Lying Scientists, the day Science died

[sharon sanders]

I am speechless. What is "smoke and mirrors" and what is real?

I am glad that FT is run by parents. We make FT policy decisions according to what we think will help the most people. We use our experience as long time caregivers to evaluate the various papers, studies, and other data that is published.

One case in point is the mask issue. I do not care how many studies say that a surgical mask provides the same protection for a health care worker as an N95 or N100 does. I will never believe it.

Or the school issue. I do not believe the studies that prove economically that it is better to leave schools open in a mass disease event. The toll of illness, grief, loss, death... can not be adequately calculated to offset the numbers generated to prove that it is more economical to leave the schools open.

I think moving forward we have to rely on our own common sense, our instincts, and our grace.

 

[gsgs]

Re: Lying Scientists, the day Science died

thats OK, but please don't try to suggest that these opinions
are shared by other members when using "we".

I e.g. _do_ care what the studies say.
But we must not overinterpret them

 

[Rick]

Re: Lying Scientists, the day Science died

Money doesn't talk, it screams.

Scientifically, being overweight (as opposed to morbidly obsese) is good for your health, but the "scientists" get flooded with cash grants from the diet food industry if they say otherwise.

 

[gsgs]

Re: Lying Scientists, the day Science died

(just reflecting on the headline - I don't know what this is about)

lies can be revealed and remembered. You cannot permanently
lie and still be considered a reasonable sourse.

True science died, when they decided to avoid giving
estimates about the future.

 

[prepdeb]

Re: Lying Scientists, the day Science died

There are many things from our past that should remain in the past.
Things like outhouses come to mind.

But I'd sure like to see a revival of truth, ethics, honor and trust.
The stuff that once mattered more than money to most people.
Those things seem to have gone out of style in nearly every area of life.
It's become a global problem and our heroes have become those who have the most instead of those who do the most good.

Too many determine the reliability of someones' message based on how wealthy or powerful they are instead of judging their motivation.
The older I get, the fewer people and sources I trust.

As someone who came of age during a time of "hippies" and idealism, it's very disappointing to see how many from that same era have become masters of the practices we thought were wrong long ago.

The "gems" stand out and shine brighter than ever now that they've become scarce. Thank you FT for being one of the gems.

 

[JimO]

Re: Lying Scientists, the day Science died

I am speechless. What is "smoke and mirrors" and what is real?

I am glad that FT is run by parents. We make FT policy decisions according to what we think will help the most people. We use our experience as long time caregivers to evaluate the various papers, studies, and other data that is published.

One case in point is the mask issue. I do not care how many studies say that a surgical mask provides the same protection for a health care worker as an N95 or N100 does. I will never believe it.

Or the school issue. I do not believe the studies that prove economically that it is better to leave schools open in a mass disease event. The toll of illness, grief, loss, death... can not be adequately calculated to offset the numbers generated to prove that it is more economical to leave the schools open.

I think moving forward we have to rely on our own common sense, our instincts, and our grace.

As a scientist myself, I have always operated under the principle that data has to be viewed objectively and that the temptation to skew the data must be avoided at every level. Sadly, even scientific ethics have been overshadowed by modern relativism and the misplaced notion that "the ends justifies the means". This is what happens when science and politics intersect. Once politics enters the picture, a completely different set of "ethics" is applied to science. When people, particularly politicians and beaurocrats, become invested in a particular outcome (like proving that this pandemic is "no worse than seasonal flu"), the scientific method breaks down and the end result is predetermined. Then science is used to rationalize that result.