Scientists Should Stick to Science

[Keepitsimple]

Well, maybe the dam is finally starting to break over at The Star. After saying absolutely nothing about the IPCC shenanigans over the past several months, Richard Gwyn offered up a reasonably well-balanced column - including a call for Chairman Pachauri to step down. This may very well be "preparing the ground" for further commentary on the issues as the mainstream media starts to step away from their IPCC/AGW cheerleading.

Link: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/article/764234--scientists-should-stick-to-science

Edited February 12, 2010 by Charles Anthony
re-copied article deleted

[Shady]

Uh oh!

Where's waldo?

[Smallc]

The Star said something....wow, it's definitely fake now...

[Moonbox]

This article mirrored my thoughts exactly. It's refreshing to see it from a newspaper I don't normally take too seriously. Maybe there are intelligent human beings there after all.

[wyly]

maybe they could and would if the scientifically ignorant web posters, bloggers and journalists would stick to what they know, which isn't science...

how simple must someone be to believe an editorial piece carries any weight or relevance...

Edited February 12, 2010 by wyly

[Michael Hardner]

maybe they could and would if the scientifically ignorant web posters, bloggers and journalists would stick to what they know, which isn't science...

And scientists should stick to their science and not tell people about it.

Seriously, the scientists - including Weaver - are starting to realize that when the science requires public outreach, and communication with the general public they have dropped the ball and this is what this is about.

[eyeball]

And scientists should stick to their science and not tell people about it.

Seriously, the scientists - including Weaver - are starting to realize that when the science requires public outreach, and communication with the general public they have dropped the ball and this is what this is about.

It could be about more than that, they may have dropped the planet.

Judging by the resigned futility and depression these days amongst some real dyed in the wool environmentalists I know, it's all over - the battle is lost and the skeptics have won.

I can't say that I blame them really, tilting at windmills can get a little wearisome.

Edited February 12, 2010 by eyeball

[Michael Hardner]

It could be about more than that, they may have dropped the planet.

Judging by the resigned futility and depression these days amongst some real dyed in the wool environmentalists I know, it's all over - the battle is lost and the skeptics have won.

I can't say that I blame them really, tilting at windmills can get a little wearisome.

If they were right at all, though, we'll know in the near future...

[eyeball]

If they were right at all, though, we'll know in the near future...

Bring it on and the sooner the better I say. I'm dying to see how it all turns out but I'm afraid I might die of old age first.

I'm now firmly in the grip of a fascinated horror, hilarity and curiosity. The dice have been cast, there's a lot riding on it and now it's just a matter of how they fall.

[Michael Hardner]

Bring it on and the sooner the better I say. I'm dying to see how it all turns out but I'm afraid I might die of old age first.

I'm now firmly in the grip of a fascinated horror, hilarity and curiosity. The dice have been cast, there's a lot riding on it and now it's just a matter of how they fall.

The outrage-o-sphere came of age on television first. That's important. Fox news is a TV network.

But the internet has memory, where television does not. So anything that people say about the future can be checked later on. A lot of the progressive advances happened when typographic and literate media was in control, and I'm hoping we're getting back to that point.

[eyeball]

The outrage-o-sphere came of age on television first. That's important. Fox news is a TV network.

But the internet has memory, where television does not. So anything that people say about the future can be checked later on. A lot of the progressive advances happened when typographic and literate media was in control, and I'm hoping we're getting back to that point.

I hope you're right - but I'm not about to hold my breath.

[wyly]

And scientists should stick to their science and not tell people about it.

Seriously, the scientists - including Weaver - are starting to realize that when the science requires public outreach, and communication with the general public they have dropped the ball and this is what this is about.

and if they don't tell people about it then what?...that's like you going for a medical checkup and telling your doctor not to warn you about potenial health concerns, how practical is that?...how many times in the past have people been let down when they were not warned about potential public health risks, mercury poisoning, nicotine, asbestos...if I'm unknowingly doing something that risks my health I want to know about it...collectively the population of the world has a right to know if it's behaviour is endangering the entire planet who else can we trust? we have a PM that thinks it's all socialist conspiracy to steal our money, do you trust him to deliver the message?

the only failings scientists have is they're not PR experts but they never claimed to be...there has never been a proper voice for science that could reach the public and now there is, so what if they're clumsy and inexperienced in their approach...

[Michael Hardner]

and if they don't tell people about it then what?...that's like you going for a medical checkup and telling your doctor not to warn you about potenial health concerns, how practical is that?...how many times in the past have people been let down when they were not warned about potential public health risks, mercury poisoning, nicotine, asbestos...if I'm unknowingly doing something that risks my health I want to know about it...collectively the population of the world has a right to know if it's behaviour is endangering the entire planet who else can we trust? we have a PM that thinks it's all socialist conspiracy to steal our money, do you trust him to deliver the message?

the only failings scientists have is they're not PR experts but they never claimed to be...there has never been a proper voice for science that could reach the public and now there is, so what if they're clumsy and inexperienced in their approach...

The first part of my post was not serious. That's why I said "seriously" for the second part.

I concur with your second paragraph. It might not be too late for us to build a proper channel to the wider population.

[Oleg Bach]

We don't need a scientist to tell our children there is no God. Nor do we need religious zealots telling our chidren that there is no science. What interest or motivation does a scientist have for desemination of atheism? It's really not with in the realm of their expertise`.

[eyeball]

...collectively the population of the world has a right to know if it's behaviour is endangering the entire planet who else can we trust?

That's the whole problem, there is no one to trust. The real lesson from this is just how poorly positioned we probably are to deal with any sort of global scale challenge.

I think in a democracy that has to be a failing of our collective ability to establish deep accountability and transparency at the very top of our governments and public institutions.

Without a constant flow of real actual decency and integrity flowing down from the highest pinnacles of power in our society there will never be enough trickling down for trust to ever take hold anywhere. There is no doubt this trickle down effect is real, it's just that what's been trickling down to date just ain't healthy.

[Oleg Bach]

NATURE by it's very nature is pure unadulterated evil - Human existance is evil - surival of the fittest and greed is evil..rule though deception and violence is pure nature - it is evil - It is natural - BUT this is the sin of sensuality - we are all moved by stimulas like a school of mindless fish - So we must execpt that fact that we are not good and not God - that we are naturally evil - so if there is a natural - the only thing that can control this evil - is something that is super natural...This is where spirit comes into play - spirit or the mind of goodness or God creates intelligence - and over comes the natural world that seeks to destroy itself.

[Michael Hardner]

That's the whole problem, there is no one to trust. The real lesson from this is just how poorly positioned we probably are to deal with any sort of global scale challenge.

I think in a democracy that has to be a failing of our collective ability to establish deep accountability and transparency at the very top of our governments and public institutions.

Without a constant flow of real actual decency and integrity flowing down from the highest pinnacles of power in our society there will never be enough trickling down for trust to ever take hold anywhere. There is no doubt this trickle down effect is real, it's just that what's been trickling down to date just ain't healthy.

For sure. This is a byproduct of many things about our society: specialization, alienation, mass communication among other things. How many of us really feel that our local representative is there for us, to stand up for us in parliament ?

It's likely an insignificant percentage.

[eyeball]

For sure. This is a byproduct of many things about our society: specialization, alienation, mass communication among other things. How many of us really feel that our local representative is there for us, to stand up for us in parliament ?

It's likely an insignificant percentage.

And a dwindling one at that.

[Oleg Bach]

For sure. This is a byproduct of many things about our society: specialization, alienation, mass communication among other things. How many of us really feel that our local representative is there for us, to stand up for us in parliament ?

It's likely an insignificant percentage.

Taking it back to the original core. A prime minister is the first servant of the people. He is the butler that instructs the maid - the gardener and cook. We are the noble house..the common people living in a commonwealth.

Those of ego and who are cut throat opportunists love to enter public life and all for the wrong reasons. Politicans are the same mediocre persons you knew in high school who always wanted to take a position of authority and dominace. Usually they were always the ones less quaitifed naturally. They were usually the ones in most need of attention - so how can this mindset serve the people and pay attention to the people when they are vigorously busy paying attention to themselves?

[Michael Hardner]

Taking it back to the original core. A prime minister is the first servant of the people. He is the butler that instructs the maid - the gardener and cook. We are the noble house..the common people living in a commonwealth.

Those of ego and who are cut throat opportunists love to enter public life and all for the wrong reasons. Politicans are the same mediocre persons you knew in high school who always wanted to take a position of authority and dominace. Usually they were always the ones less quaitifed naturally. They were usually the ones in most need of attention - so how can this mindset serve the people and pay attention to the people when they are vigorously busy paying attention to themselves?

These threads have been drifting. But maybe we can mitigate that by saying: politicians, scientists... they long to lead but that involves communicating - which is listening and clearly articulating one's ideas.

Not too many people strive to listen or to speak publicly yet these are key skills to these important roles in society.

[Oleg Bach]

These threads have been drifting. But maybe we can mitigate that by saying: politicians, scientists... they long to lead but that involves communicating - which is listening and clearly articulating one's ideas.

Not too many people strive to listen or to speak publicly yet these are key skills to these important roles in society.

When I was a kid playing my originals with a rock band - I was the lead - the centre of attention. The product was good but not great - Then leaving music out of my life for 20 years I returned and learned something attending the weekly jam session - for the first time in my life to surive with younger players - I had to learn to LISTEN - carefully and intently, with full concentration on all others and what they were playing. THAT took me from being an average musican to being a very good one.

The other thing that being on stage and being confident was that finally after all these years I was not afraid of the public eye - Total confidence comes only with time. It is a case of bringing your skill level up to a new height. Scientists and most political speakers do not have this time earned skill of speaking. Those that seemed to like Obama - are trained and rehearsed. Elder states persons do not need telepromters or speech writers. The sad thing is that the elders that our society is producing are so disgusted by the system that they bail out of that system and never enter pubic life. Instead we have idots who in the flower of their youth speak - and speak of nothing because they have nothing to say.