query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1
value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Why do most Christian groups/people align themselves with the Republican party in the USA when the core beliefs of the religion seem to contradict those of the party? | [
"For an more in-depth answer to this question, this is an excellent post: _URL_0_"
] | [
"The Tea Party is an umbrella term for a subset of people that believe in strong conservative fiscal policy (even more so than most Republicans). And while they tend to lean conservative on social issues, it's not as important as the fiscal policy. Remember, though, that there are multiple Tea Party organizations a... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why do people chop wood? | [
"It is so that the wood fits into fireplaces, cooking stoves, and so that it is easier to stack in a controlled manner. You do not want a burning log to roll out of a fire so you want to give it at least one flat side."
] | [
"Why do people in Western countries use forks?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Why do they remake classic/awesome movies and ruin them? Why don't they take lousy movies and remake them into something good? | [
"It's considered too risky. If a production company has a choice between remaking a classic movie that did well or remaking a crappy movie that did poorly, they're going to go with the classic movie because it comes with guaranteed brand recognition. They don't care whether or not the movie turns out to be good, th... | [
"Because most recently produced horror movies are poorly produced, overmarketed money grabs. They don't really have any artistic value, their plots are predictable (wow! The black guy died first again! Who'da thunk?), they don't spend much on special effects, and they don't have any of the philosophical value held ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why do we make simple noises / repetitions automatically when talking to babies or small animals, such as cooing/saying hello? | [
"Baby talk is easier for a baby to understand because it is slow, exaggerated, and uses high tones. Even before the infant can actually understand words, baby talk can teach things like turn-taking in conversation, rhythm and tones in sentences (like how your voice raises in pitch when you're asking a question), an... | [
"Animal babies definitely cry frequently. Baby birds making that \"cheep cheep cheep\" sounds, kittens mewing, goats bleating, etc are all those animals' version of a baby's cry."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument about Babies and their crying behavior:"
} |
It seems that whenever there's a mass shooting, a SWAT team arrives at the scene almost immediately. What are SWAT teams doing when there's no situation for them to be at? | [
"Looks like it varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but it seems that they patrol like normal officers, but their gear may be kept in a special truck so they can travel directly to the scene at the same time as their equipment. _URL_0_"
] | [
"The vast majority of police interactions in the U.S. are extraordinarily far from requiring a gun. When you call the cop because you've had a car accident, when you call the cop because you come home and you TV has been stolen, when someone has committed fraud, when someone has evaded taxes, when someone fails to ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why it is metres per second per second instead of metres per second? | [
"10 m/s^2 is an acceleration, not a movement, it means that for every second, it moves 10 meters per second faster. 10 m = length 10 m/s = speed 10 m/s^2 = acceleration"
] | [
"Because it's easier to use. A kilometer is 1000 meters, a centimeter is 1/100th of a meter, a millimeter is 1/1000th of a meter. What advantages does the Imperial system have?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What is the advantage for China to buy up other countries debts? Also, how does it work? | [
"Saying they're buying up US debt is misleading. They're buying things known as US Treasury bonds. If you buy a bond from the US Treasury, they pay you back the amount you paid plus a little extra in a certain amount of time. China's really just buying dollars in the future. That's an important thing, that I think ... | [
"I guess we will wait and see. The obvious one is that there is an alternative bank for governments to turn to. Some countries can't get IMF and world bank loans. Other can only get them with a lot of strings attached, such as: reduce a country's debt to GDP ratio; reduce government spending; lower tariffs; allow i... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do we instinctively breathe using the top half of our torso when using the abdomen is apparently healthier? | [
"It's not actually 'wrong'. You 'use' the top half of your torso because it makes space for your lungs to expand. 'Using' your abdomen means that you are consciously focusing your breathing movements on your diaphragm, which is what actually draws your lungs in and out for you to breathe. This can be healthier bec... | [
"Breathing with your chest is using the muscles in your chest to draw in air to your lungs. Stomach breathing is using your diagram and abdominal muscles to expand your lungs and draw in air. Filling your lungs to a fuller capacity than just breathing with your chest."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Health and Wellness:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage about Health and Wellness:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
How do holocaust deniers back up their views when there is so much physical evidence, including eyewitnesses still alive, that it occurred? | [
"Keep in mind; this is coming from a jew There are very few people who deny the holocaust completely. The thing that people doubt is the scale at which it happened, and that it was specifically targeted towards jews. They don't trust the official reports, because there's no reason they couldn't have been collective... | [
"Well the Nazi's documented and kept thourough records of the concentration camps. plus the vast amounts of scientific literature garnered from the medical experiments performed on prisoners has proven very usefull in modern medicine"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
the difference between a scientist and an engineer | [
"In general, a scientist tries to push the boundaries of our understanding of things. The engineer puts our understanding of things into practice. As an example, a chemist might try to figure out why two substances react the way they do, while a chemical engineer will try to figure out a way to make a given substan... | [
"Because educators have no way of knowing if you'll be an scientist or programmers or a street sweeper. But it bennifits society as a whole if people understand basic algebra how else could you know your mpg"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why are prostate examinations done by digital penetration of the anus? Doesn't it seem archaic in the 21st century? | [
"Believe it or not, the index finger is an extremely sensitive tool in ascertaining the size, shape, nodularity, and \"sponginess\" of a prostate. Physicians are specifically trained to do this. Plus, it is fairly harmless (other than the trepidation of the patient) to insert a finger into the rectum to examine/fee... | [
"Sometimes it's medically necessary due to phimosis, which by definition can only happen to *adult* men. Circumcising infants? Unnecessary and possibly harmful. You evolved with a foreskin for a reason, and no, having one is not \"unhygienic\". Talk of reducing the risk of penile cancer is bogus - penile cancer is ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do we listen to songs that depress us when we're upset? Even though we KNOW it only makes things worse? | [
"Does it make things worse? It's genuine psychiatric advice that sometimes you just need to feel shitty. Recognizing you're down and experience it is part of being mentally healthy, if you're always running away from unhappiness you're like to become mentally unwell."
] | [
"Hey, I made a quick [video](_URL_4_) to answer your video! If you don't want to watch the video here's what I run over: - Sometimes our thoughts wander, leading us to a thought that we may see as sad or depressing! This can be done subconsciously and without us knowing! - Stimuli can affect our mood, for example: ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why does staring at the sun make me sneeze? | [
"Because you have a photic sneeze reflex, which about 20-30% of people have. The mechanism of action is not well understood. It's possible that wires get crossed in your brain, and that the stimulus of bright light makes your brain think there's something in your nose."
] | [
"How do you know that you don't sneeze in your sleep?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why do grownups throw up less than children? | [
"Children are dirty. They don't wash their hands, they're constantly around a bunch of other children that don't wash their hands, they put things in their mouths and generally do everything you're not supposed to do if you want to avoid sickness. They also have developing immune systems that haven't developed anti... | [
"Their parents barf down their throats. Seriously. This gives them all the food and water they need. At least while they are tiny."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What happens to someone's money if they get put into an asylum or diagnosed with a serious mental illness? | [
"If someone is found to be legally incomponent, a guardian, usually a family member, is appointed to look after their affairs."
] | [
"The state will step in (if you are in America) and the now young adult will be put on disability. or if the disabled person is not able to partially care for his/her self they will most likely be sent to a special needs nursing home."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why certain checks expire. | [
"All checks expire. It forces people to be prompt about cashing checks. Otherwise, every company could have thousands of dollars of uncashed checks floating around, meaning they have to keep tons of extra money in their checking account just in case. True, most wage workers aren't going to forget to cash a check, b... | [
"They email you if you forgot your password."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why phones can have 8 cores and sometimes more but even most high end computers half only 4 cores. | [
"All cores are not created equal. The cores in phones are generally ARM-based cores, which are optimized for small size, low cost, low power consumption, and OK processing power. In a PC, they are x86-based cores, generally optimized for processing power. In addition to the correct answers given by /u/rhomboidus ... | [
"GPU is what makes your graphics pretty. CPU is what makes your computer think better and faster. CPUs don’t really need to be upgraded that often. I have a gaming desktop from 2012 and my CPU works fine on max ultra settings for most games. However, it is the GPU which I had to upgrade since then. CPU is mostly no... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why does mixing lights result in a different color than mixing paint? | [
"Mixing light together is simple addition. Adding red light to green light gives you yellow light, add in blue and get white light. Paint, on the other hand, is about absorption and reflection. Yellow paint absorbs blue light, and reflects red and green. Red paint absorbs green and blue light, and reflects red. Mix... | [
"Yes, it's because our eyes have cones that can pick up the 3 primary colors, red, green, and blue. The reason yellow is a primary color (and not green) because when mixing colors in paint, you're dealing with a subtractive color process."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is it quieter to pee on the side of the toilet bowl than it is to pee directly on the toilet water | [
"Peeing on the side, you are hitting bowl at an angle which reduces the force with which the steam hits it. Peeing inside the bowl, the stream is hitting water at almost 90 degrees which means that the force is at its greatest. Simple rules of trigonometry."
] | [
"On a toilet you're sitting on a ring. If you're leaning forward, which you probably are on the toilet unless you're just lounging on it, most of your weight is on the front part of that, cutting off circulation to your legs nicely."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the comment about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why do people still fall for pyramid schemes or MLM's? | [
"the true answer is that they are blinded by greed. look for example at all the people who gave money to bernie madoff. Years before he was 'outed' by his son, a reporter at Barron's, a major financial paper, wrote an article questioning madoffs returns (\"Those returns have been so consistent that some on the Stre... | [
"It's not a pyramid scheme. Pyramid Schemes are Multi Level Marketing groups. Wish is a retail aggregate that focuses on low-cost (and possibly copyright infringing) items. Even if Wish offers you an incentive to share the program to others, they never say that you, the random jackass who never posts a product, wil... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Finance:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Finance:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Please explain the current situation in the Middle East simply. | [
"Various peoples have been fighting in that area for thousands of years. After WW2 the area was partitioned up without regard to the local's heritage and things got worse. Add lots of oil money to the equation and it's explosive."
] | [
"What period and country are you asking about? There’s no context in your question."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
The calculation which dictates the universe is 73% dark energy 23% dark matter 4% ordinary matter. | [
"The other answer is good but to make it less metaphorical and still easy to understand: Mass has gravity. Theres not enough visible mass to explain the gravitational effects we see around the universe. Theres lots of theories, ranging from our understanding of gravity not being correct to alternate dimensions to b... | [
"It means that a typical cubic meter of space has about 1 atom in it. The rest of it is emptiness."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why does it matter how much water is needed to produce a kg of meat? Doesn't it all go back into the water cycle again? | [
"Sure, it does, but 'the water cycle' doesn't just revolve around Bob's Cattle farm. The fact that Bob's water eventually makes its way back to the sea doesn't mean Bob's neighbor is going to get an equivalent amount of rain, or that the people downstream from Bob are going to drink cattle pee. We may not be reduc... | [
"1) Vegetarianism is healthy but you usually have to be a little more aware of your diet. People need things like protein and iron which are extremely prevalent in meat but can substitute different fruits/vegetables or even vitamins to make sure they get what their bodies need. 2) This is more theoretical/difficult... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
The whole "registered Republican, Democrat or Independent" thing. | [
"When you register to vote, you can choose which political party you want to be affiliated with. Those lists are sent to the party organizations so they can contact you, and in some states they qualify you to vote in the primary elections for those parties. It's mostly just a convenient time to sign up for party me... | [
"Because then Billy Q Jebidiahson, who thinks that Congress is the name of a person, will be forced to vote or he won't have money to pay for his ICP ticket. He's likely to fill out the ballet randomly. This would not be good for our political system."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
why is it when you get stabbed by a pencil it leaves a blue mark forever? | [
"You might wanna check it, because if it is there after more than a couple of weeks it means that there is probably something stuck beneath your skin. It isnt dangerous by itself most of the time, but after some time it will be really hard to get out if you have to."
] | [
"you can, take something small and pointy, scratch it on the inside of your nose a little bit, it forces a sneeze. just dont scratch yourself too forcefully"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Biology:"
} |
How breast and bra sizes work | [
"Heed my warning friend! I currently have 5 bras in my bureau. 1 is a 42B, 1 is a 36C, 1 is a 40D, 1 is a 42C, and for shits and giggles 1 is a 38DD. All of these fit me, all are comfortable, and all are different brands. Bra sizing is fucked. I can't just go to a store, find my 'allegedly' correct size, buy it, an... | [
"What they eat, how active they are, where they live and millions of other factors go into the texture and taste of meat."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What would happen if the bombing of the Afghan hospital is in fact a war crime? Who would be punished, and how? | [
"I'm thinking a lot of speeches, angry rants, and strongly worded emails and memos....and not much else, sadly."
] | [
"Leaders don't want to start justice-fuelled conflict because it's expensive and won't get the people on side because the war crimes are kept a secret anyway, so the public don't see them as a problem. The thing you've got to remember is, nothing in international politics is humanitarian."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why are some insects like cockroaches and ants afraid of humans while others like flies and moths are not? | [
"Because you're anthropomorphising them? It's not bravery, you're just thinking about their behaviour in human terms :) **Cockroach:** I'm nocturnal and only come out of my burrow at night. If I can see light it means someone's dug my burrow up so I better escape and hide. **Human interpretation:** Coward! **Ants:*... | [
"I seriously doubt that it is instinctual for humans to be afraid of insects or other creepy crawlies. To me, it seems that the fear is a learned behavior. As a kid, I was never afraid of ants, caterpillars, etc. Children do not seem to develop any fear of insects or other things until they are harmed by one or tau... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do tea bags say ‘Do Not Microwave’? | [
"Because you are doing it wrong! You are supposed to put tea into boiling water all at once, not slowly heat it up with the water. It does taste different that way. EDIT: To be clear, you don't put tea in water while it is still boiling, you bring the water to a boil, let it cool a bit, then put it in."
] | [
"Why can't you reheat things in the microwave twice?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Does the Surface Tension of Water change (increase/decrease), as the surface area changes? | [
"No but the ratio of the effects of surface area can change as the volume increases. Temperature does affect surface tension. Surface tension is a result of molecules of water forming stronger bonds with other water molecules than with air. Therefore, breaking the surface of the water requires breaking some of tho... | [
"PV=nRT Pressure increases with Temperature increases only if the Volume stays the same. If there is no container, the air will increase volume, lowering its density."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
How are tracking numbers created and how long will it be until UPS, FedEx and USPS run out? | [
"Tracking numbers are randomized numbers and letters, typically in a HexDec system that allows for 16 character numbers, and are typically like in UPS's case, 18 characters long following the 2 character preamble.. This equates to a combination that is as follows: 18^18 = DAMN! or 39,346,408,075,296,537,575,424. Th... | [
"The law says only the United States Postal Service may deliver to post office boxes. Also, if the package needs to be signed for, a PO box cannot do this. On the other hand, it's not unusual for companies such as The UPS Store, FedEx/Kinko's (not to mention many mom n' pop stores) to offer mailboxes that don't bel... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Does Space Smell Like Anything? | [
"apparently space *does* have a distinctive smell, it has been described as being similar to seared steak, hot metal, and welding fumes. > It is hard to describe this smell; it is definitely not the olfactory equivalent to describing the palette sensations of some new food as \"tastes like chicken.\" The best desc... | [
"Being Black Does Actually Have (Relatively Minor) Health Consequences, It's Just That They're Obviated By Modern Life. There's An Energy Cost To Have Extra Melanin, Even A Small One, So If You Don't Need It It Won't Be Selected For. Melanin Reduces Vitamin-D Uptake From The Sun If Sunlight Is Lower Than You're Ada... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why does a candle make smoke when blown out but not when it's lit? | [
"The smoke you see is the vaporized wax that is the actual fuel of the candle's flame."
] | [
"They are coated with a petroleum or tar substance which is what burns. Here is a fun experiment: get a metal tray and some cotton balls. Try burning a cotton ball. Now dip one is rubbing alcohol and light it. Burns hot and fast, eh? Now smear some Vaseline on one and light it. Now it burns a long time. Kind of soo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the answer about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the answer about Science:"
} |
the shower water is sometimes too hot and sometimes never hot enough. I don't share a hot water heater. Why is the temperature inconsistent? | [
"if you're only using one handle to dial in the temp you may just have variations due to pressure. in my experience, the higher the water pressure, the more the cold water. since both cold water and hot water are combining in the shower head, the cold might be displacing the hot. if you reduce the pressure (don't p... | [
"Many bathrooms share piping. So your shower is getting a combo of cold and hot to 'moderate' its temp. You flush. Toilets don't need hot water, so they usually just use cold. You've just diverted a chunk of cold that is helping moderate your shower temp."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
What happens to your body when you get winded? | [
"Your diaphragm is what's causing the issue in cases like this. Getting hit hard enough causes the muscle to spasm, which prevents breathing from being possible. The diaphragm is the muscle that you use when you breath, as it decreases pressure in your lungs that pulls in air. When the diaphragm can't move, you can... | [
"Why do the glands in my neck burn like high hell when I'm holding back tears?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why couldn't I rob a bank, serve my jail time, then just have all the money to spend? | [
"Judges always file a restitution order. Which means you are required to pay back what you stole."
] | [
"If they don't have money, they don't pay. It's like a court sentencing you to 200 years: just because a court orders that sentence, doesn't mean you can physically serve it before dying. What the massive restitution really means is that if you *do* happen to make money, a chunk goes to restitution, and this state ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do we shelter kids from what the real world is like instead of teaching them the reality of it? | [
"Because life in reality is extremely complicated. Children's ability to comprehend the world around them is something that develops gradually as they age. So we simplify things greatly at first and gradually expose the child to the real world more and more as they become more capable of understanding it."
] | [
"The term Blissful Ignorance applies here. The more people understand about how the world works and all of the complications that go along with it the more apt they are to feel stressed."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What's the difference between semiotics and structuralism? | [
"Easy version: Semiotics is the study of signs and signifiers. Structuralism is a critical framework built on a particular theory of semiotics."
] | [
"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 Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Literature:"
} |
Why isn't a dimensionless number negligible in a calculation if it theoretically has no physical properties | [
"The numbers don't have to have a physical correspondence to nevertheless reflect physical reality. Pi is not negligible, it's a derived ratio. It's required to make the math work. It represents a relationship between certain quantities. That's the whole point of these constants - they were determined based on rel... | [
"in many practical sciences, infinity isn't *actually* infinity, but instead it's a stand-in for an arbitrarily large number. for instance, if you are calculating the magnetic field of a wire, you can assume its length is infinite to simplify the calculation. this works because the length relative to the distance ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Mathematics:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Mathematics:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is it sometimes easier to remember a word in one's second language? | [
"As someone bilingual, I'd say that sometimes some words more accurately represent what you're trying to say in one language than the other. More accurate!"
] | [
"Some people might change to another language if the part of their brain which controls the processing of their native language is damaged. Of course they must know the other language before they can speak it; brain damage isn't going to magically teach you another previously unknown language."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Language and Translation:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer about Language and Translation:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer about Neuroscience:"
} |
Why does a video on YouTube take so much longer to load than a porn video that's 4 times as long? | [
"The porn company knows you're not gonna last the extra 5 seconds it takes a video to load."
] | [
"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 query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
When a scammer gives me the account number to transfer funds, why can't we just notify the police and have them arrested? | [
"Aside from the fact that you have no proof (unless you record all your phone calls, which is a whole set of legal rules in and of itself), they are often in other countries. You're asking for international law enforcement cooperation (often between countries with little framework for such cooperation) on no solid ... | [
"You're depositing the check in *your own* bank account. If you're caught forging a check, that's fraud - a serious criminal offense. They can hold all the money in your bank account & send the cops to arrest you if you do it. That's more than enough reason for most people to not do it. To deal with the rest, they'... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about banking:"
} |
Why are there so many sub genres of music that are never heard of or talked about? | [
"Everything ever has way more depth than you would expect. There's enthusiasts for everything that can talk for hours about a small aspect that you never gave a second thought to. Like favorite text editor, wine vintage, or metallurgic composition of a knife."
] | [
"Genres are a social construct. We didn't always have genres, but as more and more musicians became available for the masses to listen too, the masses classified those musicians as sounding like one type of music or another. Looking back to when there were only a few types of genres like bluegrass, jazz, rock and r... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
If Girl Scout Cookies were created as a fundraising tool why are they only sold in a really small window of time each year? | [
"If its only available in short supply/period of time, you get to jack up the price, making it very cost effective."
] | [
"I live in a city with 3 million + people. The halloween stores here are only operational 2 months a year. They DO go out of business, after making mountains of sweet cash. My state fair comes around only once a year, yet there are food businesses there that make a years worth of income in less than 3 weeks."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
How often has obesity genetical factors, and how easy it it to battle it? | [
"Genetics determine where you store fat and have some say in how prone you are to compulsive eating, but ultimately the base metabolic rates are about the same for each person. If you eat less than you burn, you'll lose weight. Genetics cannot defy basic thermodynamics. Consider that the obesity rates have skyrocke... | [
"They don't know yet and they don't yet. They have kind of worked out brain chemicals causing it sometimes and pills to regulate the brain chemistry, but clearly it's not as easy as it sounds and it's different for different people."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
How does the "one country, two systems" method of goverance work between Hong Kong and China? Are citizens of Hong Kong also technically citizens of China? | [
"People from Hong Kong are not just \"technically\" citizens of China--Hong Kong is now considered an integral part of the territory of China. However, the Chinese government has committed to granting Hong Kong autonomy for at least fifty years, meaning that the local government has more power than other local gove... | [
"They are protesting a new law that allows Chinese government to arrest residents inside Hong Kong and bring them back to China. You see, Hong Kong used to be a British colony, and was ruled like a western, free country. It was turned over to China a few decades back but China has *promised* not to enforce Chinese ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why airline tickets in the US are so damn expensive? | [
"That's funny. Here in Canada we think of the US as a cheap country for flying. One member of parliament once pointed out that it was cheaper sometimes for him to fly from his home in BC to Singapore than to fly to his workplace in Ottawa."
] | [
"I just looked up prices on a few intra-Europe flights and it does appear that there are some great deals to be had on European flights, but when requesting specific dates like most people do the prices are in the same ballpark as US prices. Also remember that the US is larger than all of western Europe put togethe... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
What is existentialism? | [
"Existentialism is largely summed up in the quote \"existence precedes essence.\" Life is devoid of inherent meaning aside from the human existence (in your case, *your* existence). Often accompanied by sn early stage crisis (the existential crisis) as we grapple with our existence in a world devoid of meaning. The... | [
"Would you like to share the criticism from Kant?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
If I was driving at 100km/h and crashed into a car in front that was going 90km/h, would the impact be equal to crashing into something stationary at 10km/h? | [
"Yes, the initial impact would be like 10km/h. However, if the initial impact causes loss of control (which it might, depending on the exact nature of the impact), the following impact with the scenery will *not* be like 10km/h!"
] | [
"Because everything in the car when you were holding it was moving (let's say) 60 miles per hour. When you throw it up, it's still moving forward at 60 miles per hour, the same as everything else in the car."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why are there different research funding organizations for different types of cancer? | [
"We know the root cause of cancer, cells that multiply uncontrollably due to some sort of mutation or defect. Each type of cancer requires different methods to treat however due to the nature of the type of cell infected."
] | [
"They spend more than many other countries on certain things, especially transportation infrastructure."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Considering all the different elements of sound, how is audio translated into binary so that a computer can understand what it's processing? | [
"As complex as sound.. uh.. *sounds*, really your ear drum is interpreting all those various sounds into one wave form. That is because you have one ear drum in each year, and it has only so many dimensions. It's really a matter of how much pressure, and how fast, the ear drum is vibrating. When we first started s... | [
"This might not help much, but to start, you have to realize that we don't actually see or hear anything as it is. Everything that you see, hear, feel, taste, etc is your brain's interpretation and virtual construction of reality based on the data it receives from your sensors. Similar to how for digital audio a mi... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why is fish (or sea food) so much softer than mammal meat? | [
"Basically fish have less collagen that attaches muscle to bone because fish don't need the skeleton to support them because they swim in the water every day. Also their muscle fibers are shorter that's why when you eat fully cooked fish you notice the pieces fall apart in consistent chunks."
] | [
"Carnivores are a lot harder to feed/maintain. Dog and cat are rare delicatessen, pork being by far the most consumed meat in China."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why does my skin feel so sensitive and why do my muscles ache when I have a cold? | [
"One of the main reasons that your body aches when you are sick, like with a cold is that your body's immmune system is producing plenty of anti-bodies. These anti-bodies also produce histamines which typically dilates (widens) blood vessel near an infection, this allows for more of the body's defences to get at th... | [
"I don't want to alarm you but this was one of the symptoms I had before getting severely ill. Do you get quickly tired ? For example, after running for a bit ? Does your face seem a little fatter than before ? Do you cough without any apparent reason ?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
If cracking your knuckles is pockets of air escaping, how does the air get in and where does it go? | [
"It doesn't go anywhere. When you crack your knuckles you stretch out the sacks of fluid that act as cushions but they don't break. Stretching them creates a vacuum inside which pulls any dissolved gasses out. That's the cracking sound, the bubbles just stay inside that sack and eventually dissolve back into the fl... | [
"The cracking noise is from fluid (bubbles) rushing into a gap in your joints. These bubbles stay for a certain time, so that's why you can't crack them again. It feels good because the bubbles cause a decrease in pressure/tension. It comes back after a while though. Then you can crack them again. Also, cracking ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why is blackmail illegal? | [
"its coercion or extortion involving a threat of harm or slander. youre basically demanding money under threat of harm."
] | [
"What's so bad about having something made in Israel?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How is disney not a monopoly? | [
"To be a monopoly, you have to control all (or nearly all) of the commerce in your given market. Microsoft was thought to be a monopoly in the past because they controlled ~95% of the PC OS market. Disney is in the entertainment market. Even after the merger, they won't even control 50% of that market, much less th... | [
"You can't flat out lie in commercials either. Its called false advertising."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Entertainment:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Entertainment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do flies and gnats consistently bother the same person even after being shooed away? | [
"They're attracted to the smell, or the color, or maybe they're just jerks."
] | [
"I have animals.. not cattle, but I have a donkey, llama, and sheep. Mostly what I see them do when flies start to annoy them is shake their heads, but I have seen them blink too. They stomp their feet or swish a tail when they are annoying them as well. Mostly though, livestock are not bothered by the flies until ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Who creates the, I assume mostly not real, computer programs we see characters using in films and are they actually functional? | [
"I would guess it's just added post production via a cgi program. No reason to write a fake program when all you need is something to just look like a program sense nobody has to use it outside of a scripted scene"
] | [
"No the computer does not think. The entire game is imaginary. A programer thought of how to show you a lot of images to convince you that you are moving through a building. They also wrote programs to interact with you so you change direction, shoot bullets or whatever, do a lot of fun things. But it was born in t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
If our skin cells are constantly dying and being replaced how do tattoos remain on our skin forever? | [
"> If our skin cells are constantly dying and being replaced how do tattoos remain on our skin forever? The ink is injected *below* the skin that is constantly being sloughed off."
] | [
"Short answer: The same way bad haircuts do. Longer answer: The human body is an amazing bit of engineering. It's constantly repairing itself, protecting the more vital organs from harm, and adapting to the environment as best it can in a way that human beings haven't even come close to replicating with technology.... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What does it mean it mean to be "in shape" physically, and what does my body actually do if I'm in shape? | [
"\"In shape\" is just another way of saying that you exercise with some regularity and your diet is good; you're not obese. Being too much or too less of anything is detrimental to your health, and being in shape is that balance for someone where they are not obese and scoffing down processed foods 24/7, and it pro... | [
"Different people have different cardio vascular systems. He may also be more fit than you, yes you read that right, sweating a lot and quickly is a sign you are in good shape."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Would we have to brush our teeth if we consumed no sugar? | [
"Yes, you would want to remove acids as well, as they also cause tooth problems. Brushing your teeth can also help remove pieces of food stuck in your teeth, which would otherwise rot. This is an area where flossing is helpful as well, which you should also do everyday."
] | [
"Because animals don't eat Twinkies, and wash that down with a vanilla milkshake. Quite simple. If you eat things that are bad for your teeth, you have to take better care of your teeth."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment about Dentistry:"
} |
Why do people say "What is -----" on jeopardy | [
"The guy who invented jeopardy was on the daily show once, and he explained it as follows. He said that jeopardy was one of the first attempts to have a real quiz show after the big quiz show scandals earlier in the 20th century. Those involved shows were the producers would give one of the contestants the answers ... | [
"No one in this thread seems to understand this subreddit... “like i’m 5” not “like i checked wikipedia.”"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do some people (like me) get really squirmish about things like Veins, the inner mechanics of Reproductive organs or blood and injections, etc ? | [
"It sounds like you might be experiencing a vasovagal syncope, which is the mechanism that causes people to faint at the sight of blood. You get this because you are a wimp. No, actually this happens because of a nervous system malfunction. Rather than activating the sympathetic nervous system which would be the \"... | [
"Brain. The world has some kinda of sick fetish with the heart but it has nothing to do with emotion or conciousnes."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why did the english language rename other countries? Ex german=duetsch | [
"It's called endonym and exonym. Endonym is a name people use to describe themselves, exonym is what others describe them. Every language and every country has endonyms and exonyms. In english, they come either from the way people pronounce a place (Spain versus España), or they come from other languages (Greece is... | [
"Related: what happened to the similar but different term Lakonia?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
why toasted bread tastes different than regular bread | [
"No. When you heat bread, chemical reactions take place on the surface of the bread that fundamentally change it. See the recent question about the Maillard reaction for a little more, if you want."
] | [
"Powder Sugar has small a amount of cornstarch in it. Why it tastes different. Well steak in a blender tastes different than steak on a plate."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Food and beverage:"
} |
Why is it that I see so many surfing videos that show surfers sitting out in the water with no waves? | [
"Often we wait behind the waves to prepare, find a good wave or take a break. Then you move up and \"drop into\" the wave. Waves may come in sets of three for example and you want to ride the best one so you wait. Sometimes you wait a bit."
] | [
"They are hurt all of the time. People die surfing waves like that. That is one reason those shots are so amazing. Pros though know techniques to try and not die but at the end of the day a wave smashing you into a reef is going to hurt. Certain waves the goal is to dive deep and avoid getting thrown over the top a... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How exactly does my neighbors property effect my property value? | [
"property value is just a guess at what an average consumer will be willing to pay. If you have a nice house, but it's surrounded by meth labs, no one will want to pay very much to buy it."
] | [
"Its helps: Increases the value of the home. Increases the value of surrounding homes. Provides income for the flipper. Provides income for all the stores and services the flipper used to fix up the house. Letting the house die would be much worse for the economy and improve nobody's well being."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is it that so many people remember how blue the sky was on 9/11? | [
"The contrast was striking - over and over again, all day long, I remember people remarking on it - this massive and horrible event, on such an especially beautiful day. And certainly in NYC, most of us didn't go to or stay at work all day, either, so that may also contribute to our noting and remembering what a \"... | [
"Effectively, yes. Good example is 9/11. Down here in New Zealand, we still refer to it as 9/11 and treat it as if it occurred on the 11th of September here, despite the fact that, in our time zone, it occurred at (I think) about 1am on 12th of September."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why are unhealthy foods seemingly always less expensive than healthier alternatives? | [
"Less than 1% of federal subsidies go towards fruits and vegetable. With 63% going to meat and dairy and 20% to grains, which is mostly used to feed livestock. Hence, the true market price of unhealthy food are artificially suppressed by federal subsidies. source: [_URL_0_](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"The USA was not an obese country until after about 1971, when government policy was changed to support the high production and low price of staple foods like corn, wheat, and soy. The government was worried about preventing hunger, but they went too far. Now we are surrounded by high-calorie food all the time, to ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Shakespeare's genius | [
"Nobody popularized memes like Shakespeare, ever, in history. Think of all the little words and phrases you have made up... does anyone else use them? Does everyone one else use them? [HERE IS A PARTIAL LIST](_URL_0_) of words and phrases that have no record of appearing before Shakespeare used them. And they left ... | [
"Better Artist who were a part of that team? That’s my guess"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
How the IRS would tax the winner of the power ball for the foreseeable future | [
"If you took it as a lump-sum prize they would tax you 350-400 mil as you say, but after that you wouldn't be taxed on it as income anymore because its already been taxed. It is not \"income\" just because you still have it next year, the only way it would continue to be taxed is if you invested it you would be tax... | [
"As the jackpot rises and it becomes more publicized, more people play, which adds more money to the jackpot. If this continues through several cycles with no winner, they can grow rather dramatically, as we've seen recently with the $400 Million bump."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
How does the mouth deal with things hot enough to burn most other parts of the body? | [
"If it's hot enough to burn other parts of the body, it'll burn your mouth, too. In fact it'll probably burn your mouth easier than other parts of the body."
] | [
"Caustic chemicals damage you by burning the digestive track. Your stomach is more durable than your esophagus, so it can be more damaging coming back up than just sitting there. Poisonous chemicals get absorbed by the body, and travel through the blood where they can do various kinds of harm to the rest of the bod... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why is bathroom water so much better than kitchen water? | [
"Clearly because you are a dog. Really tho...\"Most people like to drink water that is very cold. In the bathroom, the water is often very cold because the person getting a drink first uses the water closet (toilet) and flushes. This starts the flow of cold water. Then they wash their hands, which continues to flow... | [
"How much water is in the bath? How much is in the kettle? How hot is the bath water?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Why is allergy medicine so expensive? | [
"It isn't. Here in the UK I can buy a month's supply of once a day antihistamines (loratidine or cetirizine) for less than £2 (less than $3.34USD) and a generic equivalent of \"Afrin\" (oxymetolozine) for £1. Basically I can buy antihistamine tablets + sodium cromoglycate eye drops + a nasal spray (either beclometa... | [
"Aspirin is not a placebo, it's a medicine."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
It seems that when devastating disasters happen in North America, less than a hundred are killed, but how come in countries in the Middle East, Asia and the Far East suffer far more casualties for similar disasters? | [
"that's easy, it comes down to primarily two things: - Money - the number of people living there (population density) While the US are huge, they're not as densely populated as other areas, especially in Asia or the Middle East. In Texas you got an average of 40 people per square kilometer (or roughly 100 per squar... | [
"There are many factors that play into that. Its true that climate change is one of them as hurricanes get more stronger and powerful the hotter the sea water is. However, in the end its just very bad luck this year to get few powerful hurricanes at the same time and from year to year it varies."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is -3 not an applicable square root of 9? | [
"The square root of 9 is ±3. The principal square root of 9 is 3. Usually you use the things that make sense. I don't understand your problem, but usually when solving problems like x^2 = 9 you write that |x| = 3 x = -3,3. This problem has 2 roots. Both of them satisfy the equation x^2 = 9."
] | [
"(X+1)^2 - x^2 = (x^2 + 2x + 1) - x^2 = 2x + 1 Which is also the definition of an odd number number when x is a natural number."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why is water transport so inefficient? Why can a mid-level car easily reach 200+kph, while you need a 1000+hp offshore boat to reach the same speed? | [
"Essentially friction and surface area. I'm no expert but look how much of a boat/ship is actually making contact with the water, now look at how much surface area your tires on your car take up, a hell of a lot less. I'm not a smart man but there's my two cents. I'm sure someone will explain it better."
] | [
"Rigid ships like the Hindenburg were 3-4x bigger than a 747 and travelled around 80 Mph, where the 747 holds 8x the number of passengers and travels at 500 Mph."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why is longitude measured in non-parallel lines coming from the poles instead of in parallel circles emanating from the Prime Meridian and IDL? | [
"One of these ways is really easy and convenient for plotting a map and navigating. The other is really, really, really annoying. If you plotted the parallel circles on a flat map, you would get two sets of either concentric ellipses or circles depending on the projection you use, and you couldn't keep your East/We... | [
"They will be such that the Greenwich Meridian (0 degrees longitude) and the Equator (0 degrees latitude) intersect in the centre, as a sort of \"origin point\" for the map."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does food turn black when it burns? | [
"Burning could also be called carbonising. I'm sure there's someone who can explain better than me, but burning food is the exact same as burning a lump of wood. Burning is a chemical reaction called combustion, and I can't remember any exact formulas but it uses oxygen, along with the organic compounds in the wood... | [
"It makes the proteins hard. Have you ever spilled egg on your hand and tried to wash it off with warm water? It makes it into a gel. This is the same thing that happens with anything high in protein. Like semen."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Why are beef hotdogs not brown? | [
"Hotdogs contain sodium nitrate as part of their curing process. Nitrates make meat pink. In fact besides hot dogs they are the reason why corned beef is the color it is, and are commonly found in things like bacon, sausages, and other 'cured' meats."
] | [
"A lot less water. It's sort of like asking why beef jerky tastes different from regular beef."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Slow charge vs fast charge overnight | [
"It doesn't matter. It automatically regulates power supply to prevent anything from damaging the battery; for instance, when the phone reaches 100% it stops charging, and only starts charging when it falls below like 98%-95%."
] | [
"You're not imagining this, but it's not any phone. Samsung is a good example as one of the first to have fast charging. If you look at the source block it will say it has a 9V output instead of 5V. That's the biggest difference. Motorola's \"turbo-charge\" is up to 12V even. It's all about output."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why does protesting work? You see massive nationwide protests when there is civil unrest, but why can't the government just ignore it until the protestors give up? | [
"Protesting isn't about getting the government or entity you are protesting to change because of the protesters. They will always be dismissed as a minority opinion and troublemakers. It is about getting a larger group of constituents (the ones who would never actually go to the protest) interested with the issue. ... | [
"Because life in the US is pretty good for nearly everyone. Even people on the lower end of the income scale are still fed and clothed, even if they have to work long hours. In lots of other countries there is a lot of political repression while the US is pretty open really. When you can't complain on the internet,... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What happens to the pieces of a sliver that break off and can't be removed and therefore stay under my skin? | [
"Usually they work to the surface over time as new layers of skin grow from beneath. The human body is pretty amazing at ridding itself of foreign bodies."
] | [
"They don't tend to wander so the torso is just bandaged to stay mostly straight and the two ends will naturally heal together. Most of the time a rib is broken but the break is just a crack which remains set already."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why are cats (and other animals) noses wet? | [
"Because they often lick their noses. Think about how it smells when it rains. It's a pretty strong, distinct smell, isn't it? It isn't the smell of the rain that's sticking out - it's everything else. Moisture makes it easier to smell things we normally would have missed. With dogs and cats, it's the same exact th... | [
"Because people are warm. Cats (and some other pets) like to be warm."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why did everyone get upset when the Pope called it The Armenian "Genocide"? | [
"Because the Turks deny anything happened. 2 million Armenians just got \"lost\" in the shuffle after ww1/collapse of the Ottoman Empire Most everyone else isn't buying that story"
] | [
"He opposed Vietnam so the US liked him, the Russians and Chinese liked the Communist government, he shut the outside world out while he was massacring people and the US hadn't signed the genocide convention yet. See \"A Problem from Hell\" by Samantha Power for more information."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
How does water get stuck in your ear? | [
"Am I going crazy? OP asked why it happens and everyone is giving old wives tales about how to get the water out. One guy just went on a rant about not using Q-tips Anyway, to actually answer the question, it has to do with cohesion, aka surface tension. Little water droplets basically get into the small spaces on ... | [
"Your pee stream is getting air into the toilet water. Have you seen the bottom of a waterfall?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about Science:"
} |
how do fashion designers gain fame when they start out | [
"You know how people always laugh at those really outlandish outfits at fashion shows that nobody would ever wear? That's how fashion designers get famous. They make unbelievable, over the top outfits to grab attention, then once they have it they use their renown to sell things people actually wear like jeans or t... | [
"In the fashion industry, it's art. Just like a painter or a photographer, they showcase their works. Fashion shows are just like art villas, just a different industry. They get excited to see what their next creation is. And like paintings, sometimes there's only one original, and it's not going to be everywhere, ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why are coffee tables so low? | [
"Most coffee tables are level with the sitting height of a couch or love seat. They are at a perfect height for resting your feet on them when your wife isn't home."
] | [
"What's so bad about having something made in Israel?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
If our brains use 50-70% of our total energy, will keeping it active result in fat loss/staying leaner? | [
"Those are excessively high percentages, but yes there is some indication that tasking the brain will burn more energy."
] | [
"Because, as odd as it may sound, your body actually burns a really good amount of calories while you sleep. It also does the \"general maintenance\" on your body, allowing it to function more efficiently, thus allowing your awake time to be more productive as well..."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
why do some people not 'know' how to swim and drown? | [
"Humans are born with the instinct to swim, or at least stay afloat. It's lost after time. If it isn't taught to them or kept in their mind, they forget how to. Not to get all preachy, but some people simply don't teach their children how to swim. They then grow up not teaching their kids how to swim, or purposely ... | [
"Where is the percentage of people that don't give a single flying fuck about fashion and just wear clothes so we don't get arrested for indecent exposure."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Why did this weekends reddit super story lose up votes over time? | [
"I think people are starting to question the validity of the story. The live stream from the PI got a lot of people calling bullshit"
] | [
"Reddit has vhanged vote fuzzing. This is why were seeing posts with 9000 upvotes rather than 5000. This means that old posts stay up longer"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
when did it become gramatically acceptable to put the dollar sign after the numeric as in "10$"? | [
"I've never seen that before. Where are you seeing it?"
] | [
"In English (at least American English) unless you have a bunch of zeros in a row you almost always say \"O\" for every single number, not just time."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What was the possible cause of the dancing plague ,and considering the fact that this disease was referred to as a "mania", was it a physical or mental disorder? | [
"Modern theories include (1) group poisoning with a naturally occurring chemical that can grow in rotting grain, (2) mass hysteria caused by recent problems in the area that had people afraid of starvation, and (3) encouragement from the authorities who strangely thought that encouraging it would stop it."
] | [
"It doesn't. It's not real. The theory came sbout in the 1970s after a psychiatrist met a schizophrenic and wrote a book claiming that this was a new psychiatric condition."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
how did man figure out Wells? | [
"It was just something that was learned over time. Someone found a spring. Then water stopped coming out of the spring. Someone then dug a little big to gind out where the water went and the spring started back up. After this happens a few times someone figured out to dig in the ground to find water."
] | [
"Related: what happened to the similar but different term Lakonia?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What considerations are taken into account when an establishment decides to sign with Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi for an exclusive supplier contract? | [
"Generally three things: 1) Which drinks are more popular in that area, Coke (Coca-Cola, Sprite, etc) or Pepsi (Pepsi, Mountain Dew, etc)? 2) Are there any nearby restaurants that have an exclusive agreement with one company or the other within a certain range? (This is rare; nether company has much interest in sto... | [
"The idea is to remove any direct connection between the producers and the retailers. This prevents liquor companies from strong-arming retailers. It means, for example, that Budweiser can't use their position in the market to coerce retailers into no longer carrying Miller products."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How does the ketogenic diet work, and do is actually cause more weight loss that low calorie? | [
"Yes. Part of it is that when eating a ketogenic diet, the food you're eating is more filling becuase you've cut out starch and carbs. So people end up eating less calories anyway."
] | [
"It's not a new diet fad, but it has recently gained a lot of popularity due to its similarity to the Atkin's diet fad, which recently passed through society. In the Atkin's diet, you cut out carbs and increase protein intake. In the Keto diet, you cut out carbs and limit protein intake. The purpose (and namesake)... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
How did the Polynesians have enough food and water to travel such great distances in canoes and why did they do it? | [
"Carrying enough food isn't really a problem, especially 2,000 or 3,000 years ago, when there were lots more fish in the sea. I sailed 12,800 km, from Panama to New Caledonia on a 11-meter sloop. We left with 100 liters of fresh water for 4 adults. We caught rain running off the mainsail and put it in the tank. Ne... | [
"Humans are native to central Africa. They spread out into Europe and Asia, and later made it to the Americas across a now eroded/sunken connective land bridge between Russia and Alaska. What I find particularly interesting is that some early humans were brave/stupid enough to sail all the way to Hawaii and Samoa, ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why it's so difficult to make Xbox 360/PS3 emulators for PC. | [
"Well first off an Emulator for a game console is a software that is replicating the hardware that is being used in the console and its operating system. Old machines we're easy to do this with such as the GameCube and N64 because they we're inexpensive and simple machines. Microsoft and Sony however have spent mon... | [
"Because now you can play demos for free over the internet on the major consoles, through Xbox Live and the PS network."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about Technology:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Technology:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
- Why do the ads on youtube load immediately with awesome quality but then the video I actually want to watch won't load or takes forever to buffer? | [
"The videos used for ads are stored on their own server locality in relation to your location. Since YouTube makes its money off of ads, they have to make sure the ads load."
] | [
"Most video players still let you do it. Youtube is pretty much the only one that doesn't. They stopped letting you do it because they're so big, people watch so many Youtube videos, that buffering every single video that anyone watches would waste a ton of their server capacity. If you turn off the video before yo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
2 stroke vs 4 stroke engine | [
"Four stroke- Suck, squeeze, bang, blow. Flow of air/fuel and exhaust controlled by valves. Two stroke- Suckbang, Squeezeblow. Flow of air/fuel/oil (oil for lubrication, they don't tend to have oil sumps) and exhaust gasses is typically controlled by ports in the cylinder wall, though IIRC there are valved two-stro... | [
"It is the internal size of the cylinders. on a motorcross the size is given in cubic centimeters (e.g. 50cc). Most often, higher volume means a more powerful engine! EDIT: 2.2L means internal volume of 2.2 liters!"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
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