On: LLMs are bullshitters. But that doesn't mean they're not useful

[cpburns2009]

I don't understand this at all. What fundamental limitation of a mother prevents her from operating on her son?

[cogman10 → cpburns2009]

It can be emotionally hard to cut into your own kid or to witness them go into a critical situation.

AFAIK, there's no actual limitation that prevents this, but just a general understanding that someone non-related to the patient would be able to handle the stress of surgery better.

[cpburns2009 → cogman10]

I get that but that would be the case regardless of whether the surgeon was the mother or father.

[cogman10 → cpburns2009]

The original riddle goes something like this

> A father and son were in a car accident where the father was killed. The ambulance brought the son to the hospital. He needed immediate surgery. In the operating room, a doctor came in and looked at the little boy and said I can't operate on him he is my son. Who is the doctor?

The riddle is literally just a play on "women can't be surgeons."

[cpburns2009 → cogman10]

Thanks for providing the whole riddle. Now it makes sense.

[VHRanger → cpburns2009]

It's a classic riddle from the late 20th century when surgeons were rarely female.

[cpburns2009 → VHRanger]

But what does the prevalence of women being surgeons have to do with a female surgeon being unable to operate on her son?

[f30e3dfed1c9 → cpburns2009]

It is generally considered unethical for medical doctors to treat family members.

[cpburns2009 → f30e3dfed1c9]

That would be the case regardless of the sex of the parent.

[VHRanger → cpburns2009]

In the original riddle the boy's dad dies in the accident before the boy arrives at the hospital.