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Comment by emmanueloga_ | Hacker News Reader

Tangentially, it is the first time hearing the world "torpor", I would understand even "lethargy" [0] which I don't think is that used in common speech (but more than "torpor" for sure).

The use of this word for this particle blog post is to say the least interesting [1] (I would at least use one of the many more popular synonyms). TBH I thought it was the name of a drug or some chemical substance :-p.

0: https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/torpor

1: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=torpor&date=now%2...

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Torpor is the wrong word. Full stop.

The FDA isn't merely a lazy, indifferent regulatory body suffering some sleepy malaise. The FDA is actively beholden to "special" interests and the decisions made by the FDA are a function of both these interests and its own mandate. Threading those needles is complex so processes at the FDA move slowly; it takes a lot coordination to safely and profitably answer to all the masters involved. "Safely," here, has nothing at all to do with medicine.

The correct word is "corruption," but using the correct word would immediately alienate the entire professional class to which Seliger hopes to appeal. Seliger understands this and has employed a friendlier word, implying nothing more terrifying than innocent dysfunction. Such is the lot of one that seeks to discuss the consequences of corruption with those that cannot tolerate the impuning of anything Government, with the possible exception of the DOD.

They are different concepts. Torpor essentially just means "slow and lazy", scientifically it refers to a down regulation of body temperature and/or metabolism, but doesn't reflect on the REASON for it.

Lethargy is slowness specifically caused by how you feel - fatigue, nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, that sort of thing.

Languid is a closer synonym to torpor, although it can actually refer to either meaning, essentially (slow OR tired).

Relevant West Wing: https://youtu.be/4eP2epXYW9M

We are told that bears here in Finland don't hibernate, they go into torpor. There is a distinction.

(They "torporate"?)

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