Robert McNees
Calls for “debate” on subjects like vaccines aren’t really invitations to communicate with a large audience. Many reasons for this, one of which is Brandolini’s Law:
The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it.
The whole thing is a set-up.
Robert McNees
It’s an asymmetric proposition.
The format they want doesn’t allow for the slow, methodical scientific processes needed to reach sound conclusions and refute misinformation.
At the same time, participation by scientists creates an environment where claims that mimic scientific rigor, acquire legitimacy.
On top of that it isn’t actually a debate. There’s no moderator agreed on by both parties, no standard for the dividing line between fact and opinion. Those are sort of essential for debate!
Robert McNees
If folks asking for a debate really wanted to “get to the bottom of this stuff” they would go spend time with scientists doing the work.
People like Joe Rogan or RFK Jr could absolutely get that access if they really wanted it. They’d have to do some work to convince others it was in good faith, but they could do it.
It will take time and isn’t designed to get clicks, unfortunately. But they’d get real answers and could ask all the questions they want.
Robert McNees
@jewishreader sounds about right
Jessica 🏳️🌈 🇺🇦 🌶🧋
@mcnees I have a quote saved about how most conspiracy theories are people 'asking questions' and then refusing to listen to the answers.
Robert McNees
@staidwinnow pretty much!
Staid Winnow
@snooze_cat @Mickrob9777 @mcnees
It has never been more complex than that.
Musk is weaponizing it one more step. He is actually getting people to pay him $8 a month to attack people he hates.
annie gray
@staidwinnow @Mickrob9777 @mcnees That's the essence of maga. They feel left behind, powerless, envious. A powerful guy offers to punish the people they hate, and that's a sweet deal.
Staid Winnow
@Mickrob9777 @mcnees They know it already. The right just wants their leaders to hurt those they hate.
Mickrob9777
Do you think the right will ever wake up and realize that their representatives are more interested in their anger than their care?
Jeber 👨👩👧👦
@mcnees @Litzz11
Vaccines, evolution, and atheism. Three major topics that the ignorant always demand we debate. Most of us have learned the foolishness of doing that.
Roadskater, Ph.D.
@mcnees @jewishreader Michael Crichton spent a day at my office talking to climate scientists. Then he wrote STATE OF FEAR.
Robert McNees
@roadskater @jewishreader Yeah I’m not saying it will always work, but if they earnestly want to investigate these things there’s really only one meaningful way to do it.
silert
@mcnees
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Chris
@mcnees Agreed... there's no reason to "debate" any of this insanity. None of his followers would even consider changing their minds regardless of the legitimate info that was provided.
KB Leecaster
@mcnees
Treating Joe Rogan as an honest broker is what helps make this crap take ahold of so many people and warp their brains.
Robert McNees
@GreenFire yeah, I agree.
JMcD
@mcnees That is something I hate about political debates. One candidate will spout a bunch of bull with no evidence for any of it and then will say “my opponent never refuted my arguments” because it takes at least 5 times as long to refute each claim as it does to put forth the claim with no evidence. It is impossible to refute each argument and make a counter argument in the allotted time.
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