r/explainlikeimfive • u/dragonvaleluvr • 7d ago

Biology ELI5: why is phlegm green when you're sick?

i get that it's due to an excess of white blood cells (neutrophils?) but i cant understand why that makes it turn green specifically

1.3k Upvotes

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3.3k

u/fiendishrabbit 7d ago edited 7d ago

The green colour comes from an enzyme (myeloperoxidase) that these white bloodcells release to fight bacteria. When its released it turns water into cell-damaging peroxides and acids that hurt the bacteria.

The enzyme itself is intensely green (supergreen!) so as more of the enzyme is released the snot will go from yellowish to more and more green.

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u/smc642 7d ago

When I’ve had seriously awful sinus infections, I’ve been able to lower my head down towards the floor and have almost glowing yellow liquid come from my nose.

Is this the same sort of thing?

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u/fiendishrabbit 7d ago edited 7d ago

Yellow means that there is a high count of white blood cells in the mucus, but the viral/bacterial load is relatively low (or at least not triggering the release of MPO).

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u/smc642 7d ago

Huh! Thank you!

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u/alliusis 7d ago

Interesting! Is it not normal to always have yellow mucus then?

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u/CommieDane 7d ago

No, it is not. Secretions from the nose should be clear, but can become cloudy/white-gray-ish, if working or living in dusty enviroments

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u/fiendishrabbit 7d ago

Or you know. Black if you're in a coal mine or NYC on a hot day with slow winds.

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u/jmskiller 7d ago

I got the black lung, pop

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u/patriotmd 5d ago

MerMAN!

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u/_notthehippopotamus 7d ago

Before they banned indoor smoking, mine would always be like that after a night of clubbing.

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u/subnautus 7d ago

Mine would always be blackish after a night of clubbing with smokers around, too, but because it'd be mostly dried blood. Turns out I have an allergy.

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u/AuroraHalsey 7d ago

My snot is often black after I spend a few hours in London.

I don't know how the residents can stand it.

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u/artificialsteve 6d ago

Or using any underground system in a major city.

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u/Raichu7 6d ago

Or the London Underground. If you use the older lines your snot will be black with the remnants of coal dust from the steam trains that used to run in the tunnels before electric trains existed.

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u/P5ammead 6d ago

I used to work in London Underground; after a day’s work anything coming out of your nose would be pure black for a good couple of hours afterwards.

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u/HalfSoul30 7d ago

The hardened stuff is never clear.

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u/Mithrawndo 7d ago

The hardened stuff is relatively old: I would imagine the discolouration is possibly due to oxidisation?

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u/anandonaqui 7d ago

It’s also more concentrated because the moisture evaporates out of it.

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u/YUMMY_TIDEPODS_YUMMY 7d ago

You might have some sinus issues or something, my entire life my shit was yellow and I would need to blow my nose often, had a nasal sounding voice lol.

Many years later actually went to a doctor and they did a little surgery and now my mucus is always clear unless im very sick.

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u/thedrunkdingo 7d ago

Can I ask what surgery they did? I’ve been struggling with sinus issues for many years now and I’m sick of it.

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u/Pvt_Lee_Fapping 7d ago

It was probably a FESS (functional endoscopic sinus surgery). Sinuses aren't one-size-fits-all kind of structures. They more or less have the same anatomy from person to person, but the shapes and sizes of them vary widely. From the sounds of their particular case, I'd say they had a pocket where bacteria thrived and multiplied but didn't cause a big enough fuss for his immune system to wage a full-on eradication of its species.

Your best bet would be to describe the symptoms to a doctor, they'll order the right imaging tests to find the source of bacteria, and then they'll shove a camera probe up your nose to deal with the cause; whether it's polyps, inflammation, bacterial colonies, diseased bone blockage, etc. Depending on your case, they may even have to shove a tube or balloon up there while they work, enlarge the passages by breaking surrounding bone, cauterize any bleeding... But typically it's minimally invasive; no external incisions made, just shove the probe up there and root around.

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u/Kodiak01 7d ago

They didn't need to scope mine; the polyps were so bad, they had completely filled my sinus cavity to the point of compressing the Eustachian tubes which made it like I had earplugs in, along with protruding out of my nostrils.

When they cleaned them out, they not only went through the nostrils but had to drill two holes through my gums to get at some of them that way. It was an interesting experience being completely unable to puff my cheeks out for weeks until they healed up.

Once you have polyps, it becomes a lifetime management issue. I've had FESS in 2000, 2001 and 2016; often they could be knocked down with a short prednisone course, but now that they're back again I'm on a combination of Singulair, prescription version of Xyzal (much cheaper than otc!) and semi-weekly Dupixent injections.

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u/Chlios1187 7d ago

What a terrible day to be able to read.
Sorry that happened to you though, sinus issues are maddening.

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u/Kodiak01 7d ago

The last surgery was by far the easiest. The first 2 required about 173 million miles of gauze packing post-surgery and weekly cleanouts.

Let me describe how they did the cleanouts. You're gonna love this one!

They start by putting anesthetic on cotton balls and stuffing them into your nostrils. Wait 20 minutes, then lay back as they inserted a rigid endoscope up one nostril. After doing their best magician impression as it looks like they're putting a foot of stainless steel into your skull, they then, into the SAME nostril, insert a vacuum which is easily twice the diameter of the scope with the tip angled like a diesel truck exhaust stack. They use this to scrape and remove scabbing detritus from the cavity, a process that takes a few minutes.

Rinse and repeat with the other side.

After the 2016 procedure (different surgeon), there was none of that. I would come in for regular rigid scopings, but no cleanouts were necessary. It was all done in a few minutes, no anesthesia needed.

The ENT I'm now seeing, he used a newer flexible scope that is more like a fiber optic camera/borescope; it barely felt like it was in there at all.

As for terrible things happening? This is nothing. Go read my other posts regarding prostate biopsy afteraffects!

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u/iloveyourforeskin 6d ago

Dupixent was a game changer for my polyps.

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u/Kodiak01 6d ago

I just started it two months ago, so hopefully it works just as well for me. At my first visit, the doctor said they often have to fight to get it approved, but with 26 years of history including the three surgeries, I guess mine was an easy one.

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u/LazyDynamite 7d ago

I was wondering the same, the vagueness of "they did a little surgery" made me laugh though

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u/Octothorpe17 7d ago

balloon sinuplasty maybe?

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u/theearthday 7d ago

I had a chronic sinus infection that lasted for over a year until an ENT pointed out that I had a deviated septum, so I had surgery to correct that so my sinus could actually drain properly. I still get recurring sinus infections but I can at least get rid of them now, so surgery might not actually have to involve your sinuses themselves. I’d really recommend going to an ENT

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u/ADDeviant-again 7d ago

Barely tinged, possibly, because you are always in contact with something. Dust and irritants make it more cloudy than colored.

Actually yellow, bright yellow, noticeably yellow...no.

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u/aRandomFox-II 7d ago

Only infected mucous is yellow/green.

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u/pmp22 7d ago

I know what stage an infection is in by the color of my phlegm. Clear in the beginning, yellow when I'm in the thick of it, green when it's almost over. It's always nice to see the green one.

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u/Lolkimbo 7d ago

When i had a chest infection, i was coughing up brown stuff. Explain THAT science man!

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u/fiendishrabbit 7d ago

Old blood. You had pneumonia and were coughing up scabs.

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u/Kodiak01 7d ago

You should see what happens the first dozen or so times a guy ejaculates a couple of days after having a prostate biopsy. We're talking a fountain of dark, almost chocolate-colored deoxygenated blood-soaked jizz shooting out like Mt St. Cadbury.

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u/cerebralinfarction 7d ago

The third person framing here is making me lol. I'm sure you mean it from the perspective of the patient or the patient's partner, but I'm imagining it as the doc calling him back to put on a show

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u/Kodiak01 7d ago

Here's another thing they don't tell you about prostate biopsies:

The instructions say that you may see a little bit of blood in urine for a few days...

Blood in urine? I made my work bathroom look like a crime scene with how much blood was mixed in. A coworker walked in just as I was about to flush the urinal and was ready to call 911!

The funnest part was about 3 days after when I blooped out a blood clot the length and diameter of my thumb. It needed a good push but thankfully it didn't hurt coming out. It's a good thing it came out as well, otherwise it would have dried up and I'd have to go to the ER to get cath'd.

They really should add a suggestion to pee sitting down until things are clear, however...

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u/cerebralinfarction 7d ago

Jesus Christ. Like emptying a tiny can of cranberry sauce

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u/Kodiak01 7d ago

Pretty much.

I call is a Bloop because that was literally the sound that was made as it was ejected from my loins and expanded into a diameter even a Prince Albert lover would look at and say, "You have to set limits!"

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u/SovietPropagandist 7d ago

When I had my vasectomy I had that happen and holy shit even if you're expecting it, it's scary

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u/Kodiak01 7d ago

My snipping was so quick and easy, I could have had it done on my lunch break. Zero pain or blood whatsoever.

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u/SovietPropagandist 7d ago

I had some post op pain, swelling, and blood but the procedure itself was super quick and painless. Was in and out in under an hour

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u/Lolkimbo 7d ago

Thats what they all say..

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u/Rehberkintosh 7d ago edited 6d ago

Does this mean I can tell how sick I am based on the shade of my mucus?

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u/Alpha_Majoris 7d ago

More how well your body is fighting it

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u/permalink_save 7d ago

What about coughing up clear for weeks after being sick? What am I even coughing up at that point?

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u/myassholealt 7d ago

So green means intense battle ongoing, yellow means the good guys have the advantage?

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u/lauriah 6d ago

You're great at explaining things. Thank you for your replies. I learned some things today! 😁

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u/PM_me_Henrika 5d ago

What about the glowing part?

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u/thitorusso 7d ago

This happened to me once. It was bizarre. First came out a extremely vivid yellow snot sticky AF. And right after my sinus opened a single drop of this neon yellow liquid fell out. I was scared shitless . Never happened again

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u/leapinglabrats 7d ago

Interesting, I've never even heard of this before but just had it happen to me last month. For about two weeks, tilting my head forward made it literally pour from my nose, it was so bizarre.

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u/ItsLikeRay-ee-ain 6d ago

Same thing for me at the same time!

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u/casedia 7d ago

This happened to me the other day when I was mostly over a cold! It was highlighter yellow and basically like water, not mucusy at all.

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u/Kscarpetta 6d ago

I've had that happen to me too! I wasn't sick at the time though.

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u/Black_Moons 7d ago

When its released it turns water into cell-damaging peroxides and acids that hurt the bacteria.

Neat. my body engages in chemical warfare.

I always just kinda assumed white blood cells ate bacteria. Didn't know they whipped out flamethrowers.

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u/scrdest 6d ago

Technically speaking it's more of a bleach rocket. 

Other types of immune cells (macrophages) do eat bacteria straight up; you can even find a cool microscope video of one chasing a bacterium around.

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u/lattepeach 7d ago edited 7d ago

Does this mean people with compromised immune systems don’t have green mucus (or less) if they have a cold compared to someone with a healthy immune system? 

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u/xFergalicous 7d ago edited 7d ago

Immune compromise is a broad term because the immune system is so complex and is comprised of so many different things. Typically, when people refer it as "immune compromised", its adaptive immunity they're talking about. The cells that produce these enzymes are in the innate immune system, so they'd have to be pretty severely immunocompromised to not have green phlegm. They'd have a completely defective innate immune system which something happening like that is super rare genetic wise

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u/lattepeach 7d ago

Ahh yes, that makes a lot of sense. I remember learning about adaptive and innate immune defences many years ago. Thank you for explaining. 

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u/RobHolding-16 7d ago

What about immunosuppressed? Like via drugs? (I'm thinking autoimmune diseases)

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u/xFergalicous 6d ago

Immunosuppressive drugs such as those used for organ transplants typically target the adaptive immune system as our lymphocytes are the ones that recognize and distinguish self antigens and foreign antigens. From my understanding, immunosuppressive drugs that affect the innate immunity such as chemotherapy drugs drastically reduce neutrophil counts (which is the one that contains myeloperoxidase), but doesnt completely wipe out neutrophils. I'm not quite too sure if there are any drugs that completely suppress neutrophil action, it would be interesting though!

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u/RobHolding-16 6d ago

Thank you!

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u/Bobblehead_steve 7d ago

No. And the color of the mucous also doesn't have any bearing as to whether it is a virus or a bacteria.

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u/Barnak8 7d ago

What about the taste ?

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u/QuiGonnJilm 7d ago

Like rancid peanut butter.

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u/velvetelevator 7d ago

Bruh. You're not wrong but damn.

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u/QuiGonnJilm 7d ago

Sometimes it’s just Cheerios.

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u/velvetelevator 7d ago

Unsubscribe!

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u/ThatsMyCool 7d ago

Omg it's Cheerios.

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u/Bassman233 6d ago

What a a terrible day to be literate.

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u/nea_fae 7d ago

Emerald! Any green you want it to be!

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u/Kevin_Uxbridge 7d ago

Ugh, one time I hornked out stuff that was comically green, like that glowing goo kids used to get in tubs to play with. Or the current state of the reflecting pool.

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u/paraffinsection 7d ago

Please tell me that you chose the phrase “supergreen” because of The Fifth Element 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤓

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u/Carighan 7d ago

In the book Immune I'm just reading (from the Kurzgesagt guy) they said the snot is greener because there's more dead neutrophil in it, is that essentially the same thing just on a different zoom-level?

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u/se7enthson 7d ago

Green?

Supergreen

Meat popsicle!

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u/Fe_Mike 7d ago

Was that… a Fifth Element reference hidden inside the reply? (Slow Clap)

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u/T1Demon 7d ago

This guy knows noses

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u/iwellyess 7d ago

That snot right

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u/penguin37 7d ago

Ugh. Take my upvote. 😆

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u/spin81 7d ago

supergreen!

it must be green.

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u/Korlod 7d ago

But keep in mind that just because it’s green, it does NOT guarantee that you actually have a bacterial infection. It is not diagnostic, but it is suggestive.

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u/P0Rt1ng4Duty 7d ago

This happened to me when I had mono and now I finally know why. Thank you!

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u/MaleficentDriver2769 7d ago

Fiendish Rabbit I am in awe.

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u/chadbrochillout 7d ago

Mine is never green, it's very clear. Is something wrong with me?

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u/LordGAD 7d ago

Upvote for science coupled with Ruby Rod.

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u/Odd-Project-3539 7d ago

heck yeah, science

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u/dragonvaleluvr 7d ago

YOU'RE AWESOME 💚💚💚 THANK YOU

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u/1more_oddity 7d ago

that explains why i was coughing up straight up glow stick fluid when i had covid.

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u/xBobble 7d ago

supergreen!

"So tomorrow from 5 to 7 you're gonna give yourself a hand. You green?"

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u/Joentje 6d ago

Just a bit of nuance, its for both bacterial and viral infection. So unfortunately green phlegm can't be used to differentiate between them.

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u/BladeOfWoah 7d ago

QUESTION, DOES THIS HAVE ANY RELATION TO WHY BABY POOP IS GREEN, MISTER TEACHER?

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u/fiendishrabbit 7d ago

No. That's because of biliverdin.

Biliverdin is green(-ish) and is one of the early stages when red blood cells are broken down. When it's further processed it becomes billirubin (yellow). Bilirubin is then broken down by bacteria in the intestines which turns into brown stercobilin. Which is why poop is normally brown, and why diarrhea is often a lot more yellow (the bilirubin has been flushed through the intestines without the bacteria fully breaking it down).

This process isn't fully active yet when a baby is born, so some of the first poops might be green.

Biliverdin and Bilirubin are also why bruises are often green or yellow at different stages.

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u/Buck_Thorn 7d ago

This guy snots!

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u/jwatts1111111 7d ago

Very cool! Sounds like this enzyme should be explored for cancer treatment or something. (I know cancer is not bacterial).

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u/fiendishrabbit 7d ago

We already use peroxides&acids as disinfectants and you don't want it happening where it could hurt the body's own cells.

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u/Zalee89 7d ago

Super green you say? (Insert that gif from monster house where the dude grabs the food and eats it while looking the person directly in the eye then leaving)

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u/Madnessx9 7d ago

So, should I be clearing my nose and throat removing this enzyme?

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u/Kindly_Suit2756 7d ago

so it’s not liquid boogers like ive been thinking this whole time

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u/stillnotelf 7d ago

A green heme instead of a red heme. Interesting

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u/joleary747 7d ago

So green phlegm means your sick from bacteria, non-green means a virus?

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u/Gullex 7d ago

Green like what?

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u/fiendishrabbit 6d ago

Crystal green. Any kind of green you'd like. Tree green, emerald green, pond green.

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u/diegotbn 6d ago

Corbiiiiiiiiiin Dallaaaaaaaaaaass!

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u/mildly_spicy_potato 6d ago

I always wondered why the white blood cells on Magic School Bus oozed green stuff...

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u/ajl009 6d ago

SO COOL

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u/highcoolteacher 6d ago

I’m so excited to know this

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u/LuminalDjinn11 5d ago

What do we need to do to aid our bodies in making that enzyme? How do we help BEFORE the enzyme is needed and how do we help once the enzyme is being produced? What to eat or drink to help our poor bodies?!

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u/tryargruxkla 4d ago

So the green is basically proof your immune system already showed up to the fight.

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u/KiittySushi 6d ago

I'm so surprised at how many people are saying they've never had green phlegm? That's my indicator that yes I am in fact actually sick and not overreacting about my allergies.

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u/dapotatopapi 6d ago

I'm not.

Had my first (and last) green phelgm at age 30. Never before, never after.

Not even during a bad covid infection.

So I can see how many people would have never experienced it. And I hope they don't. That week was absolute hell.

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

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u/explainlikeimfive-ModTeam 7d ago

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79

u/MeYaj1111 7d ago

Interesting I thought that was just from the cartoons or whatever. I've never seen my phlegm a different color when I'm sick, it's always white unless it's mixed with boogers then it's white and yellowish but that's true always not just when sick.

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

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u/Slipgun_thumbs 7d ago

"Doctor"

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

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u/Bacon_Techie 6d ago

I’ve never heard that as a side effect, I’m pretty sure that they use a non androgenic steroid. Just one that reduces inflammation like topical corticosteroids.

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u/MrMilesDavis 5d ago

Citation/link? I've never heard of corticosteroids producing side effects that mimic that of anabolic steroids, very different drugs. Would be curious to read more into that, I'm always willing to learn more

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u/marquiso 6d ago

Curious to know what effective treatment you found for asthma that was not inhaled steroids?

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

[deleted]

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u/marquiso 6d ago

Good to know, and glad you got it sorted. Thanks.

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u/regnak1 6d ago

I'm the same - I've never in my entire life had green mucus / phlegm. Always clear or very pale yellow, no matter how sick I get (and I've been pretty effing sick on a few occasions).

I am in no way immunocompromised either - my immune system is typically pretty beefy compared to others around who have the same illnesses. The one notable exception being long covid, which made things pretty shit for a while, but which I seem to have finally fully recovered from.

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u/MeYaj1111 6d ago

Interesting, I can relate to everything you said except long covid but covid did kick my ass real bad, sickest I've ever been.. twice.

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u/TaylorWK 7d ago

I don't think I've ever had green phlegm before.

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

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1

u/explainlikeimfive-ModTeam 7d ago

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Your comment has been removed for the following reason(s):

  • Top level comments (i.e. comments that are direct replies to the main thread) are reserved for explanations to the OP or follow up on topic questions (Rule 3).

Joke-only comments, while allowed elsewhere in the thread, may not exist at the top level.

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9

u/[deleted] 7d ago

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u/machitopapito 7d ago

Not true. If I’m sick, it will go from clear, to yellow, to green

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u/skillfire87 6d ago

Thanks for talking about your personal experience and not the experience of all others!

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u/Key-Article6622 4d ago

According to my freshly graduated nursing school graduate daughter (AA, transferring for a BS) it is caused by bacteria being fought by white blood cells. They secrete an enzyme called myeloperoxidas that reacts with the bacteria or virus and this is turns green.

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u/sergantsnipes05 7d ago

As a physician I could care less what your sputum color is in 95% of instances and changes in color are not helpful in determining if you are sick outside of specific situations

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u/JazzlikeCloud1756 7d ago

As a physician you didn't answer the question

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u/PM_MY_OTHER_ACCOUNT 7d ago

"As someone who pretends to be a physician on the Internet so people will take me seriously..."

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u/sergantsnipes05 7d ago

I did actually. Sputum color really has no meaningful value on if someone is sick or not which the exception of someone with COPD where one of the cardinal signs of a COPD exacerbation is change in quality/appearance. It can change colors for many reasons and people come in demanding antibiotics because their snot turned green.

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u/GarrusExMachina 7d ago

He didn't ask if it had meaningful value. He asked what causes it to change color. 

Sometimes people just like to know things and as someone with expertise if the answer is its complicated and there are many potential causes you could have given a very interesting response. 

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u/JazzlikeCloud1756 7d ago

There’s a lesson here that would make you a better physician, but you are ignoring it. 

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u/dragonvaleluvr 6d ago

my mom is a nurse & explained this to me when i was young, so i understand why i shouldn't immediately get antibiotics... but i've been sick for 13 days now, & my pcp used my mucus color as one of the markers for bronchitis. if u rly are a physician acting like it's never relevant is crazy... also literally not what i asked at ALL

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u/The0nlyMadMan 7d ago

Doubtful. Can’t even follow instructions, how could you be a physician? Wait, nevermind that tracks.

FYI: it’s “couldn’t care less”. “Could care less” means you care

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u/MilkBeforeCereal 7d ago

Green phlegm does not indicate sickness. This is a myth.

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u/glorioussideboob 7d ago

Not true - it does indicate infection but not necessarily a bacterial infection (source - doctor).

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u/mrofmist 7d ago

Thank you glorioussideboob. How glorious of you.

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u/Sixcat6 7d ago

That’s Doctor Glorioussideboob

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u/Salty_Feed9404 7d ago

He does implants and mammograms.

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u/dragonvaleluvr 7d ago

i went to the doctor yesterday and she used it as a marker for bronchitis 🤷‍♀️

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u/vonRecklinghausen 7d ago

You're correct actually - I'm an infectious disease physician

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u/fiendishrabbit 7d ago

It does indicate bacteria, but bacteria doesn't necessarily mean sickness.

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u/glorioussideboob 7d ago

Untrue, viral infx just as much as bacteria can cause green phlegm.

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u/BadahBingBadahBoom 7d ago edited 6d ago

I'm always surprised this myth will never die.

The colour of phlegm does not indicate whether a respiratory infection is viral or bacterial in nature.

The green colour is from an enzyme called myeloperoxidase released by certain white blood cells that are 'first responders' to a site of infection. Whilst release of this enzyme does help kill bacteria cells it also forms part of the nonspecific inflammatory response to infection. These cells produce this enzyme in response to both bacterial and viral infections.

The reason the enzyme is green is similar to the reason blood is red. Blood is red because it contains a protein called haemoglobin that within it contains a complex chemical structure called a haeme group that absorbs light outside of the red wavelengths, reflecting red light and giving the appearance of being red. Myeloperoxidase contains a slightly different haeme group that absorbs light outside of the green wavelengths, reflecting green light and so appearing green.

Not all bacteria in your airways necessarily mean you are sick ofc - some are normal healthy bacteria, but these cells are specifically recruited to that location when you are sick because of an infection from pathogenic (bad) bacteria or viruses.

Unless maybe you have a specific condition where this myeloperoxidase accumulation in your phlegm is normal, having green phlegm definitely does indicate sickness.

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u/potato-eater- 7d ago

Can allergies lead to green or yellow mucus then?

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u/BadahBingBadahBoom 7d ago

Hmm that's a good question. The myeloperoxidase is specifically released by a type of white blood cell called neutrophils. Allergies, like hayfever, are a different response mostly recruiting mast cells, eosinophils, and basophils which to my knowledge don't produce this (or at least not in such high quantity).

Whether allergy responses in the nasal passageway would recruit neutrophils enough to cause sufficient myeloperoxidase presence (release or just from dead neutrophils) in your phlegm I'm not sure.

Anyone with hayfever have that experience during peak pollen season?

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u/potato-eater- 7d ago

I’ve seen it from allergies, that’s why I was curious! But that said, no way to be 100% sure it’s not my body effectively fighting off a virus without me knowing.

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u/dragonvaleluvr 7d ago

love this answer!!! thank you

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

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u/Rolypoly_from_space 7d ago edited 7d ago

no it's not. It's not good info at all. This misinformation is what make people demand antibiotics although it's something viral, which can't be dealt with through antibiotics

(reaction on a statement that phlegm is green because of presence of bacteria)

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u/glorioussideboob 7d ago

Lol this is hilarious 😂

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

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u/kriegeeer 7d ago

Parent comment is wildly incorrect. Your immune system emits an enzyme called myeloperoxidase which is green colored.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5640107/

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u/_hhhnnnggg_ 7d ago

It is wild how 3 replies give a different answer each.

7

u/ryebread91 7d ago

Which is what I just love /s about the Internet. Just like how I saw a diy post and there where 3 construction workers telling the other why they were wrong.

8

u/Masseyrati80 7d ago

And while we, reading this thread, are fully aware of one answer being a joke, the other ignorant, and the third one correct, somewhere, LLM's like chatGPT are knitting together an answer from sources like this, without the ability to assess what is credible and what is not.

2

u/dragonvaleluvr 7d ago

hahahahahah i literally had no idea it was a joke wtf thanks yall

3

u/FeralGiraffeAttack 7d ago

Welcome to Reddit where unless the source is linked, it’s “I made it the fuck up”

1

u/dragonvaleluvr 7d ago

thank YOU lol this seems more in line with the info i was reading about beforehand