signal to noise ratio

The ratio of what a woman says that makes sense to what she says that makes no sense.

This ratio is generally never greater than 0.5.

Man: I think my wife was trying to tell me something, but her signal to noise ratio was too low.

by Tim McFadden August 28, 2003

signal to noise ratio

The amount of screaming one generates, in proportion to the amount of real content they are communicating.

People who grow up in empty households (often with a lot of older people) feel as though noise and signal are in direct proportion, which causes them to pump more noise in the hopes of generating more signal.

See also: catharsis

"When I asked her what her problem was, the signal-to-noise ratio was just off da meat rack !"

by handle187 October 31, 2003

noise-to-signal ratio

The proportion of irrelevant, off-topic, inflammatory, nonsensical, spammy, screaming, content-free, trolling, or otherwise useless statements to actual useful, worthwhile communication.

From the informal sense of signal to noise ratio, but inverted to emphasize the "noise".

"That discussion board used to be a great place to talk about politics, but now the noise-to-signal ratio is through the roof!"

"Typically, a demagogue actually benefits from nonsensical, contradictory and inflammatory statements and agendas. Ironically, the higher the noise-to-signal ratio, the more effective they become since any useful information would actually rein them in."
(adapted from Raul and JonG)

by Grinning Cat October 10, 2012