Its obviously NOT crazy to investigate all the issues surrounding GMOs. Again, its actually reasonable to do so. But notice how the finger-pointing and name-calling seeks to, once again, turn everything into a simple, black and white, either science or not-science, moral reputation type of thing?
Science, and the scientific method, is, above all-- supposed to be CURIOUS and collect information before coming to conclusions. What I see in what I call "dogmatic pseudo-science" is a culture of entrenched beliefs that actually try to SUPPRESS curiosity. Its assumed the answers are already known, but for a little tweaking on some details here and there, and all else is tossed summarily into the wastebasket.
If the respected intellectuals and the established authorities aren't going to ask the questions or poke into all those areas so many people are realizing aren't being covered, WHO WILL? Then you get a bunch of con men and fakirs stepping up to fill the gap. Its infuriating!
Now I'm noticing a growing backlash to all things scientific, even in areas where suspicion is NOT warranted, a perfect example being the vaccine conspiracy stories. Many independent studies were done, by different groups, who tested out the vaccine-as-harmful premise and found nothing there. But being lied to and ignored for so long has had its consequences... Almost a THIRD of the population, who has lost their faith, simply don't believe much of what they're told anymore.
This is a big problem and I fear that science will suffer for it. Calling people stupid and crazy, though, is part of why people are turning away.
part 2
Its obviously NOT crazy to investigate all the issues surrounding GMOs. Again, its actually reasonable to do so. But notice how the finger-pointing and name-calling seeks to, once again, turn everything into a simple, black and white, either science or not-science, moral reputation type of thing?
Science, and the scientific method, is, above all-- supposed to be CURIOUS and collect information before coming to conclusions. What I see in what I call "dogmatic pseudo-science" is a culture of entrenched beliefs that actually try to SUPPRESS curiosity. Its assumed the answers are already known, but for a little tweaking on some details here and there, and all else is tossed summarily into the wastebasket.
If the respected intellectuals and the established authorities aren't going to ask the questions or poke into all those areas so many people are realizing aren't being covered, WHO WILL? Then you get a bunch of con men and fakirs stepping up to fill the gap. Its infuriating!
Now I'm noticing a growing backlash to all things scientific, even in areas where suspicion is NOT warranted, a perfect example being the vaccine conspiracy stories. Many independent studies were done, by different groups, who tested out the vaccine-as-harmful premise and found nothing there. But being lied to and ignored for so long has had its consequences... Almost a THIRD of the population, who has lost their faith, simply don't believe much of what they're told anymore.
This is a big problem and I fear that science will suffer for it. Calling people stupid and crazy, though, is part of why people are turning away.
There's my 200 cents! =^)