"I don't understand. Why don't they want to know the facts? Is it just stupidity, or am I missing something?"
There are several factors here. One is that the word "theory" means something very different to a non-scientist than it does to a scientist. In science, something that rises to the status of a theory carries a certain degree of proof along with it. Some theories have a tremendous body of proof behind them, like evolution. Whereas in the vernacular, a theory is often an opinion, if not a wild assed guess.
I am not a scientist but I understand the distinction. Its irritating that others don't get it.
Isaac Asimov was very good in print, and Uncle Carl(Sagan) was probably the best in recent memory. Ans Asimov died 14 years ago and Carl 10. Carl, in particular, was resented by many scientists. They viewed him as a showboater. Which he was. But BFD, he effectively communicated what science was all about at a time when many Americans couldn't have cared less. We desperately need several Carls right now and there doesn't appear to be any in the offing.
Generally, scientists don't have good communication skills. I used to think their brains were hardwired that way. Of late, I am coming to a different opinion. There is a guy in my cohort whose background is physics......that was his major undergrad. Clearly, pretty smart..........and when he gets up to speak.........BORING. However, one nite, we went out for drinks and as soon as he had a couple under his belt, he was very interesting.......his voice was different than it normally is.....not flat...animated. And ever since, when he talks to me alone, his voice is the same way, but when he is talking to the class or in a group of us, his voice is flat and uninteresting. This has led me to think that maybe scientists are not good communicators not because of their wiring but because many are seen as geeks growing up and are treated accordingly. That treatment may prevent them from developing good social skills and lead them to fear rejection a great deal of the time.
Bill Gates is not a scientist in the traditional sense but he is definitely on the geek side. He was trying to do a speech in Belgium a few years back when an asshole EU actor who is infamous for throwing pies in the faces of celebrities, did one to Bill Gates. If anyone was watching, within seconds, the billionaire mogul became the outcast kid who was chosen last to play baseball. I have never felt more sorry for someone in my life. IMO to be a good communicator, you have to feel accepted and think your words will be well received. I don't think the Bill Gates of the world feel that way........hence, the bumbling, uncomfortable-in-his-skin scientist of hollywood movies and tv.
A third factor is a relatively new one. There are those who believe that reality is fungible. Ok, that isn't quite true. They believe that we can't really know what is going on, so our explanations are subject to political expediency. So we have the "reality-based", who believe there is some objective truth, and the "faith-based", who believe that we can't know the objective truth. We just have our interpretations, very much in line with Plato. Although they would hack off various bodily appendages before they would admit that...
Yup. This looks to be at the crux of the problem. |
