- Do not claim to have "extensively researched" your issue if you haven't read a large swath of the evidence produced by the opposing viewpoint. Reading from the hymnbook with the choir does not make you an expert on the unwashed heathen masses in the pews.
- If you do not understand the guiding principles behind scientific investigation, do not pretend to understand why or why not some experiments were done well or done poorly.
- If you do not know the difference between multiple statistical formulas and why one would be appropriate over another, do not state that you know the statistics are "flawed".
- Do not assume that your hypothesis is correct. If you are unable or unwilling to accept that the data presented to you may give you a result that is different from the one you wanted, then don't enter the discussion.
- If you do not have a comprehensive education to provide you with sufficient underpinnings to analyze the function of a biological system, then do not presume you know more than individuals who have studied the biological system for decades.
- Do not assume that just because someone has received an advanced degree, they are part of the "system" and will not ever listen to what you say.
- DO consider your sources. Citations from peer-reviewed journals of high repute will advance your cause greatly, because the peer review process (while flawed) does provide a significant countermeasure to someone publishing whatever they threw together. Citations from a highly subject-specific society's own journal are less likely to aid you, and might make you look ignorant (depending on the source).
- Please remember that scientists make their careers by receiving grant money on hot subjects. If your personal scientific topic involves a hot subject, you can bet there are plenty of studies being done on it, because scientists who discover something new have discovered a career-making source of fame & steady grant money. If there is nothing new being discovered, i.e. running against the dominant paradigm/theory, see #4.
- Do not use vituperative or emotive language in your discussion. It merely demeans your argument. Ugly or demeaning language closes minds, it doesn't open them.
- Respect the other person's opinion, as they will hopefully respect yours.
- Realize that data interpretation is just that, interpretation. If you have the raw data and can prove a different conclusion, great! Publish it! Otherwise, perhaps it is wise to remember that the authors of scientific papers are the world's leading experts on their own data, and respect that and subsequently their opinions of that data.
- If you are really convinced that there is a vast conspiracy on your topic of scientific interest, may I suggest you go become a scientist yourself and prove them wrong? Don't hold it against me (or any other scientist for that matter), however, if along the way you suddenly reverse your opinion in the course of your education.
Ugh. I really must stop offering to be a strawman for folks with agendas. It's quite depressing.
2 comments:
Ohmygah. I'm no scientist, but I swear I've felt almost exactly this same thing. Having an autistic kid, people are ALWAYS running up to me with these conspiracy-theory "did you know X causes it, and Y cures it?! IT'S TRUE! I'VE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON IT!!" things.
No, no you haven't. You have no idea what "research" even is. What, you read an article on the Internet? Saw an Oprah segment? Read a (one, singular) book?
Ya. I'm just going to go ahead and throw out the collective, what, hundred years or so, experience and actual-real research and study of the professionals currently guiding us through these shark-infested reef-laden waters and go with YOUR plan.
After all, that whole thing where "they" say inflatable rafts are a bad idea in shark-infested, reef-laden oceans is just a conspiracy to protect the profits of the Mega Corps who make the big boats, right...?
Yeah, it's really unfortunate, to put it mildly. I decided to speak up after my friends lost their four year old daughter to H1N1 this past fall. You know, they would have vaccinated her if they had access to the vaccine at that time. So to hear other parents choose not to vaccinate their kids...I just can't stay quiet any more, you know? I want them to really get that these diseases kill kids. Sadly I think I am talking to a brick wall. I expect I will read more about kids dying from preventable diseases due to these brick wall parents, and the sad part is it won't be just their kids, but other, vulnerable kids who can't be vaccinated for legitimate reasons (newborns, undergoing chemotherapy, suppressed immune systems, allergic to vaccine components). It's really maddening...where is the common sense?? And the paranoia, oy! Yes, I had to sign a supersecret conspiracy oath to get my degree. UGH!
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