4 ms·

I'd like to say that "everyone already knows this", but this particular topic is one that seems to be a poster child for people believing what fits their politi

I'd like to say that "everyone already knows this", but this particular topic is one that seems to be a poster child for people believing what fits their politics instead of what fits reality, unfortunately. So it's always good to see it getting more exposure. I honestly don't get what's in it for the people pushing bad science related to social-justice issues (excluding those who are actually part of the industry of seminars around same). This is a problem that many people want to solve, and the bad science just makes it _harder_ to solve these problems, and lessens support for the movement to do so.

closed 9y ago
> I honestly don't get what's in it for the people pushing bad science related to social-justice issues as a first step, I would try to imagine the situations where you might produce bad science, in the name confirming something about an issue important to you. (I think most researchers have felt the pull of striking results, and that little twinge of pain from realizing they might have been produced by a bug).
- wutbrodo 9y ago
  The fact that I completely don't understand it is because it's something I very much wouldn't, and don't, do. I tend to confuse people I'm arguing with about any issue that ends up being politically polarizing, because from their perspective, my worldview is a muddled mix of things. What's actually happening is that I don't conflate facts with values, and I try to only believe facts that are true, instead of taking my beliefs wholesale from the political package that makes me feel good. By the way, I'm not talking about researchers here, I'm talking about people _pushing_ bad science. Bad science happens, and it's not even the fault of scientists lots of the time. Pushing it into policy before it's good science is the phenomenon I'm complaining about.

closed 9y ago

> I honestly don't get what's in it for the people pushing bad science related to social-justice issues as a first step, I would try to imagine the situations where you might produce bad science, in the name confirming something about an issue important to you. (I think most researchers have felt the pull of striking results, and that little twinge of pain from realizing they might have been produced by a bug).

wutbrodo 9y ago
The fact that I completely don't understand it is because it's something I very much wouldn't, and don't, do. I tend to confuse people I'm arguing with about any issue that ends up being politically polarizing, because from their perspective, my worldview is a muddled mix of things. What's actually happening is that I don't conflate facts with values, and I try to only believe facts that are true, instead of taking my beliefs wholesale from the political package that makes me feel good. By the way, I'm not talking about researchers here, I'm talking about people _pushing_ bad science. Bad science happens, and it's not even the fault of scientists lots of the time. Pushing it into policy before it's good science is the phenomenon I'm complaining about.