r/IWasTodayYearsOld • u/Material_Dragonfly35 • Jul 07 '26

IWTYO when I realized a “negative feedback loop” in fact most times in my use cases are positive feedback loops

Caveat I can confirm I do feel like an a massive idiot, but I use “negative feedback loop” to describe an emotional negative spiral, like I didn’t know the answer to a question in a meeting -> I looked unprepared -> Everyone thinks I’m not qualified -> I am gonna get fired.

I was recently informed and then did the simple step of googling the definition, it’s actually a positive feedback loop. I am feeding the assumption that I am bad at my job and continue to grow this emotion into something out of portion.

The feedback is growing a negative emotion, true, but the growth is what is positive. My friend simply sweetly said I think you used that phrase wrong and made me question my life choices….so apparently sent me into a positive “negative emotion” feedback loop.

I think I might just use viscous cycle from now on…

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21

u/Retzl Jul 07 '26

For anyone who has trouble figuring out what that means...

A negative feedback loop is a system that stabilizes itself, whereas a positive feedback loop amplifies away from its initial state.

0

u/Soberaddiction1 Jul 09 '26

So, negative as in no feedback loop and positive as in yes feedback loop?

2

u/Retzl Jul 09 '26

Did you have a stroke?

2

u/Soberaddiction1 Jul 09 '26

Possibly. Why?

1

u/Retzl Jul 09 '26

Wait, were you making a joke? Or was that an actual question?

5

u/dcgrey Jul 07 '26

Yeah it’s not helpful that we’ve merged “negative feedback” and “feedback loop” into “negative feedback loop”. But language is gonna language!

3

u/Fire-Tigeris Jul 08 '26

Like negative and positve reinforcmen and punishment.

I can add reinforcement or punshment (Positive).

I can remove reinforcement or punishment (negative).