From the anti-vaxxers to flat earthers: what makes people distrust science?

[JonC]

"From the anti-vaccine movement to the belief that the earth is flat, there seems to a growing distrust of science and institutions, and experts say it’s difficult to come up with an antidote to the erosion. A distrust in scientific institutions and conspiracy theories are nothing new."



From the anti-vaxxers to flat earthers: what makes people distrust science? - National | Globalnews.ca

 

[JonC]

How to Talk to a Science Denier

 

[Reynolds]

"From the anti-vaccine movement to the belief that the earth is flat, there seems to a growing distrust of science and institutions, and experts say it’s difficult to come up with an antidote to the erosion. A distrust in scientific institutions and conspiracy theories are nothing new."



From the anti-vaxxers to flat earthers: what makes people distrust science? - National | Globalnews.ca

Scientists lie to protect their funding.

 

[Reynolds]

How to Talk to a Science Denier

So Jon, you must be all into the "climate change" thing then.

 

[DaveXR650]

We as people are not as rational as we think we are. People use a belief as a way to enter a group and identify others as part of the group. We have an almost insurmountable urge to find a group and then try to establish ourselves and excel and maybe even lead that group. This is what happened with the mask wearing controversy. It is a great symbol because of its visibility and your position on that functions as a shorthand to identify where you will probably stand on a lot of issues. If I see someone very anti mask I can tell with good accuracy where they stand on home schooling, who they voted for, where they are on gun control, views on vaccines, critical race theory, homosexuality and so on. All from seeing where they are on masks! And people know this instinctually. The flat earthers are probably having great fellowship with on another and some are excelling and leading their group. Why should they worry whether it's true or not? Scientists do it too. A doctor may spend his days dosing patients on antibiotics that require different calculation parameters for men and women but by golly he's going to quietly go along if his association says that you can change your sex at will. He will not risk his place in his professional group. We all do it.

 

[KenH]

Seems like the flat earthers could easily prove their point - if it was true. Go to the edge and take a picture and publish it. Reminds me of Richard C. Hoagland and "The Monuments of Mars". It was fun to speculate about it but higher resolution photographs proved that there was no human face-like artificial structure on Mars.

 

[DaveXR650]

Regarding conspiracy theories, G.Gordon Liddy used to say the reason conspiracy theories aren't true is because human beings simply cannot keep their mouths shut. You cannot put together a complicated conspiracy without someone blabbing. It's not in our DNA.

 

[Two Wings]

"From the anti-vaccine movement to the belief that the earth is flat, there seems to a growing distrust of science and institutions, and experts say it’s difficult to come up with an antidote to the erosion. A distrust in scientific institutions and conspiracy theories are nothing new."



From the anti-vaxxers to flat earthers: what makes people distrust science? - National | Globalnews.ca

when the "science" allegedly tells a physician to direct his patient to "go home" rather than prescribe meds/action/both EARLY ...

well.

 

[JonC]

when the "science" allegedly tells a physician to direct his patient to "go home" rather than prescribe meds/action/both EARLY ...

well.

The science tells the physician there are several courses of actions. If a doc does not use them that's on the doc.

 

[Two Wings]

The science tells the physician there are several courses of actions. If a doc does not use them that's on the doc.

when the VAST majority of docs are giving the same first step ... go home/wait and see ... there's a problem larger than "on the doc"

As I've shared from experienced physicians ... most of 'em have no time to do their own research. That's what managed health care has done. Looking (first) to government to solve a problem results in greater problems.

 

[Revmitchell]

The science is not divorced from the scientist and political ideologues who manipulate the data.


It is incorrect to say one distrusts science. That is propaganda the far left uses. It is correct to say one doesn’t trust the scientists.

 

[Two Wings]

Here ya go, @JonC

Is this believable? Is it conspiracy? Does the source matter?

Professor: Vaccinated People Have 'Relevant Role' in Spreading COVID-19

 

[Wingman68]

Gaslighting OP. Who has time for this? Don’t validate by engaging.

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

From Galileo Galilei to Albert Einstein, why do great scientists distrust the “science” of the status quo? (Ether it is, or ether it’s not. )

 

[Reynolds]

The science is not divorced from the scientist and political ideologues who manipulate the data.


It is incorrect to say one distrusts science. That is propaganda the far left uses. It is correct to say one doesn’t trust the scientists.

Yep. Scientists almost universally interpret Science to day there is No God. Science believes from the goo, to the zoo, to you.

 

[Reynolds]

Gaslighting OP. Who has time for this? Don’t validate by engaging.

I still want to know if @JonC believes in fossil fuel driven global warming and if he believes in Macroevolution.

 

[just-want-peace]

I have never "distrusted" science as such, but since all scientists are human I've allowed for some discrepancies and/or disagreements among them!
HOWEVER, since the overt politization of covid & multitudes having different takes (polar opposite opinions maybe??) on this bug, and the gov. attempting such forceful control, just makes the whole concept of this brouhaha appear to be POLITICAL from bottom to top; a problem that should have been history within a year at most!
Yes, I pretty much trust science, but not necessarily the SCIENTIST !!
Oh! Also, whether I believe a flat earth or not means precisely zilch as to my thoughts concerning the handling of the bug by the gov''t!
Also DO NOT TRY TO USE THAT LAST STATEMENT AS LABELING ME A "FLAT EARTHER" - as one poster seems to be very adept at doing by his "assumptions"!!

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

How to Talk to a Science Denier

If you really wanted to have a meaningful discussion with a “science denier,” you would not ignorantly conflate the issue with politics and religion as this author is doing.

“[R]epublican pushback against the Mueller report”? Really? The Russian Collusion conspiracy theory has been exposed as a real Dem Progressive Left conspiracy.

And he cites religious “evolution denial” as a problem, suggesting he believes in the atheistic model.

If he can’t think of bigger threats to democracy than what he cites, clearly he has too little imagination, and a very poor understanding of the current political scene.

 

[1689Dave]

"From the anti-vaccine movement to the belief that the earth is flat, there seems to a growing distrust of science and institutions, and experts say it’s difficult to come up with an antidote to the erosion. A distrust in scientific institutions and conspiracy theories are nothing new."



From the anti-vaxxers to flat earthers: what makes people distrust science? - National | Globalnews.ca

I think an Old Testament-based Christian World View helps alleviate mistrust knowing God causes all that happens. And everyone is merely playing the score God wrote for each to follow. Coupled with knowing all things work together for good for those who love God.

 

[JonC]

I think an Old Testament-based Christian World View helps alleviate mistrust knowing God causes all that happens. And everyone is merely playing the score God wrote for each to follow. Coupled with knowing all things work together for good for those who love God.

I think you may be right. Sometimes people forget that God works through men.

It is like that illustration of the man praying to God for deliverance from a flood. He refuses the truck, the boat, the rescue helicopter wanting God to save him. When he dies and asks God why He did not deliver him from the flood God tells him He sent a truck, boat, and helicopter but the man refused all of God's help.