Eileenla wrote:When I first began researching cosmology and theoretical physics I too "gravitated" toward such shows because I believed they offered the answers I was seeking. The more I learned though, the more I realized these shows and books were only theoretical guesses, and blind ones at that. I now find it difficult to sit through a television program that discusses cosmology as if it were a settled question - no mention of theories or beliefs, but delivered as a presentation of "facts" to those who crave a deeper understanding. The gross assumptions being made repulse me now, rather than draw me.
You took the words right out of my mouth, and probably many other mouths around here too.
I don't blame the people who watch these shows however, nor will I refer to them as "dumb." I give them credit for trying to better understand the world, and realize they're doing the best they can with the limited, highly censored information made available to them through the traditional means. Only after they've tried to understand the current theories and discover how lacking and incoherent they are will they perhaps step outside the flow of information from traditional sources and seek their own answers. We should therefore celebrate and encourage the process, (which we've each gone through as part of our own journey) not denigrate it from the benefit of hindsight. We're not "superior" to those who still watch the Science Channel or Discovery; we're just a bit further along on the path!
I will agree to disagree here to some extent as while most viewers of those types of programs aren't inferior to any of us there are some who definitely are inferior, vastly inferior. I have a friend who wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed growing up and was more concerned with drugs and such when he was younger but now he likes to seem smart so he only watches Discovery Channel and then goes around parroting it word for word as if it is gospel(even though he admits he doesn't understand most of it).
I like him and he's a good loyal friend but he's downright extremist sometimes at arguing the views the magic box tells him to have, and it's because they portray their theories as facts on tv that he refuses to accept that they are not certified facts and their is room for discussion.
He and some others are the types that are likely to never advance any further down the path. But I do hope they are a small minority.
Our role is to continue to patiently offer new information and insights to the general public that cohere more intelligently and reasonably than do the present standard model theories. The truth WILL eventually come out, because the deeper we probe and the farther we peer as a species, the harder it will be for people to cling to beliefs that don't match the observations.
Until then, we must continue to proclaim that the world is round, and either wait for the flat-Earthers to catch up with us, or until such time as the evidence is so overwhelming they can't continue to cling to their old beliefs without being dismissed as crankpots.
I like the optimism you show and agree 100% that as long as we continue putting our views forward to the public things will eventually work out for the best, but I doubt it will be anytime soon.
I'm not worried about being called a quack or crackpot for my scientific views as I've been called far worse for my political views in the past - much, much worse.
People use those hurtful words to try to scare you out of holding or at least sharing the views you put forward, but if you don't care what they say eventually the realize there is nothing they can do to "scare" you away and will give up.
When I first started speaking against Israel online I would get swarmed by dozens of attacking trolls calling me all kinds of nasty things, today I hardly ever get bothered even on sites full of such trolls because I have never backed down to them and respond to every comment or attack they make with intelligent points that make 3rd party viewers realize how stupid they are and they end up being "scared" off.
Whether in science or politics I can't stand blatant liars who knowingly put forth BS information in order to further a private agenda rather than advance the good of mankind as a whole, and I don't let them scare me off with petty words and lies.
And whenever science and politics combine I've found that BS to be about the only thing that exists.
One needs to be both optimistic and realistic in dealing with this stuff, and the realistic side of it is that if we don't start being a bit more aggressive in countering that increasingly political driven science BS being pumped out to the masses it is going to be a very long time before we see any significant results.
