3 ms·

Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries

2 points by kawera 2y ago

ggm 2y ago
You know, I think this is a worrysome thing. But that said, the crisis in reproduction, the volume of peer review jacking, publication hijacking and the publications crisis in tenure probably play as much of a part in my concerns about science, as this. What I continue to be amazed by is how selective people's memories are. Sure, the WHO said "no need to mask up" because the dominant source of information was based on mistaken science about infection risk from airborne particles. But the people who got this reversed, They were .. Scientists. Science did the feedback-loop thing and the WHO changed it's stance in the light of scientific evidence. Those Epidemiologists were (in my books) Scientists. The science behind genetics informs the lineage work. The design of the spike protein targetting antiviral vaccines, is science. The supply chains which scaled the production up worldwide, depended on science. So the net decline in trust in science because of "the WHO" includes a story about the WHO reflecting change in science. Science saved my life. I totally don't get why because of third-hand, commentary on science from ill informed autodidacts, we now should distrust science to the extent we do. Oh right. Hockey sticks.
- nvfs6 2y ago
  Should be seen in the context of how the Attention Economy works. Content keeps exploding but the pool of Attention does not grow at the same rate. Herbert Simon said a Info Explosion causes a Poverty of Attention when describing an Attention Economy. If Too much money chases too little goods in the market we get Inflation. And when we get into hyperinflation scenarios the chimp troupe has no defence through individual action. This is a systemic problem and requires the invention of a Central Bank to take control of money printing and targeting a healthy inflation rate. In the Attention Economy there is no Central Bank. Just platforms. And you can thank them for not monitoring the inflation rate.
trimethylpurine 2y ago
The more interesting research to do now would be on how those surveyed, as people untrained in any actual science, define what it means to agree with "scientists." Most people think anything published in a science journal is science, while science has repeatedly proven otherwise.

2 points by kawera 2y ago

ggm 2y ago

You know, I think this is a worrysome thing. But that said, the crisis in reproduction, the volume of peer review jacking, publication hijacking and the publications crisis in tenure probably play as much of a part in my concerns about science, as this. What I continue to be amazed by is how selective people's memories are. Sure, the WHO said "no need to mask up" because the dominant source of information was based on mistaken science about infection risk from airborne particles. But the people who got this reversed, They were .. Scientists. Science did the feedback-loop thing and the WHO changed it's stance in the light of scientific evidence. Those Epidemiologists were (in my books) Scientists. The science behind genetics informs the lineage work. The design of the spike protein targetting antiviral vaccines, is science. The supply chains which scaled the production up worldwide, depended on science. So the net decline in trust in science because of "the WHO" includes a story about the WHO reflecting change in science. Science saved my life. I totally don't get why because of third-hand, commentary on science from ill informed autodidacts, we now should distrust science to the extent we do. Oh right. Hockey sticks.

nvfs6 2y ago
Should be seen in the context of how the Attention Economy works. Content keeps exploding but the pool of Attention does not grow at the same rate. Herbert Simon said a Info Explosion causes a Poverty of Attention when describing an Attention Economy. If Too much money chases too little goods in the market we get Inflation. And when we get into hyperinflation scenarios the chimp troupe has no defence through individual action. This is a systemic problem and requires the invention of a Central Bank to take control of money printing and targeting a healthy inflation rate. In the Attention Economy there is no Central Bank. Just platforms. And you can thank them for not monitoring the inflation rate.

trimethylpurine 2y ago

The more interesting research to do now would be on how those surveyed, as people untrained in any actual science, define what it means to agree with "scientists." Most people think anything published in a science journal is science, while science has repeatedly proven otherwise.