The thing is, I really do respect this argument and I think that nothing is /lost/ from trying to use simpler language, but it also strikes me that the most dangerous antiintellectualism (eg. "I do my own research" on vaccines) takes place in fields that are /impossible/ to make simple.
Reposted from
Rory
The failure of academia to explain things in layperson terms (up until some efforts recently) is one of the reasons for anti-intellectualism.
When you make science inaccessible, people will opt for those who sell easier solutions.
When you make science inaccessible, people will opt for those who sell easier solutions.
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like, there are few things easier to make simple than "matter is pulled in by its own gravity, matter makes globe"
but there's plenty of other popular crank theories that rely on misrepresenting areas that have not only been made simple but actually demonstrated
like basic material science or the law of energy conservation
the problem isn't a lack of explanation, it's the wrong kind of explanation
one that doesn't make the conspiracy-theorist-to-be feel self-important
but to me the reason these areas are so prone to woo isn't that people's desire for knowledge isn't satisfied, quite the reverse
And that’s okay, some things are complex
An ongoing effort to show how science is dumbed down so much for populism and shock effect in the media. Funny/sad.
Specifically education in how to do primary research.
And then there's computers.
Honestly, I think the vaccine thing is because it’s been weaponised, and deliberately used to misinform.
The mechanism behind literally every vaccine is: "your immune system does all the work, lol". They're possibly our most "natural" medicine, 2nd only to "fluids + rest"
Antibodies are the ultimate lifelong grudge.
Lot of different techniques to achieve that (weak pathogen, other pathogen, dead pathogen, designer proteins, mRNA). That's where it gets into the weeds. But all same 101 level.
so actually no I'm not sympathetic to this argument at all.
It gives people a misplaced confidence that the results will always be x.
When its not they see it as proof it doesn’t work. Rather than it’s really complicated and the miracle is why it’s even x most of the time.