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NancyLebovitz comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 5 - Less Wrong
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Chapter 43: I think "nocebo" would be clearer than "placebo".
Most people know what the placebo effect is, but have never heard the word "nocebo". The current version is strictly wrong, but probably better for most readers. If we're going to pick these kinds of nits, I'd assign a rather higher priority to replacing "sentient" with "sapient".
How about "suggestion" instead of "placebo"?
"The power of suggestion" sounds less sciencey than "the placebo effect". Call it something like, oh, "priming", and you're home free.
(Cynicism is in fashion nowadays, doncha know. Also, self-aware meta-snark.)
This is true, even though popular understanding of 'the placebo effect' , including what purpose placebos serve, is largely nonsense.
What errors do you have in mind? Everything I know about this I've got from reading Ben Goldacre.
I was thinking "suggestion" not "the power of suggestion". How does that affect clarity? Respectability?
I'm not sure, I haven't read the relevant chapter of MoR and was exploring a tangent (and pet peeve) that elaborates on Pavitra's comment specifically. For what it is worth even from Pavitra's reply I had inferred that you were almost certainly intending to convey a meaning distinct from "the power of suggestion". Unfortunately Pavitra also has a point that cultural factors may ensure that many people misinterpret your word in that fashion.
My suspicion is that "suggestion" would be more accurate but may require an extra sentence or even an extra paragraph or two to fully make the meaning come across. This may actually be a good thing.