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One can design a study and publish a paper to support just-about anything. The world is full of bullshit papers with bullshit conclusions. This just adds to t

One can design a study and publish a paper to support just-about anything. The world is full of bullshit papers with bullshit conclusions. This just adds to that pile. Interacting with the real world is extremely important. Building, painting, creating art (not on a screen), camping, swimming, getting dirty, being around people, socializing, learning through experience, laughing and crying with others, etc. Any observant parent has seen the difference between kids staring at screens all day and those who have a more balanced life. I've seen it time and time again at birthday parties and such. There are kids who simply do not engage socially in the same manner when compared to others, and when you dig a bit, you learn they've been handed a screen as a substitute for parenting most of their lives. Sadly, I can already see the writing on the wall. This paper, and its bullshit conclusion, is likely going to make the rounds and be used for a range of purposes, including political.

giuliomagnifico 3y ago
You are a bit too negative and skeptical. > One can design a study and publish a paper to support just-about anything Then find and read the other papers, science is made in this way, you can make an average of the different papers but not saying that a peer-reviewed paper is "bullshit".
- robomartin 3y ago
  > Then find and read the other papers, science is made in this way I wish. Science is made based on funding and grants. Those deciding what to fund are after conclusions supporting political or business objectives. Simple example: Run a search for papers in support of all kinds of hairbrained schemes to "save the planet". Then run a search for papers explaining that this is a fantasy and we can't affect climate and other factors at a planetary scale. You'll find thousands of the first type and, maybe, a dozen, if that, of the second. Why? Is it because there is no science in support of the second perspective? No. Not even close. In fact, there's overwhelming science --even going down to basic Physics-- in support of it. However, all funding has been going towards supporting a narrative that can, in turn, support political and business strategies. A researcher who dares swim against this massive current will quickly find that driving an Uber might be the only profitable career path he/she might have left. Or, they jump into the funding river, swim with the current and have a life. Yes, sure, when I was a kid I was taught that science was this virtuous thing where facts reigned supreme. Not a little kid any more.

giuliomagnifico 3y ago

You are a bit too negative and skeptical. > One can design a study and publish a paper to support just-about anything Then find and read the other papers, science is made in this way, you can make an average of the different papers but not saying that a peer-reviewed paper is "bullshit".

robomartin 3y ago
> Then find and read the other papers, science is made in this way I wish. Science is made based on funding and grants. Those deciding what to fund are after conclusions supporting political or business objectives. Simple example: Run a search for papers in support of all kinds of hairbrained schemes to "save the planet". Then run a search for papers explaining that this is a fantasy and we can't affect climate and other factors at a planetary scale. You'll find thousands of the first type and, maybe, a dozen, if that, of the second. Why? Is it because there is no science in support of the second perspective? No. Not even close. In fact, there's overwhelming science --even going down to basic Physics-- in support of it. However, all funding has been going towards supporting a narrative that can, in turn, support political and business strategies. A researcher who dares swim against this massive current will quickly find that driving an Uber might be the only profitable career path he/she might have left. Or, they jump into the funding river, swim with the current and have a life. Yes, sure, when I was a kid I was taught that science was this virtuous thing where facts reigned supreme. Not a little kid any more.