Pickssuch

Pickssuch is a neologism used in information studies and online discourse to describe a deliberate selection strategy that prioritizes items matching a predefined pattern or category while excluding disconfirming items. The term is used across domains such as data curation, social media analysis, and rhetorical critique, where researchers or practitioners aim to highlight a particular narrative or feature set.

Origin and usage: The exact origin of pickssuch is uncertain; it has appeared in speculative discussions online during the late 2010s and early 2020s to name a recognizable practice rather than a formal method. It is generally understood as an evaluative label rather than a technical algorithm, though it can describe both human and algorithmic behavior.

Method and examples: In practice, pickssuch can take the form of filters, selection criteria, or sampling rules that produce a non-representative subset. For example, a political analysis might cite only posts that support a viewpoint while ignoring posts that contradict it. In data science, a dataset might be curated by selecting only evidence that confirms a hypothesis, thereby enabling selective inference.

Impact and critique: Critics argue that pickssuch fosters cherry-picking and confirmation bias, undermining reliability and transparency. Proponents may view it as a pragmatic heuristic when resources are constrained or when a clearly defined scope is necessary.

See also: cherry-picking, selection bias, data curation, sampling bias.