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Friday, November 16. 2007

The need for Science Critics

The MSM is famously poor with science reporting. A new member of our blogroll, The Frontal Cortex, says we need Science Critics - with a good example of junk "science." 

Indeed we do need journalists who understand the mysteries of statistics, science, and math. Otherwise, they just take whatever they're fed at face value - assuming that if it's "scientific", it must be true.

More on this general subject to come...

Posted by The Barrister in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 15:55 | Comments (7) | Trackbacks (0)

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I have long claimed that the reason that news reports about airplane crashes are always impossibly wrong is that they're not even trying to get it right. Technical detail, my theory is, turns off women. Every report has to hold the interest of women, and will be rewritten until it does.

Having lived with this suspicion for a long time now, I find that it applies to almost everything reported.

If women won't be interested, it won't be reported. Buy yourself a copy of Aviation Week.

The difference between the sexes is not ability but what holds their respective interests.
#1 Ron Hardin (Link) on 2007-11-16 17:56 (Reply)
The MSM is in the entertainment business. Whether it's pre-scripted questions for political candidates or Paris Hilton's latest ice-cream cone, the point is to garner ratings.

You'll only find good reporting where the consumer is the customer; for the MSM, the customers are advertisers and the product is consumer-minutes.
#2 JimDesu on 2007-11-16 19:47 (Reply)
Global warming is a prime example. I don't know about you, but in my day scientific theory was not based on consensus.
#3 Dave on 2007-11-16 22:14 (Reply)
Do scientists have a board of ethics?
#4 Dave on 2007-11-16 22:39 (Reply)
God forbid. They would be totally political.
#4.1 BD on 2007-11-16 22:48 (Reply)
Very true. One characteristic that is seemingly lacking in our society today is the spirit of correction. In other words, the capability to accept defeat or to admit being wrong. Being right is considered powerful, and being wrong is percieved as weakness.

It has had a profound effect on the scientific community. Take the global warming situation for example. The financial rewards and prestige are great for those who follow the company line. I would bet that many scientists have doubts, yet most are afraid to speak out for fear of having their funding sources cut off. Others are simply captivated by the allure of recognition.

To me, failure is the fundamental foundation of science. Yet in the case of global warming, there seems to be little desire or motivation to even test the theory. If it looks like a duck.....

In truth, there is much to gain from failure. Strength of character and perserverance are but a few. However, there are no benefits for those who are always right.

Iraq is another example. As difficult as it is to believe, it appears that the Democrats have invested in defeat. How tragic for them and the American people?

To be honest, there are times when it is virtually impossible to hold back my contempt. Yet, I am charged by God to pray for them. My prayer is not only that their eyes be opened, but that they will have the strength of their conviction to admit their mistakes, not only for themselves, but for the good of the nation as a whole.

If that day ever comes, I pray that we will have the capacity to conduct ourselves in a dignified manner. In other words, that we will not attempt to pound them into submission. I realize that the odds are miniscule. Yet, the Bible teaches that with God all things are possible, and that he can and will move mountains.
#5 Dave on 2007-11-17 01:12 (Reply)
That's half of it. We also need more readers in the populace who understand basic math and statistics.
#6 rightwingprof (Link) on 2007-11-18 11:01 (Reply)

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