this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2024
-36 points (22.7% liked)

Showerthoughts

29632 readers
715 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The best ones are thoughts that many people can relate to and they find something funny or interesting in regular stuff.

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. Avoid politics (NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out)
  4. Posts must be original/unique
  5. Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
vatlark@lemmy.world
forkball@lemmy.world
quinten@lemmy.world
Thekingoflorda@lemmy.world
-36
Why do people say "symbiotic relationship" when they really mean "mutualistic"? (lemmy.world)
submitted 4 months ago by Emerald@lemmy.world to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world
14 comments fedilink hide all child comments
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[โ€“] otter@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

My guess is that it's a simpler word that is more memorable and 'biological' sounding. So people are more likely to remember it over mutualism

[โ€“] spankinspinach@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 months ago

There's also a level of understanding vs. utility involved. Being aware that there are subtypes of symbiotic relationship doesn't necessitate using them in day to day conversation, as most ppl just remember that they learned about the category.

To biologists, however, there's a world of difference.