@wildgrass saidThe problem with science is that it has been poisoned by psychotic greed for money and profits. There are conflicts of interest everywhere, news sources endlessly spewing mostly half-truths and propaganda by those with connections, and the silencing or ridicule of those truly honest scientists who have little money and no connections. One cannot trust anything anymore and it's becoming more and more difficult to find honest truth about many important issues.
Things are very quiet in the science forum these days. Why? Is it the constant questioning of established truths like the shape of Earth or the existence of subterranean human-like reptiles that has beaten down the search for new knowledge?
that's my theory anyway.
25 Apr 21
@bunnyknight saidWe have the problem that a capitalistic meme invaded both the funding of science and the reporting of scientific results.
The problem with science is that it has been poisoned by psychotic greed for money and profits. There are conflicts of interest everywhere, news sources endlessly spewing mostly half-truths and propaganda by those with connections, and the silencing or ridicule of those truly honest scientists who have little money and no connections. One cannot trust anything anymore and it's becoming more and more difficult to find honest truth about many important issues.
Results need to show some "techno-economic" value. That is: Science should be the vehicle to make money. The reporting does the same, even very far fetched "future applications" are put in the headline instead of the sheer joy of finding things out (I borrow here from Feynman).
@sonhouse saidAnti-science was way before Trump. Think flat earth, and creationism. Social media is a swamp infested with alligators. Stupid people believed in Nostradamus, astrology and zombies. People like MB have settled in here and driven away the grounded folk who like to talk about real stuff.
@Ponderable
"capatalistic Meme''= Donald Trump.
The powerful few (the 1% and their global corporations and media) are achieving their goals of silencing knowledge and infantilising consumers. It's not just the planet being destroyed.
26 Apr 21
@bunnyknight saidI think you hit on trust, which is really important. Scientists are not public figures, and non-scientists cannot easily digest the primary literature and understand the caveats of the research. The news sources are awful at distilling the information into layman's terms without spinning it or dumbing it down to the point where it no longer makes sense.
The problem with science is that it has been poisoned by psychotic greed for money and profits. There are conflicts of interest everywhere, news sources endlessly spewing mostly half-truths and propaganda by those with connections, and the silencing or ridicule of those truly honest scientists who have little money and no connections. One cannot trust anything anymore and it's becoming more and more difficult to find honest truth about many important issues.
Now - how to fix it?
27 Apr 21
@wildgrass saidThe simple answer would be: educate the masses.
I think you hit on trust, which is really important. Scientists are not public figures, and non-scientists cannot easily digest the primary literature and understand the caveats of the research. The news sources are awful at distilling the information into layman's terms without spinning it or dumbing it down to the point where it no longer makes sense.
Now - how to fix it?
However there si a limit to the power of education, especially if people are used to edutainement. Here we do have the problem of balancing motivation (we want people to want understand) with hard work (some concepts aren't really suited to comic representation).
28 Apr 21
@wildgrass saidStill upset about that bet you lost?
Things are very quiet in the science forum these days. Why? Is it the constant questioning of established truths like the shape of Earth or the existence of subterranean human-like reptiles that has beaten down the search for new knowledge?
that's my theory anyway.
You lost. Nobody forced you to make that bet.
@metal-brain saidOh, go away. Get out of the Science forum, you don't have to spout your inane nonsense everywhere on the site.
Still upset about that bet you lost?
You lost. Nobody forced you to make that bet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T4yRzesgKM
@Metal-Brain
Wow, you actually think YOU have something to offer the science forum.
You have shown yourself to be nothing but an attention seeking troll many times over.
28 Apr 21
@sonhouse saidYou don't dispute some vaccines are gene therapy.
@Metal-Brain
Wow, you actually think YOU have something to offer the science forum.
You have shown yourself to be nothing but an attention seeking troll many times over.
I had that to offer.
03 May 21
@bunnyknight saidI think you're conflating a few things here. News sources are not science. While I agree that scientific jargon can be inaccessible to most, consensus building is active and alive and well in the scientific community. It's unfortunate that the public trust in the scientific method has been eroded.
The problem with science is that it has been poisoned by psychotic greed for money and profits. There are conflicts of interest everywhere, news sources endlessly spewing mostly half-truths and propaganda by those with connections, and the silencing or ridicule of those truly honest scientists who have little money and no connections. One cannot trust anything anymore and it's becoming more and more difficult to find honest truth about many important issues.
How do we fix it?
03 May 21
@ponderable saidAt the very least educating the decision makers. The base of knowledge continues to grow and it becomes increasing more difficult to be knowledeable in these areas. But people (most importantly civic leaders and politicians) should possess the ability to synthesize the societal implications of new scientific discoveries.
The simple answer would be: educate the masses.
However there si a limit to the power of education, especially if people are used to edutainement. Here we do have the problem of balancing motivation (we want people to want understand) with hard work (some concepts aren't really suited to comic representation).