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The real issue is that other members of your group have seriously damaged its credibility. If you fail to remedy that then the frustrations you describe are sur

by User23 5y ago

The real issue is that other members of your group have seriously damaged its credibility. If you fail to remedy that then the frustrations you describe are sure to increase. Sure it’s ego-preserving to instead blame the rubes and look down on them, but it’s also counterproductive. The “uneducated“ masses may not understand the scientist’s field, but they easily comprehend condescension and contempt and it amounts to efficient anti-persuasion. Also plenty of non-scientists have considerable subject matter expertise in bullshitting. They may not understand the science, but they know when a scientist is communicating with the intent to persuade rather than inform. Then of course there’s the possibility that an inability to explain something to lay people indicates a deficiency in the scientist’s understanding. Feynman certainly thought so and he was probably the most publicly trusted scientist of his generation. His QED[1] is a shining example of explaining a very difficult subject to the lay audience. Edit: Einstein is another example of a publicly trusted scientist who made every effort to clearly and completely explain his work to lay people. In his Relativity[2] he mostly succeeds, and where he falls short he acknowledges it and still communicates the concepts of general relativity pretty well. [1] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5552.QED https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5552.QED [2] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15852.Relativity https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15852.Relativity

nautilius 5y ago
I think you're overestimating your importance, and for me that notion is indeed the crux of the matter, that ultimately also leads to QAnon, etc: It's a misconception that scientists gather in their ivory towers and spend weeks and months scheming, how they can rub it in to the plebes that they are smarter. Most are not interested in that, and, I'd say, all have something better to do. There are many, much easier, and much better ways to get into a position where you can live out your inferiority complexes. You think that's the motivation of someone going through grad school, doing a PhD, a couple of PostDocs, then tenure track, etc. I admire Feynman and Einstein as the next guy, but they lived in an academic environment that is vastly different from what we have today.

by User23 5y ago

nautilius 5y ago

I think you're overestimating your importance, and for me that notion is indeed the crux of the matter, that ultimately also leads to QAnon, etc: It's a misconception that scientists gather in their ivory towers and spend weeks and months scheming, how they can rub it in to the plebes that they are smarter. Most are not interested in that, and, I'd say, all have something better to do. There are many, much easier, and much better ways to get into a position where you can live out your inferiority complexes. You think that's the motivation of someone going through grad school, doing a PhD, a couple of PostDocs, then tenure track, etc. I admire Feynman and Einstein as the next guy, but they lived in an academic environment that is vastly different from what we have today.