Questa volta abbiamo cercato: Scientists and researchers on MassimoL; how do you deal with family members/loved ones who tend to have strong opinions on scientific methodology and topics that they do not understand, often basing their opinions on the internet, rather than listening to someone who has had several years of training?
Scientists and researchers on MassimoL; how do you deal with family members/loved ones who tend to have strong opinions on scientific methodology and topics that they do not understand, often basing their opinions on the internet, rather than listening to someone who has had several years of training?
Ed ecco le risposte:
Personally, just like every other situation where I get into a conversation with someone who is unwilling to actually argue intellectually, I attempt to make my point. At the point where I realize they do not understand how to properly reason for themselves, I politely agree to disagree until I can walk away.
There’s no reasoning with those people. Best course of action is to avoid those topics.
When I finally get my BS in Geology I plan to make a copy of it to keep on me so I can literally slap people with my degree and tell them to shut the fuck up unless they also have a degree.
I’m not even a scientist but I do know this feeling quite well. Its very annoying. Mom and dad, or best friend Jimmy read something online and suddenly know it all. The source isn’t at all credible either. Meanwhile, I can sit here and throw back peer reviewed research paper/journal/etc one after the other and its all just refuted with that single unreliable wiki how article.
Pro tip for any profession: Wikihow does not come close to the credibility of peer reviewed research by industry leading professionals.
This kind of thing is a really hot topic in the scientific communication and engagement arena at the moment (for fairly obvious reasons).
It seems that the current advice is not to tell people that they’re wrong, or even offer you’re own evidence that proves they’re wrong – it just turns people off and hardens their standpoint.
Instead, discuss with them the reasons for why they believe something. Why is their source reliable? Can they really explain to you the details in a way that makes real sense? What reasons might a source be biased one way or another – especially online where clicks can equal income. Often people with alternative/anti-mainstream/conspiracy views know somewhere deep down inside themselves that they might/could be wrong, but they need to come to the reality of things by themselves and making them feel stupid doesn’t help that. Not always easy though!