky Horror Pictur... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Is Adblocker legal? And if so, how? | [
"It's not illegal. They still sent me all the data they intended to - ads included - I just had a script remove advertisements out of that data. It's much the same as throwing your junk mail out without looking at it."
] | [
"Any authority is much, much more likely to go after the host of the stream rather than an individual user who watches it. Legal? No, it's not. Going to get you into trouble? Unlikely."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
- Subatomic Physics and String Theory | [
"> \"The theory of quantum electrodynamics describes Nature as absurd from the point of view of common sense. And it agrees fully with experiment. So I hope you accept Nature as She is — absurd.\" -Richard Feynman"
] | [
"The Art of War in the Western World - Archer Jones"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Education:"
} |
Why do we procrastinate if we know that will usually lead to bad consequences? | [
"Its because of something called the planning falacy. What that means is generally humans think they can get what they need done in a shorter time than is actually needed. Essentially people overestimate ability and underestimate complexity. So when someone starts a task generally people think they will be crunched... | [
"It's a defence mechanism. I think natural selection can explain it partially. If you discover something good in your life, you don't need to take action. If you discover something bad in your life you should take action. The more we focus on the negative, the more action we take. To a certain extent, people who fo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
I weighed 169.8 lbs before I went to bed. I weighed 168.6 lbs when I woke up. Where did the 1.2 lbs go? | [
"Your metabolism converts sugars + oxygen into carbon dioxide + water + energy. You then breathe out the CO*_2_*, along with some of the H*_2_*O in the form of water vapor, while you sleep."
] | [
"> How come if I eat 4 pounds of macaroni and cheese then step on the scale immediately after it doesn't say that I gained 4 pounds? Because you either didn't actually eat four pounds of mac and cheese, or your scale is inaccurate."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
In regards to hills and valleys, what determines whether a roadway will be a tunnel, a cutout, a bridge, or just go with the curve of the land? | [
"I'm not an expert, but I would imagine that cost is the main implication. If there's already some sort of road/trail, then why not just upgrade this to a modern road? If the mountain is made of a particularly dense and hard rock, it's going to cost a fortune and take a huge amount of work to dig out to build a tun... | [
"Rivers tend to form in places that have a long, continuous, mostly-gradual path from high to low places. This is exactly the sort of path trains need, as they cannot climb (or safely descend) very steep slopes. Some rivers do have steep bits (rapids, waterfalls), and in these bits the train will of course take a d... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
What is being done in the world of science to offset the imposing "antibiotic apocalypse?" | [
"[Here is an article you may want to read](_URL_0_) I'll post a little of the article so my comment doesn't get deleted. Scientists have come across a potential game-changer in the fight against drug-resistant superbugs - a new class of antibiotic that is resistant to resistance. Not only does the new compound - w... | [
"Destructful weather. Mass extinction. Bad crops and food shortages. Little to no intercontinental travel and a seemingly post apocalyptic lifestyle in general."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence about Climate science:"
} |
Anita Sarkeesian controversy | [
"Anita Sarkeesian is a feminist cultural critic, most well-known for her YouTube channel \"Feminist Frequency.\" Coincidentally, around the time the whole #GamerGate thing was happening, she made a video about women's representation in videogames which brought her into the fray. Later, when she was going to give a... | [
"Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO): FIFA an…: _URL_0_ This guy explains it well"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why is the CIA allowed to black out parts of declassified documents? | [
"The easiest, non-conspiracy way to explain it is simply that the act of removing the information is what allows the documents to become declassified. For example, in the sentence: \"Mr. Ahmed Jones informed us of the super secret password to the al-qaeda clubhouse: pepperoni.\" The sentence could be \"declassified... | [
"The CIA are not the ones releasing this. There was legislation passed in the 90’s requiring the Kennedy files to be released this year"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
What is hacking actually, and why are movies still always getting it wrong? | [
"Hacking is basically just getting a piece of software (or hardware) to do something it wasn't meant to do. Why movies get it wrong? Because it's not entertaining to show some guys sitting around, trying hours upon hours to find some weakness they can exploit. There's no thrilling \"who can type commands faster\" ... | [
"I'm pretty sure you're seeing this mostly in movies and television, which may lead you to believe this actually happens."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why is my car built to go faster than I can ever legally drive it? | [
"Because a car being pushed to the absolute limits is going to break a hell of a lot faster then one cruising along serenely and well within tolerances."
] | [
"Any car capable of going 75 safely and comfortably is going to be capable of going 100+ slightly less safely and comfortably. Any car that could only go 75 would be miserable to drive at 60."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why Amazon doesn't care if my friend sends a stone in return instead of actual product? Wouldn't this cost financial loss from their side? | [
"Amazon can drop his account. Or Amazon can sue him for fraud. Of, if your friend is returning it through the USPS, that's a federal offense and he can land in the pokey."
] | [
"They need to pay for the return shipping, the carrier doesn't work for free. If the item doesn't cost them enough to make that worthwhile then they let you keep it for goodwill."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Is it true that honey never goes bad? | [
"Honey has so much sugar that osmosis would dehydrate and kill any bacterial cell that found it's way into the jar. It also has direct antibacterial properties - _URL_0_"
] | [
"What source says that alcohol is bad for your teeth?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
You are on a game show with a prize behind one of three doors. You choose a door, and the host opens one of the other two doors showing you there isn’t a prize there. You should now change your decision. WHY?! (the most infuriating statistics problem that I still don’t understand) | [
"I'll make the problem really simple for you: The door that gets revealed as the \"wrong door\" is always a \"wrong door\". If you had originally picked either of the two wrong doors, then switching now would always result in the winning door. If you originally picked the winning door, switching will cause you to l... | [
"The honest guard would tell you to go through his door if you asked him which door to go through, and the liar would tell you to go through his own. So, the trick is to ask a guard which door the *other* guard would say to go through. If you ask the honest guard, he will honestly tell you that the lying guard wou... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Does running a shaving razor across a pair of jeans in the opposite direction actually sharpen it? If so, how does it work? | [
"For the edge of knife, imagine a saw with little teeth of metal, but they're not all sticking out in the same direction. Rubbing it the right way gradually nudges them all to point along the same line of cutting. \"Real\" sharpening would be grinding the sides of the saw to make the whole thing thinner."
] | [
"> How do the miniscule hairs on my face do this to a metal blade? They don't. Think about what happens when you shave. You lather up, pull out the razor, shave, rinse off your razor and then put it back on the shelf until the next time you use it. What's happening is that in between the time you use it, it's corro... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why aren't more bullets pointed instead of rounded? | [
"Virtually all rifle rounds are pointed. This is for high-velocity aerodynamics. The only type of bullets that are typically round are handgun bullets, which are generally not as fast as rifle rounds, aren't feasibly accurate to nearly the same ranges, and depend more on squashing and deforming in order to wound th... | [
"Full metal jacket means that the lead bullet has a thin coating of metal around it. These bullets are pointed at the tip. Pros: Since the lead is coated there is less residue in the barrel after shooting. Con(?): Since the tip is pointed and covered in hard metal, this kind of bullet pierces without expanding much... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
If oxygen is necessary for combustion, what would happen if you tried to burn a piece of paper, with a laser, while it was inside something like a vacuum chamber with no oxygen present? | [
"It would not burn properly. This is similar to how charcoal is made, actually -- some chemical reactions still happen, but not the main oxygen combustion."
] | [
"The oil is in the earth's crust, and most magma is way deeper in the mantle. But the biggest reason is that for oil to combust in the way you're describing, there needs to be the right amount of oxygen. For example, if a room is full of gasoline vapor, and something in there lights on fire, if there is too much va... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Why do some cheeses taste different depending on how it is served | [
"Pretty much all complex food tastes different in different conditions. Since much of our 'taste' is actually smell, I suspect that a huge amount of it depends on the proportion and composition of the volatile components. (this is certainly true for wines - consider how big of a difference temperature and glass sha... | [
"Animal the milk it taken from, the fat content of the milk (if the cream has been separated or not), the kind of rennet used, the kind of bacteria cultures used, the amount of moisture squeezed out, the kind of fungal cultures used, the duration it is aged, the way it is aged (humidity, waxed or rapped in cloth, s... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Isn't the speed limit of the universe a little bit *below* the speed of light? | [
"There is no highest possible speed below c. A massive particle can move at a speed arbitrarily close to, but not equal to c."
] | [
"we can't. \"below Kelvin\" is the same as \"faster than the speed of light\". As of yet even \"zero Kelvin\" is not attainable."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Physics:"
} |
What is happening when I have a deja vu? | [
"Its usually a glitch in the Matrix. It happens when they change something."
] | [
"This only happens to me when I try to pee with a boner."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about Cognitive Science:",
"pos": "Represent the answer about Cognitive Science:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why does a computer only last at most 4 or 5 years? Why can't a computer last forever? | [
"Computers can last as long as you want them to provided you take care of them. The issue is that computers become obsolete very quickly. Technology advances at a significant pace and computers are built to take advantage of these advances."
] | [
"There is a real clock in the computer that keeps track of date and time even when the computer is powered off. All computer mother boards have CMOS battery installed that keeps this real clock running. The battery doesn't last forever but from my experience it can last up to 10 years in some cases."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Why is Adolf Hitler talked more about for his responsibility for the deaths of about 17 million instead of Mao Zedong, who is responsible for about 3 times as many deaths? | [
"Because you live in the West. Hitler's atrocities are more personal to you and your countrymen. If you lived in Asia you would hear a lot more about Mao and 1930's/1940's Japan."
] | [
"Stalin's actual numbers are unknown. They range from about 2.5 million to like everyone in Europe twice. His numbers were inflated during the Cold War to make the USSR seem worse than it was."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Reddit's obsession with John Cena | [
"The majority of the internet has an obsession with John Cena. All of it spawned when a radio show did a prank call or \"phone scam\" telling the person being pranked that they could see the WWE Superslam(Not a real event) and watch John Cena wrestle. There's a video from where it all started, just by looking up \"... | [
"The original post: _URL_0_ Not really sure why the kid wants to stop Alec Baldwin on his first day of school, but there you have it. I think Reddit just took it and ran since it's such a funny concept."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
How do engineers decide what the speed limit should be on any given road/street? | [
"State route speed limits are set by lawmakers, not engineers. Engineers however do set the speed limits for ramps and transition roadways, curvy bits where G forces matter more than speed. When traveling through a curve there's a max G force your vehicle is allowed to take before it becomes unsafe; this is why pos... | [
"They are counting cars and measuring how fast they are going for a traffic survey. If the traffic is heavy enough, they may install traffic lights or traffic calming devices like speed humps or chicanes, depending on the desired outcome."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
What is an Amplituhedron? | [
"in addition to that link, I found: a very technical talk _URL_4_ PDF slides from his student _URL_5_ here is a paper on the geometry aspects of the discovery _URL_6_ and there is mention of an upcoming paper on the physics and the amplitude predictions by Nima Arkani-Hamed, but nothing I could find on arXiv I am a... | [
"A Visual, Intuitive Guide to Imaginary Numbers: _URL_0_"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
The difference between exposure, brightness, contrast, ISO & White Balance | [
"Sorry. I know this has been answered very well already but I came upstairs and turned on my computer just so I could share this video. [Video is here](_URL_0_) This is how I finally understood ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture. It's ELI5 but in video form and i've had it bookmarked forever."
] | [
"In short, the camera has a bunch of sensors that measures light levels, colors, focus and etc. The company has programmed the camera to set the settings a specific way for different situations (different inputs from the sensors). The most important settings, imo, are focus, shutter speed, contrast/lighting/flash, ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
how can a woman sue a company for Toxic Shock Syndrome if the warnings are placed on the box as a warning? | [
"You can't just put a warning label on a box and make yourself immune from a lawsuit. Like, Chevy couldn't design cars that explode randomly and it be fine because they put a sticker on the cars. Hormel can't sell poisonous cans of Spam and have it be fine if they put some words on the can. Walmart can't stock and... | [
"US laws require them. Just like why they require a listing of ingredients. If a bottle does not have one, there is a chance it was part of a multipack and the nutritional label was on the outer wrapping."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why can't we fire Congress and start over? | [
"1) We don't have a proceedure outlined in either the Constitution or other Federal law to enact such a recall election. Only Congress could enact such a law and (big suprise) they aren't keen to do so. 2) Even if we did, given the way that districts have been drawn over the last few decades, it is HIGHLY likely th... | [
"Because they don't think anyone has the balls to call them on it and try to stop them."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
How nuclear weapons could have been dropped and tested in Nevada, without the nuclear fallout or radiation harming civilian populations in the surrounding communities. | [
"they tested them in super remote areas, and before long, they stopped testing them above ground or under water (or space), they would detonate them underground, so the radiation would be contained. there is a low level of radiation across the globe that didnt exist before nuclear testing. generally inconsequential... | [
"Most were underground tests. This means there wasn't a lot of crap thrown into the atmosphere."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
This reddit vault thing?! | [
"Originally a redditors Dad bought an old casino (Bill's Casino - there's a Wikipedia article about it too), they found a safe behind a secret wall. He posted to Reddit saying he'd film and take pictures when they opened it and share what was inside. Everyone got excited, tried guessing what was in the safe - why ... | [
"4chan did an excellent example. I know shocker. _URL_0_"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Politics:"
} |
What are things an average person can do to help fight the global warming? | [
"When you buy appliances, buy energy star. Use less heat and air conditioning. Bike more, drive less. Put solar panels on your house (many companies will work a deal with you that involves little money up front). If you get a car, get a hybrid or electric one. Turn down your water heater. Check whether your e... | [
"They're going full police force rather than trying to educate the population about the harmful effects"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why does rushing water appear white instead of clear? | [
"It's for the same reason that Egg whites are clear until they're beaten, when they become white - it's the addition of air very rapidly being incorporated into the egg whites. Water moving at speed traps air in much the same way as air gets beaten into eggs, causing the water to froth and appear white."
] | [
"Yes and no. Water is actually blue in large quantities, it is a subtle tint so it seems clear in small amounts but it is really extremely faintly blue. Water also has a partly reflective surface so that would reflect a red sky, but the water would still be blue if there is any blue light to see it by. Probably it ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Astronomy:"
} |
What benefits has space exploration brought to humans? | [
"Memory foam mattresses. Many technologies developed for space exploration have since made it into our daily lives."
] | [
"Pregnant women qualify for Medicaid, which is paid for by the government, if they do not have insurance. The Medicaid cuts off for the woman after the child is born, but will continue to cover the child until it's 18 years old if the mother cannot get health insurance for the family from a private insurance compan... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How is there a slow lane and a fast lane on the highway if the speed limit never changes? | [
"Legally, in theory the idea is that not everyone is going to go *exactly* the speed limit. It's the limit-- you can't go over it, but you can go varying degrees under it. So some people will go 65, some will go 60, and the people going 65 need to pass the ones going 60 to avoid congestion. Practically, everyone un... | [
"It's not about how fast you're going, it's about not impeding traffic. The left lane is for passing, not for traveling in."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Traffic and driving:",
"pos": "Represent the post about Traffic and driving:",
"neg": "Represent the post about Driving and traffic regulations:"
} |
How every new movie that comes out can say they are the "Number one" Movie in America | [
"Because of Statistics! Depending on how you want to spin the numbers, or what cohort you're looking for, then you can manipulate the numbers to say anything you want. Are they the \"Number One Movie\" based on total tickets sold, or tickets solded based on an age demographic, or base on a timeframe, or based on am... | [
"Nightcrawler Ex Machina Inside Out Maybe you're just looking at the most heavily advertised movies. They get made simply because people pay to see them. And a lot of them are pretty awesome, 'reboot and adaptation' aside."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do people consider Police to be the problem when camera statistics would seem to point to citizens causing most of the problems? | [
"It could go either way. It could mean that police are less likely to engage in misconduct because everything they do is being monitored. Without the cameras, the police are more likely to be supported because they are seen as doing their job. There are also times when the police initiate the misconduct by intentio... | [
"They generally do, community policing is the idea that the police integrate themselves into the community and become friends with community leaders. The idea is simple, people like the police, and people will behave. It works! Downside: the media likes to fuck it up and it can be hard to like the guy giving you a... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What's the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist? Living in the UK, how does one become either of these? | [
"A psychiatrist has gone through medical school and can prescribe drugs. A psychologist has not gone through medical school, and can not prescribe controlled drugs."
] | [
"Dietician, at least in a few countries including USA, Canada, UK, Australia, is a protected term. You can't just call yourself one, you have to meet training and registration standards. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do ants die when soap is sprayed on them? | [
"I am not an entomologist, but I will give it a shot. Ants are insects and \"breath\" through little holes in their thorax. When they are in rain, it has a high surface tension, so the ant is able to \"separate\" from the water by pushing off the surface of the water droplet (plus the water can't flow as easily thr... | [
"The pungent odor you smell is most likely formic acid, which is produced naturally by ants (hence its name) but is also used in place of mineral acids in certain household cleaning products. Please don't smash ants on purpose though -- they are our friends!"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do people without a chance of winning, like Donald Trump, run for US President? | [
"Dat publicity. Running for president gets your name out there and gets people buying your product, reading your books, and remembering your brand."
] | [
"Political parties cater to the prevailing beliefs of their constituents even if there is no political basis other than re-election. Politics is a career. Those doing it for the greater good are very rare. You wouldn't want to get voted out of your job, would you?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why couldn't Iran's $400M that was returned be sent by bank transfer? | [
"The simple answer to your question is that sending a wire transfer would require the countries involved to have a banking relationship, which the US and Iran do not. The Guantanamo checks are sent as a legal formality and have not been cashed by the Cuban government in over fifty years. The checks themselves are a... | [
"Bill Gate's bank would tell him to shove off, since he doesn't have $20 billion in cash. He probably has tens of millions in cash, so the bank would probably just ask him to wait a couple weeks so they could assemble the cash and give it to him. & nbsp; Similar logic with other rich people."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
why does streaming something take less bandwidth/data than downloading that same thing? | [
"It doesn't assuming you really are getting the same thing. YouTube and many other video players can reduce quality on the video before transmission, and some may use more compact encoding than some video files, but really streaming is just downloading something in such a way that something can start playing it bef... | [
"The person doing the streaming has their tv hooked up to their computer, or possibly the computer is hooked directly to the cable line using a tv capture card (you can easily buy one online or at a store that sells computer parts). They use whatever software the streaming website requires to upload the video. The ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How do copper iuds work? | [
"It's my understanding that they change the ph of the environment making it hostile to sperm and equally unlikely that if a super sperm was able to fertilize, the embryo would be unable to implant and grow due to the changed environment."
] | [
"Plan B one time shot of hormones, birth control long term doses of hormones, finding the right birth control requires a doctor to adjust as needed. There is not a one size fits all birth control pill."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Is it possible, with enough of a budget surplus, for the US government to "live on the interest" of that surplus? | [
"There are some issues of scale here. Government spending accounts for a huge part of the US GDP (about a third, if memory serves me right). To get enough interest to cover that, you need a huge capital (lets say 7 times the US GDP to get that third at roughly 5% interest). With about 46 trillion in marketable fina... | [
"Most countries run deficits because when it comes time to do the yearly budget they almost always want to spend more than they bring in through taxation and other means, which means they need to borrow the difference and that adds to the national debt, with good governing though the country can 'balance the books'... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
seriously, why in movies are the voices so quiet and the sound effects so loud? | [
"most movies are meant to be played on a 5.1 or 7.1 surround system with a center channel speaker reserved for voice. Most of the voice is channled through that speaker. So if you listen to it with a set of 2 speakers or somtimes headpones the balance is off because all the voice is not seperated."
] | [
"because it's easier to become submerged in it when it's past the level of just being audible. same process as why it's easier to follow what somebody is shouting compared to when they're saying it in a pretty monotone voice. the tone differences come out better at a higher volume, and it's easier to listen to as a... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Animation:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post about Animation:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Can V8 engines rev higher than V10/V12s? Or is it the other way around? | [
"Decreasing the mass [displacement] of each cylinder allows the crankshaft to move with less inertia. As a general rule, \"muscle cars\" tend to have high displacement engines (4 to greater than 6 liters of displacement) which involves bigger and heavier pistons/rods. This reciprocal mass/weight creates more resist... | [
"Except one processor architecture is capable of doing more calculations per core per Hz than another. It's like comparing a car by specs. One has 2.0L 200hp. Another has a 3.0L 250hp. The 3.0 must be faster right? Nope not necessarily"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Anonymous sources the News Agencies always quote, High Level officer inside who gives info. Who are these guys? Are they paid by the News agencies? Isn't illegal to leak info? | [
"It's only illegal to leak *classified* information. It's rarely classified information being leaked. Often, these \"leaks\" are from the agency itself, when it wants to get information out there but not be tied to it. For example, someone might give a quote to a reporter and tell them that they can't use his name,... | [
"A large reason is because the CIA doesn't want its top executive to have been black-mailed should it ever come to that over this affair. It's almost standard practice. Also, he was pressured to resign by the FBI, who were the initial group to find out about the affair in the first place."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Can someone explain the difference between communism and socialism? | [
"Communism is essentially a subset of Socialism, which originated mostly from Marx's \"Communist Manifesto\". Socialism is the idea that the government should have a stake in the economy, in people's welfare and livelihood, etc. Communism takes it a step farther to attempt to create a classless society based on col... | [
"Socialism is quite a vague term and has no real definition, but basically it is a society where the people own and run certain corporations in order to enhance the peoples quality of life. Communism is a stateless, classless and moneyless society where again corporations are owned by the people. Socialism also usu... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why do animals learn basic life skills (walking, eating real food, etc) really fast compared to humans? | [
"It was an evolutionary trade-off. Our large brains helped us survive, but they made child birth difficult. As skull sized increased, either babies had to be born earlier with fewer initial abilities or the mothers had to have larger hips. The larger hips made it more difficult to run upright and thus survive, so o... | [
"Just like how we learn to walk by putting one foot in front of the other as babies/toddlers. Eventually your motor functions get so good at these \"menial\" tasks from repeating them so much that you don't need to think about every individual step, just where you want to end up. I'm no expert though."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about Biology:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Biology:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do I wake up extremely tired, but go to bed wide awake? | [
"I've been asking this question ever since I was a child. It makes no sense that our society would run on a system that puts us to sleep when we are awake and forces us to wake up when we are still tired."
] | [
"I can't relate to this at all. When I'm sick, I feel worse when I wake up and slowly get better throughout the day. When I'm falling asleep I'll usually think I'll be better the next day, but when I wake up I'm sick all over again and the cycle repeats."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Sleep and fatigue:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about Sleep and fatigue:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
If the technology were to come about where you "insert your consciousness into a computer program" in order to live forever; it wouldn't actually be you right? Rather it would just be a copy? | [
"Basically what such a machine would do (hypothetically) is read what's in your brain and encode it in software. You're correct that it would not be the consciousness currently mediated by your human body. When you download something, you're not taking a physical object from somewhere and moving it to your hard dri... | [
"Descartes said it pretty well. \"Cogito, ergo sum\" \"I think, therefore I am\". The fact that you are able to think and put together thoughts is proof in itself that you exist. You do not have proof that your body exist however and your senses might just be a simulation. However you do exist in some form or anoth... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about science:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about science:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How did the character X become associated with "no" and closing windows, etc.? | [
"There are (old as humanity I guess) sign gestures like crossing arms means you are blocked out (no cuddling!) so it's basically a \"Stop\" sign. It also (the crossed arms) looks like an X. I also know spearbearers refuse entry by crossing spears 'like an X' [Explanatory photo](_URL_0_) I don't know if that have in... | [
"Relevant/expansion to the question: Why do we make noises when we feel pleasure in general? And pain?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
How is Earth so advanced compared to anything else we've discovered in the universe? | [
"We haven't yet discovered other living worlds, let alone other worlds inhabited by technological species, so we have no basis of comparison to say whether Earth is \"advanced\". It's entirely possible that we're very backward, that all the life we see here pales in comparison to the complexity of life somewhere el... | [
"> We will obviously never reach it Not with the technology we have now. But who knows what we'll be capable of 20 years from now, or 100 years from now. We're exploring space the best way we can, which is through observation. Focusing on Earth-like planets is a logical step in searching for other life forms. If li... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the text about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Why does zodiac astrology work or not work? | [
"Because there is no scientific or medical theory that says everyone who is born the same time of the year over different years will display the same characteristics or have similar experiences. No theory even comes close to explaining why that would happen."
] | [
"In my opinion there is no logic to. The time of the year will have more of an impact on your personality than the environment you were brought up in? Nah not for me. The reason why you see inconsistencies is because it's not real. Just Google debunk astrology signs, there loads of experiments been done. In my exp... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why would Greenpeace damage a World Heritage site like the Nazca lines? | [
"Because they are idiots with grand ideas. The area is off-limits because it's easy to make permanent marks to the ground, and the group didn't realize that prancing all over the place could cause harm to the site."
] | [
"Why is the US so upset over the labeling of US treatment of Native Americans as a genocide?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Do A-sexuals enjoy sex? | [
"It really depends on the individual. Asexual people present in many different likes/dislikes/tolerances. You may wish to take a look at the asexual reddit: /r/asexuality"
] | [
"Can you not get an erection in space?!"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Can you 'cook' pasta in cold water? Otherwise why do you need hot water to cook pasta? | [
"Dried pasta out of a box, or fresh-made pasta? Dried pasta is cooked already. So yes, you can just soak it in cold water and it'll be fine. Fresh pasta is dough. It's raw, and you need to cook it. Eating it would be like eating raw bread dough."
] | [
"First, not all pasta takes 10-15 min on the stove. Angel hair takes like 4 min I think. It depends on the thickness of the pasta, or how much pasta the water has to penetrate. It also depends on the type of pasta, as some pastas are more easily saturated with water than others. And this leads to the explanation fo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment about Science:"
} |
The Federal Reserve and why some people think it will be better if it's eliminated. | [
"[This is was in a seperate ELI5 topic but is one of the best explanations of the central bank I've seen.](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"The government caused it. They printed money. They could control it by not printing money in the first place. In any case, they've stopped using their own money because it is meaningless."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How do I start getting into the stock market? | [
"To do it, you need to open an account with a broker. There are quite a few: Schwab, Fidelity, E*Trade, etc. Just google \"stock broker\". You'll have to find a way to give them money, such as direct transfer from your bank account, sending them a check, etc. Keep in mind that they generally charge you for each tr... | [
"It's a big system. It also carries a bit from state to state. Are you interested in the application process? Policy? Logistics?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Finance:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text about Finance:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why are the recommended daily allowances for alcohol different for men and women? | [
"It is based on the difference in body mass. Women tend to be smaller than men and thus the recommendation is no more than 2-3 units for women and 3-4 units for men."
] | [
"This is pretty much a myth. The total amount of alcohol that you drink has a far greater impact on making you sick than how many different types of alcohol you mix together."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do muscles randomly twitch when you're not moving? | [
"I think it's something like your brain sending a \"ping\" to your body to check if you're still alive. It's often happens just before you fell asleep (for me anyway)"
] | [
"I don't know the why exactly, but I think it's because you've strained the muscles and they're trying to heal. My hands shake when I finish rock climbing as well because the muscles are so sore. Sorry it's not very helpful"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Health and Wellness:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Health and Wellness:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why can RyanAir explicitly impose a 2% fee for paying with credit cards? Wasn't this prohibited by Visa and MasterCard policies? | [
"It used to be common for credit cards to specifically require that you not charge customers more to use them. If you did, it would not violate a law, but it would violate your contract with the credit card company. That is the question he is asking about, and most of the responders do not even seem to be aware of ... | [
"I think it's because the merchant has to wait longer and pay a higher fee for purchases made with AmEX, as compared to Visa,Master card. Don't know for sure now but I believe it used to be 5% fee with a 30 day wait. Hard on a small business to accept."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What would happen if someone got a credit card with no spending limit and paid of all the dept for all people in a small town? (or something like that) | [
"a small town called southpark? it could work, but you'd be in debt the rest of your life."
] | [
"Because they're piling on interest fees for all those years at a much higher percentage then they could make otherwise."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What's the reasoning behind the "pause" and "play" symbols as we know them? | [
"Their origin is not clear but I think the \"play\" symbol was supposed to be an arrow that indicates the direction tape was moving in old reel-to-reel tapes, which would explain why the fast forward symbol is a double arrow. The pause symbol on the other hand, is even less clear. Some say it's a variation of the ... | [
"I'm not sure what additional benefit we get out of such a signal for the style of the post when we can just read the post."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why can't you cut all the wires in a bomb to prevent it from detonating? | [
"I can very easily rig up a dummy bomb for you that would go \\*pop\\* if you cut the wrong wire. Sometimes, it is the presence of electricity that prevents a circuit from triggering rather than a lack of it."
] | [
"Yes. You just have to figure out how to avoid a strong-ass magnet from interfering with all the equipment."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
How are underwater tunnel highways, like the Lincoln and Holland Tunnel, built? | [
"In a variety of ways, depending on the exact circumstances. If the geology and cost permits it, they'll just tunnel through the rock under the water, and then seal the tunnel walls with concrete or something to prevent leaks. Sometimes, prefabricated tunnel sections are built on land, then put on a barge, taken to... | [
"Does it matter if there is water instead of roads between a number of small towns? We have boats and bridges."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
"black male disadvantage in dating" versus lots more black male-white female couples than reverse | [
"OKCupid itself actually has a good blog post on the subject. _URL_0_ The jist of it is that, male or female, white people are the most desirable. And while black men get fewer replies than white men, Black women get far fewer replies than white women."
] | [
"Widely generalized and simplified since this ELI5 Youth is held at a premium, combined with social norms such as paid dating in girls as young as middle schoolers and very young pop icons the age for fetish is driven lower. Lolis also can represent innocence and and a more \"traditional\" agreeable dependent perso... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do you have to put your signature AND initials when signing a legal document? | [
"Your initials are just a short way of repeating your signature to show that (1) you specifically agree to key parts and (2) none of the middle pages were changed after you signed the last page."
] | [
"You can create a fake lease that says you are renting a room or house somewhere, and get anyone to sign it. A bit harder to fake the bill from a utility."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why college tuition costs continue to increase at such a fast pace? | [
"Like most questions of the form \"why does X cost what it costs\" the answer is generally \"supply and demand\". Basically, schools can charge more without significantly lowering the amount of students who attend, so they will. The reason this is the cast is partially because they know the government will loan mor... | [
"How was the US able to increase its GDP by over 80% in 6 years? That seems like a historically ridiculous pace."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
How do you teach a person who was born deaf to read? | [
"You don't have to talk to communicate. Deaf children will learn to use sign language first and then read and write. It might take longer because it takes longer for fine moter skills to develop but it will happen"
] | [
"The blind person could sign while the deaf person could speak. Depending on deafness and when they became deaf, a person who is deaf is still understandable."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
In Japan, why have a large number of people lost interest in sex? | [
"There's a few things going on. Mainly that people don't have privacy, people are expected to work themselves to exhaustion and not have free time for socializing. It ends up being that sex becomes too much trouble given the lives they lead."
] | [
"That's just a trendy thing to do in Japan. There's no particular reason; even companies that are purely within Japan do it."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why are med schools and residencies so selective when there is a national shortage of doctors? | [
"Wow, I'm so lucky the dropped the standards for becoming a Doctor, otherwise I would never have made it. So anyway, I'll be preforming an epend... apetand.... a procedure an you. This might fix the problem, I hope. If not we'll try something else. Hell, the body has 2 of most things for a reason so I can probably ... | [
"There are few reasons why doctors work long hours: - There are not enough doctors to cover the demand. It takes a lot of time, hard work, and money to become a doctor, which is too much for most people. So, the amount of people of that become doctors is not high enough to support a decent work schedule. - Doctors ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
- Why do employers decide not to hire unemployed people who have bad credit. | [
"People with bad credit can be stereotyped as being irresponsible. If you can't manage your credit then you may not be able to manage X. I'm a manager and I have never looked at credit history or numbers. In my industry (Finance), they look at credit histories to look for issues may exclude you from handling large ... | [
"You do not have access to basic resources in developed countries if you do not have a job. Reasons you may not have a job: Mental illness, Drug abuse, lost your job and did not find another fast enough."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
What's the difference between a program's source code and the actual program ? | [
"In general, the source code is human-readable (some languages more readable than other) instructions that the computer will follow in order to do something interesting or useful. When you're done writing a program's source code you'll send it to a compiler (a special program) which will turn it into something that... | [
"One is required space to hold all files once they are installed. Second is the actual size of the downloaded files."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why does the radius seem to matter more than the diameter? | [
"Math doesn't like extra, it likes simple. If you've got the center and the radius you've got literally everything you need to know about a circle in 2d. The diameter gives you that too, but it has \"extra\". Math has a strong preference for not-extra-info. Further, in practical use if you want to _draw_ a circle y... | [
"It depends on how much mass and spread out over what amount of time. Are you increasing the volume to keep the density the same, or keeping the same volume but increasing the density?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument about writing:"
} |
Why does warm water taste so bad compared to cold water? Considering the water was filtered, purified bottled water that was in the sun. | [
"A lower temperature does a good job hiding smells and odors. Remember this the next time you want to hide some bbq sauce in chocolate ice cream and serve it to you friends."
] | [
"It's not the temperature of the water that matters it's where it comes from. Cold water is usually brought straight from the main or well and is fresh and safe to drink. The hot water can sit sometimes for days in your hot water heater which although should be sanitary it's not always the case. Also hot water can... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the text about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
If the Scandinavian languages (Danish, Norwegian & Swedish) are mutually intelligible, why are they considered distinct languages instead of different dialects of the same language? | [
"Its kind of a semantic argument, you could make the same point for Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. while it is a partially political distinction the many thing is that mutually intelligible is really hard to prove as a set concept. The main theory being that just because you can understand a few words doesn't m... | [
"Finnish belongs to a different language group. The Finnish language belongs to the Finnic language group. That means Finnish is more closely related to languages within that group (Estonian, for example) Swedish, Norwegian and Danish on the other hand belong to the North Germanic language family. They are closely ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
what is the difference between a bush and a tree, and where is the line between them? | [
"Google answers this quite nicely and easily. The generally acknowledged definition of a tree, according to USU, is a \"woody plant having one erect perennial stem (trunk) at least three inches in diameter at a point 4-1/2 feet above the ground, a definitely formed crown of foliage, and a mature height of at least ... | [
"I call this an apple what do you call it? This is how I write apple how do you write it. Same idea for grammar"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Does there have to be a tradeoff between privacy and national security? | [
"Kind of. In a pretend world with zero privacy, the authorities are able to peer inside your mind and discover if you're planning to do something bad. Zero privacy, total security. In a pretend world with total privacy, an attack can never ever be prevented. Zero security, total privacy. The issue stems from the wa... | [
"The illusion of security is often more important to people than security itself."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Is there a reason the English alphabet is in the order it is in? Is there a specific reason for the sequence? | [
"\"There is no rhyme or reason — theorder of the letters seems to be arbitrary. From what historians understand, the order of the alphabetis the way it is because, well, it's always been that way. ... The Greeks used the Phoenician alphabet as a model for their alphabet, which saw the addition of vowels.\""
] | [
"I think you will find that every last name follows basically the same format you described, just in various other languages."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why are my hands cold so frequently, and how can I help prevent this? | [
"You might want to provide a little more information otherwise the best anyone can do is take a wild guess. My wild guess is that it is because it is cold outside, wear gloves to prevent it."
] | [
"In general, your feet are the last place which your body warms up. If your internal organs and your brain are cold (which is likely, since those parts of your body were naked) then blood will be diverted from the extremities such as hands and feet to keep these parts warm. Even wearing socks won't keep your feet w... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Health:"
} |
Why is it a legal requirement to wear a seatbelt in a car but not on buses, trains etc.? | [
"Buses are larger and the passengers inside are much safer than they would be in a Sedan. A bus doesn't get thrown around in an accident much like a small car would - So the passengers wouldn't be thrown around much either."
] | [
"Planes are thoroughly inspected before every flight to ensure everything is ok. Do you inspect your car every day before your commute to work?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
The physics of guitar strings and why they make sound | [
"Guitar strings make noise because they vibrate, transferring their vibration to the air directly as well as to the material of the guitar itself which in turn vibrates large amounts of air. Since sound is vibrations in the air it is clear how they make sounds. Now *what* sounds they make is a bit trickier. By vary... | [
"I play guitar, and I have tried to make musical instruments of my own design. It's a combination of things. First the tones of each string are not linear to begin with. They are more like an exponential curve. I think the reason that they are not perfectly curved is because of size limitations, playability, and th... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why do certain games (and perhaps other things) that have a year in the title, like Madden football, release the year before what's stated in the title? | [
"Because you've created your game (or car model, or whatever) for that upcoming year, which sounds new, and hopeful, and futuristic, instead of naming it after the previous year, which was lame, and frankly much more upsetting than we had all hoped."
] | [
"Don't try to think of Final Fantasy as a series of connected stories, but more like a brand or an anthology - sort of like The Twilight Zone. The games share some stylistic & thematic things but there's no real continuity (with the exception of a few games that are actually sequels, like X & X-2). With that out of... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why has communism always failed? | [
"Communism fails because it doesn't properly take into account human nature. It assumes that all things being equal enough people will choose to be a producer rather than a consumer when given the choice. In order for communism to work at a mass scale it requires an authoritarian government or people would not cont... | [
"Capitalists wanted to help other capitalists fight off communists. It failed short term, but succeeded long term."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Multiple life sentences. | [
"The murderer was charged with and convicted of two crimes each carrying a life imprisonment sentence. The sentencing judge ruled that the sentences not be served concurrently. The two charges now exist independently of one another, and can be appealed and removed independently. This means that if the murderer can... | [
"Not have most of their forces across the Atlantic ocean?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
does time actually exist or is it just a unit of measurement like distance. | [
"I mean your question doesnt really make sense. Distance exists, its the space between objects. Distance is not a unit of measurement. Its a thing. Feet, yards, inches etc are units of measurement."
] | [
"It isn't, that is just something people say to sound smart. The idea is that time is a series of points, and while you are in one point all others dont exist (you cant go to past points and future points dont exist yet) so the idea of \"time\" as a linear or finite tangeble thing is an illusion, it is just somethi... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
If suicide by subway train is prevalent, why don't the subway trains slow down enough to make a quick stop before they get to the platform? | [
"Trains have poor stopping distances. The value of a subway system is rapid mass transit. Slow travel times undermine its use as competition with driving/walking. Suicide by train is not that common in fact it's so rare that its often international news when it happens. Even if it were a problem, a much more effec... | [
"The idea is to give as big a window of safety as possible. If you put the barriers down just 5 seconds before the train came, someone could go across slowly and get hit. If you put them down 30 seconds before the train came, someone could stall out on the tracks and not have enough time to restart their car. When ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How are phones locked? | [
"I've worked with this. As in, actually implementing SIM-locking for GSM/3G/4G phones. I (and other HW vendors) call it \"SIM Locking\", as what we're telling the software is: \"only accept SIM-cards issued by the following carrier(s)\" We're not actually locking the phone into a specific carrier network, as your p... | [
"What are you using it for? Where are you located?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why are latches on airplane seat belts so much different than in automobiles? | [
"There's a few reasons: They're less expensive to produce, meaning that when it's time to replace them, it can be done more cheaply. They're also more reliable in that they have a very simple design. Airplane seatbelts are used far more frequently than automobile belts and the clasps must be able to handle being us... | [
"Because wheelchairs don't abide by the legal requirement of seating strength on aircraft. In the case of a minor accident you might be more hurt because you were in your chair than if you were in a standard airline chair - at which point the airline is negligent. EDIT: It's also expensive having a space large eno... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
I noticed for some time now when waking up in the morning and looking at the white ceiling: with one eye, it has a warm, very light yellow tint and with the other eye the ceiling has a cold very light shade of blue. Why does this happen? Thanks. | [
"One possible explanation is that your brain uses a lot of information from your peripheral vision to inform the image it produces (a lot of the time what you are seeing is not actually what you are seeing, your brain inserts or removes things all the time). If the two sides of your room have noticeably different l... | [
"Let me explain how eye color work first: Human body does not produce blue or green pigment, it can only produce brown pigment. People with brown eyes have a lot of pigment in their iris. People with blue eyes have very few. Blue eyes appear blue because lights refract in the iris in the same manner as the sky or t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why have some countries developed rapidly while other have not over the last century? | [
"It's easier for us to create heat than to remove it. Furnaces for heating have been around forever but air conditioners are expensive and still catching on. Therefore, for centuries the most productive places have been cold-but-not-too-cold places because they can get work done all day, year round, whereas in warm... | [
"Many African countries have and continue to have astonishingly high growth rates, but it's important to remember just how poor a lot of these countries were at independence. the Democratic Republic of Congo had a population of about 15 million at independence. Among those 15 million, 16 were college graduates."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
What exactly are the defining characteristics of modernism, postmodernism, and post-postmodernism? | [
"I just graduated with my doctorate in communication, my dissertation squarely within the critical cultural realm, and I still barely understand these terms. Thanks for asking!"
] | [
"Just finished *What is Microhistory? Theory and Practice* by Magnusson and Szijarto. I was really intrigued about the discussions on the impact of postmodernism and poststructuralism on different histiographical methods. Anyone have other books that go into that on fields other than microhistory?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Literature:"
} |
What causes laziness? Is it a physical condition? | [
"Recent studies show a link to [dopamine](_URL_1_) which is a brain chemical."
] | [
"The same way a successful human can come down with cancer or heart-disease. The brain is physical; depression is a physical condition. It is better to think of it as brain disease rather than a problem of attitude and outlook."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why do chickens lay eggs so quickly and efficiently? | [
"Chickens have an extremely sped up version of the reproduction cycle humans have, it was synced with the bamboo dispersing it's seeds season (dunno what that's called). Their food supply was the largest when the bamboo plants released their seeds, so they evolved to reproduce rapidly and proliferate like crazy to... | [
"The chickens we eat are not the same chickens that lay the eggs we eat. Apples and oranges."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why are foreign accents usually thought of as sexual and arousing? | [
"It's because my brain tells me that if you come from far away you cannot be my sister. So we will have beautiful non-retarded babies."
] | [
"Same reason parents are more conservative with boys' names than girls' names: the consequences of non-conformity are much more severe against men than women. Strange women are alluring; strange men are threatening."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
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