3 ms·

I think this theory is missing a component: the erosion of respect for experts. It at least seems like pre-internet, when people didn't understand the world ar

I think this theory is missing a component: the erosion of respect for experts. It at least seems like pre-internet, when people didn't understand the world around them they would default to trusting what scientists/doctors/researchers told them was true. But today, we've gone so far down the disinformation "fake news" rabbit hole that a large portion of the general public, at least in America, just straight up doesn't trust what actual experts have to say on many topics.

sebmellen 6y ago
This is not just because of disinformation though. Now, it's easier than ever to second-guess your doctor and any other expert (and I know because I've done this, and even been right on occasion). For example, every time someone worries about their health, they can sort through all possible diagnoses online, and convince themselves they have a certain sickness just because the symptoms match. A doctor will use Bayesian reasoning and conclude the problem is really a very common infection or something, but when the untrained mind is overwhelmed with information, Occam's Razor doesn't hold. The same goes for everything else. Information is dangerous for those who don't know how to reason about it carefully and properly, which is most of us, in most fields.
autokad 6y ago
well the experts were saying in March, 2020 that masks do not work and are not recommended. I was basically attacked at work as being xenophobic and insular for saying if we are going out we should wear a mask. so where were your experts on that one? sure f*#!ed up that one.
- webmaven 6y ago
  > well the experts were saying in March, 2020 that masks do not work and are not recommended. As I recall, at the time experts were saying "Don't recommend that everyone wear a mask, we have a shortage and need to save them for health care workers."
  - Schiendelman 6y ago
    No, they said they didn’t work. They lied to get people to stop buying them. Look one level up thread.
will_pseudonym 6y ago
Experts haven't exactly done themselves any favors. -------- "Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus" U.S. Surgeon General, February 29, 2020 [0] -------- "Stigma, to be honest, is more dangerous than the virus itself. Let's really underline that. Stigma is the most dangerous enemy." Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of the World Health Organization, March 2nd, 2020 [1] -------- Have the experts always been like this, and it's simply more obvious now that the world is much more interconnected? Or has the quality of experts gone down dramatically? Both? [0] https://twitter.com/Surgeon_General/status/1233725785283932160 https://twitter.com/Surgeon_General/status/12337257852839321... [1] https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/transcripts/who-audio-emergencies-coronavirus-press-conference-final-02mar2020.pdf https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/transcr...
- jussij 6y ago
  I was very surprised to read your quote attributed to the U.S. Surgeon General, as it doe sound like a rather stupid thing to be saying. So I Goggle it and sure enough he did say as much. However, you did not post the full statement which means the context is lost. With the full quote and the resulting context the statement makes perfect sense: Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!
  - will_pseudonym 6y ago
    With the full quote, the statement not to buy masks makes sense. There is no context that "They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus" makes sense outside of lying to the public, or gross incompetence.

sebmellen 6y ago

This is not just because of disinformation though. Now, it's easier than ever to second-guess your doctor and any other expert (and I know because I've done this, and even been right on occasion). For example, every time someone worries about their health, they can sort through all possible diagnoses online, and convince themselves they have a certain sickness just because the symptoms match. A doctor will use Bayesian reasoning and conclude the problem is really a very common infection or something, but when the untrained mind is overwhelmed with information, Occam's Razor doesn't hold. The same goes for everything else. Information is dangerous for those who don't know how to reason about it carefully and properly, which is most of us, in most fields.

autokad 6y ago

well the experts were saying in March, 2020 that masks do not work and are not recommended. I was basically attacked at work as being xenophobic and insular for saying if we are going out we should wear a mask. so where were your experts on that one? sure f*#!ed up that one.

webmaven 6y ago
> well the experts were saying in March, 2020 that masks do not work and are not recommended. As I recall, at the time experts were saying "Don't recommend that everyone wear a mask, we have a shortage and need to save them for health care workers."
- Schiendelman 6y ago
  No, they said they didn’t work. They lied to get people to stop buying them. Look one level up thread.

will_pseudonym 6y ago

Experts haven't exactly done themselves any favors. -------- "Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus" U.S. Surgeon General, February 29, 2020 [0] -------- "Stigma, to be honest, is more dangerous than the virus itself. Let's really underline that. Stigma is the most dangerous enemy." Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of the World Health Organization, March 2nd, 2020 [1] -------- Have the experts always been like this, and it's simply more obvious now that the world is much more interconnected? Or has the quality of experts gone down dramatically? Both? [0] https://twitter.com/Surgeon_General/status/1233725785283932160 https://twitter.com/Surgeon_General/status/12337257852839321... [1] https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/transcripts/who-audio-emergencies-coronavirus-press-conference-final-02mar2020.pdf https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/transcr...

jussij 6y ago
I was very surprised to read your quote attributed to the U.S. Surgeon General, as it doe sound like a rather stupid thing to be saying. So I Goggle it and sure enough he did say as much. However, you did not post the full statement which means the context is lost. With the full quote and the resulting context the statement makes perfect sense: Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!
- will_pseudonym 6y ago
  With the full quote, the statement not to buy masks makes sense. There is no context that "They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus" makes sense outside of lying to the public, or gross incompetence.