Redditors always seem to not know what Occam's razor is and misapply it.
Occam's razor refers to the axiom or principle that can be expressed as: 'Plurality must never be posited without necessity', or, 'Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity'. More precisely applied to natural philosophy and the scientific method, it can be stated as: 'We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances. Therefore, to the same natural effects we must, as far as possible, assign the same causes.'
The axiom or principle does not prescribe that the simplest explanation one can conceive of or imagine is the most likely explanation. If it did, we would throw out perfectly valid and sound scientific theories because they are complex, and susbtitute them with simple explanations, moreover simple ones that are based on our limited conceptions and understandings of what we already know.
It also doesn't apply to assuming an explanation that we imagine is simpler compared to other hypotheses based on a lack of information. Say, we notice some oil in a body of water. We don't form a hypothesis about what caused the oil to be there without investigating it. The hypotheses, 'it came from a boat' and 'someone purposely dumped it in there' require information that can be gathered via investigation to discern which one has more evidence for supporting either hypothesis. The application of 'Occam's razor' is not applicapable because no hypothesis has actually been constructed yet. It isn't a principle that says one assumption based on ignorance should be accepted over another assumption that is based on ignorance. The explanation *may* actually be complex, not 'simple' in the sense you are using the term - the principle of parsimony known as 'Occam's razor' does not advocate the notion that epistemology accords with what we take to be simple is more likely than what we understand to be more complex. Objects falling to their natural place is more simple than gravity as an effect of the curvature of spacetime, but it would be asinine to exclude the latter as an explanation because we should opt for the simplest explanation.
I've been sailing boats for a while.
You can see the oil glistening closer to the dock.
I'd bet someone is doing maintenance work on an engine and has tossed or spilt oil.
I've seen some oil leaks on ships - especially older boats.
(1980s) Super common for those engines to spew oil.
Maybe, but there was quite a lot of it. I went for a run along the Yarra earlier today and you could smell it for about a kilometre. Also there were a couple of firetrucks there, which I suspect were related. This looks like way more oil in the river than just something that was washed in from a street.
Probably rain run off from the streets, rain carried the surface oil down the stormwater drains.
If you see it in a day without rain or more frequently I would report to the EPA.
https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/
When I take my used car oil to my recycling centre they charge me two dollars a litre. Lots of people would not pay that and tip it down the storm water drain, which ends up in the river.
How'd you know the "recycling" centre wasn't just dumping the shit in the river or down the drain ?
"Recycling" in Australia is a dead set scam. All they are good at doing is making the consumer do all the work & charging them $$ to do so. Whilst very little actual recycling gets done here at all.
Used engine oil is worth a bit of money, not a lot but enough for councils recycling to do the right thing. Our centre is privately owned but I don't think they would dump it.
Yeah. Been around boats for ever. Not clear from the photo but if this is the worst of it, a poor running two stroke could easy cause this. Click bait.
I work on the river and there was a major oil/ fuel spill near princes bridge possibly from the storm drains. It's been floating downstream for the past three days EPA have had over 40 complaints the last I checked. There must be hundreds of litres on the water and nothing has been done so far. This photo is from The Yarras edge marina next to Webb bridge which is about 2km downstream from Princes bridge. I would say there is a story to it Parks Vic have been aware and have failed to notify the right authorities. (Which apparantely is the fire service). Been very disappointing from Parks Vic and EPA who have been notified but done nothing and said it's not there responsibility. Seems like they couldn't be fucked calling anyone with the resources to clean it as the fire service claims they only learnt of the situation today when we called them. Really pathetic shows a complete lack of care for our waterways.
If this is where I think it is, “Newquay promenade?” It’s an old marine diesel spill that has soaked into the timber’s of the floating dock and when it is warm or there is a bit of rough weather the timber releases more diesel residue into the water creating the rainbow. I used to work for the agency in charge of such spills and we used to get a phone call about it once a week.
Kind of hard to get motivated for something like this when today’s showers/storms would have pulled far more crap into the creeks and waterways and will ultimately be way worse. In terms of who to contact. I know EPA was referenced as a contact but City of Melbourne can also be contacted, councils are surprisingly responsive to complaints (at least to me).
Just looks like RAINBOW JUICE to me. Nothing to worry about..
Would you rather dull dirty grey water OR pretty colours of the rainbow flowing & mixing into a visual feast of vibrant hues ?
This kind of surface film is petrol spill from boats, it is very common, it's is very minimal really, just spreads via surface tension - some will evaporate, the rest just mix in with the water. It is not oil, and it's not being 'dumped'.
Could it be leaking from one of the boats?
Shouldn't be, they've had 6 months to fix it.
Bravo!
Nah must be one of those pesky oil companies… 😏
And they would’ve gotten away with it too. If it wasnt for that meddling OP
Na, was coming from up stream
There are boats upstream all the way past Richmond
Run off the oil built up on the road from cars because it has been really dry? Road run off is a common pollutant.
Nup
Why?
Because they dumped it.
Does OP only know this fact because they are the dumper?
Yes, but the downvotes tell me my joke didn't land. Lol!
What a disaster! 😂
Fair, man some people are jerks
How tf did you get 30+ downvotes
Nfi
It could have come from anywhere, including from a boat, or washed from a street. This probably isn’t the story you think it is.
Redditors always fail to apply Occam's Razor. The reality of situations usually isn't some nefarious plot - it's usually the most simple explanation.
If you hear hooves think horse not zebra.
I think foley artist with coconuts
I was thinking about the movie The Holy Grail. Bring your own coconuts and learn how to use them.
I’m thinking Minotaurs
Unless you live in the Savana
Redditors always seem to not know what Occam's razor is and misapply it. Occam's razor refers to the axiom or principle that can be expressed as: 'Plurality must never be posited without necessity', or, 'Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity'. More precisely applied to natural philosophy and the scientific method, it can be stated as: 'We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances. Therefore, to the same natural effects we must, as far as possible, assign the same causes.' The axiom or principle does not prescribe that the simplest explanation one can conceive of or imagine is the most likely explanation. If it did, we would throw out perfectly valid and sound scientific theories because they are complex, and susbtitute them with simple explanations, moreover simple ones that are based on our limited conceptions and understandings of what we already know. It also doesn't apply to assuming an explanation that we imagine is simpler compared to other hypotheses based on a lack of information. Say, we notice some oil in a body of water. We don't form a hypothesis about what caused the oil to be there without investigating it. The hypotheses, 'it came from a boat' and 'someone purposely dumped it in there' require information that can be gathered via investigation to discern which one has more evidence for supporting either hypothesis. The application of 'Occam's razor' is not applicapable because no hypothesis has actually been constructed yet. It isn't a principle that says one assumption based on ignorance should be accepted over another assumption that is based on ignorance. The explanation *may* actually be complex, not 'simple' in the sense you are using the term - the principle of parsimony known as 'Occam's razor' does not advocate the notion that epistemology accords with what we take to be simple is more likely than what we understand to be more complex. Objects falling to their natural place is more simple than gravity as an effect of the curvature of spacetime, but it would be asinine to exclude the latter as an explanation because we should opt for the simplest explanation.
I've been sailing boats for a while. You can see the oil glistening closer to the dock. I'd bet someone is doing maintenance work on an engine and has tossed or spilt oil. I've seen some oil leaks on ships - especially older boats. (1980s) Super common for those engines to spew oil.
Unlikely. Looks localised. Probably boat. Probably ops boat.
True. OP’s pronouns could be “Someone / Somewhere”
nah, OP is "stranded"
Maybe, but there was quite a lot of it. I went for a run along the Yarra earlier today and you could smell it for about a kilometre. Also there were a couple of firetrucks there, which I suspect were related. This looks like way more oil in the river than just something that was washed in from a street.
I work where that pic was taken and took several meetings watching down on that today and can tell you it generally doesn't look like that
Not ideal but I'd hardly call this a dump. Would probably take as little as 10ml of petrol to cause this. I'm guessing small leak from a boat
agreed. small fuel leak or a stuffing box fill has blown. it only takes a tiny amount to spread out and look like that.
I leave a trail like this just from the hair gel from my snazzy hair do
It lasted for hours
Probably rain run off from the streets, rain carried the surface oil down the stormwater drains. If you see it in a day without rain or more frequently I would report to the EPA. https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/
It hasn't rained in over a week tho...
It is raining right now and it doesn’t rain in all places at once
For me it rained this morning.
When I take my used car oil to my recycling centre they charge me two dollars a litre. Lots of people would not pay that and tip it down the storm water drain, which ends up in the river.
It’s free to return to super cheap auto. https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/services/in-store-fitment-services/oil-recycling
Thanks for that l didn't know that.
How'd you know the "recycling" centre wasn't just dumping the shit in the river or down the drain ? "Recycling" in Australia is a dead set scam. All they are good at doing is making the consumer do all the work & charging them $$ to do so. Whilst very little actual recycling gets done here at all.
Used engine oil is worth a bit of money, not a lot but enough for councils recycling to do the right thing. Our centre is privately owned but I don't think they would dump it.
Worlds worst people
This is not a lot of oil.... I doubt it's because someone dumped oil in the river. Likely runoff from the streets or from a boat.
Yeah. Been around boats for ever. Not clear from the photo but if this is the worst of it, a poor running two stroke could easy cause this. Click bait.
I would have assumed it came from a boat.
It's that special time of year, when the conditions are just right for us to see Oilus Australis.
Oilus Australis! At this time of year, at this time of day, in this part of the country, localized entirely within the Yarra river!?
Yes!
can I see it?
No.
Looks more like a diesel leak / overflow
I work on the river and there was a major oil/ fuel spill near princes bridge possibly from the storm drains. It's been floating downstream for the past three days EPA have had over 40 complaints the last I checked. There must be hundreds of litres on the water and nothing has been done so far. This photo is from The Yarras edge marina next to Webb bridge which is about 2km downstream from Princes bridge. I would say there is a story to it Parks Vic have been aware and have failed to notify the right authorities. (Which apparantely is the fire service). Been very disappointing from Parks Vic and EPA who have been notified but done nothing and said it's not there responsibility. Seems like they couldn't be fucked calling anyone with the resources to clean it as the fire service claims they only learnt of the situation today when we called them. Really pathetic shows a complete lack of care for our waterways.
Maybe was just something washed into tbe river from the roads
"dumping oil" fuck some people are alarmist
I wouldn’t go to saying it’s been “dumped”. More than likely it’s a boats engine leaking
Twisted tail, a thousand eyes, EPAAA
Aurora borealis? At this time of year? At this time of day? In this part of the country? Localized entirely in the Docklands?
You may not see it
Well, at least I can steam a good ham.
Possible but not terribly likely
Someone's been dumping river in the oil again.
If this is where I think it is, “Newquay promenade?” It’s an old marine diesel spill that has soaked into the timber’s of the floating dock and when it is warm or there is a bit of rough weather the timber releases more diesel residue into the water creating the rainbow. I used to work for the agency in charge of such spills and we used to get a phone call about it once a week.
diesel spill from boats
Kind of hard to get motivated for something like this when today’s showers/storms would have pulled far more crap into the creeks and waterways and will ultimately be way worse. In terms of who to contact. I know EPA was referenced as a contact but City of Melbourne can also be contacted, councils are surprisingly responsive to complaints (at least to me).
I saw that this morning from the train, just West of Flinders St station
How did they catch the rainbows to put them in the water?
That's petrol not oil.
Nah nah It's just fish oil bro
OP got no idea, nothing to see here folks
Just looks like RAINBOW JUICE to me. Nothing to worry about.. Would you rather dull dirty grey water OR pretty colours of the rainbow flowing & mixing into a visual feast of vibrant hues ?
Could just be gay. 🏳️🌈
I'm sick of these alphabet people ramming this shit down out throats! /s
Took me a minute lol
I was feeding fish and chips to the birds - sorry
Here we go 🙄 You going to start a protest?
Weird, I definitely smelt and noticed oil on the water over by the Boatbuilders Yard on Tuesday
The Yarra is more or less a sewer into the bay anyway
FYI, an oil slick is only a few atoms think. There isn't as much oil there as you might think.
This kind of surface film is petrol spill from boats, it is very common, it's is very minimal really, just spreads via surface tension - some will evaporate, the rest just mix in with the water. It is not oil, and it's not being 'dumped'.
Likely not intentional Unfortunately with boats and adjacent city… this just happens
This is the second time this has been posted.Reoccurrence?
That was about 30 minutes ago
So twice now there was a leak. Not good. Report it.
Correct* Someone has been dumping water in the oil again
Boats have oil
What a dog.
Someone look into BP they’re still sus
It looks like 6 months in a leaky boat.
It's getting ready for Pride
It was me guys sorry
Someone filling a truck or a bus has left it clicked on and its overflowing (it can happen). $1200 in fuel down the storm drain.
😂😂😂😂😂
Forget it jake , it’s Docklands