About these studies saying people don't listen to facts or reason.

[DanTex]

I'm not taking issue with the research itself. But there is a risk that this creates a "both sides do it" mentality, whereas in reality, in America at least, there is a huge difference between the left and the right when it comes to denial of science.

There are accusations that liberals ignore science when it comes to things like vaccinations or alternative medicine. Even if it were true that liberals are more anti-vax than conservatives (and I don't know if it is), it's nowhere nearly as extreme as the right's denial of evolution and climate change. Here on DU, the majority of the people, from my observation, do not believe in homeopathy, and believe vaccinations are important. Compare that to any similarly conservative internet forum, and I doubt even a tiny fraction would believe in human induced climate change.

And not just internet forums. If you look at the two major political parties, or conservative versus liberal media, you will see that one side is steeped in denialism, while the other has basically a scientific outlook.

So, yes, be aware that people have biases that affect the way that they interpret data. But let's not get carried away. It is possible to overcome those biases. And, in the current political climate in the US, there most certainly is a pro-science party and an anti-science party.

[closeupready]

1. DU is like a village in the middle of nowhere - not really that big, and

not really important, but we all like it because we're all essentially liberals, Democrats, and progressives.

Having said that, like real villages, there are aspects to discussions here that are unique to DU. One aspect is that on just about any issue, you have those who seek to reason people to their side, and then there are those who just want to browbeat and cajole. And of course, the obligatory trolls just here to pick fights.

I suppose that reflects varying levels of education and socioeconomic class. What can you do. If people don't want to learn, then they won't listen to reason. If people don't want to be lectured and berated, then they won't listen to it.

[Johonny]

2. There is no requirement to accept a science paper's conclusions

I've read many science papers and looked at the evidence and reached different conclusions than the authors of the paper. If everyone agreed to the same conclusion based on the evidence there would be no scientific debate. The thing to remember about the process of science is that when the evidence is overwhelmingly stacked against your previous conclusion being right then you better move on. There is no harm in being wrong provided you had a solid basis for being wrong, however recognition and acceptance of being wrong is a troubled spot for many people.

Both the theory of evolution and climate change were advanced because their were intelligent people that opposed the theories based on solid scientific grounds initially. That the science evidence eventually fell against them is part of the process of science. That they did or did not recognize this and eventually accept their previous conclusions were unlikely to be true is where the problem lies.

[Prophet 451]

3. Agreed

and I think it is way past time we stopped humouring the creationists/deniers by pretending they have anything worthwhile to say.