Science vs Lore (1/2)
NOTE: A lot of complaints on two issues that I want to address: 1. Big Bang "The universe began with a giant explosion." First, this was not MY wording, it is from the NSF S&E survey of literacy, so there is nothing I can do to change it. "Explosion" was possibly used because "expansion" was tested to have a very low word recognition. "Explosion" can mean any sudden increase in volume or release of energy, or it can be narrowed to refer to only chemical reactions. The Big Bang can be called an explosion in the broad sense of a rapid expansion. 2. Witches. Again, not my wording. Wicca is a religion/cult belief/tradition. Witches are magical beings who have mystical powers. Perhaps some people got the two mixed up, but I think the results are still fairly in line with belief in magical powers. Muslim, and many Christian groups strongly advocate a belief in the active demonic agency of witches. Note that witches are at the bottom of a long list of paranormal beliefs. Despite great strides in our understanding, the average person still does not understand science in the facts or in the practice, and instead fills the void with pseudoscience. This reflects a worldview that values an emphasis on commonly accepted, traditional lore, and a general disinterest in the role of science and reason in our lives. Science is perceived by the media, government, and popular conciousness as something that happens to other people. This is unacceptable. We need to find a way to reach out with ...
SyokFROG
LOL MALAYSIA! gahahaha... I'm from malaysia and from what I can see... Malaysia (islamic country) refused to answer questions regarding the big bang and evolution. And thats some horrible scoring... kind of embarrassed @.@"
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
janaoo4
Well not everyone who goes to university takes science. These people could have been ENG lit majors. And trust me, I've talked to people in ENG lit, who think that people walked the Earth with dinosaurs.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
janaoo4
BTW that women in red at the end, she's violating the book of Timothy. Religious hypocrites, follow your own book.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
UrsoDaCortesia
I think its a bit of stretch to call social sciences as sciences.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
JoesephKatana
I took the time to read the time to read the survey at 2:09 and I think I'm going to cry.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
JoesephKatana
@JoesephKatana I paused to read it, didn't realize you read it out. Where was this study taken? Just the united states in general?
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
CityzenJane
I know things... but I also forget things... thank the giant void that we have the google machine..
I got all three right -- but I had to work to remember...
I think it's also frustrating to me that many sciene and technically inclined people don't have a very deep critique of science and tech as practised under a regime determined by multinational capitalism...environmental scientists don't get the funding or respect they must have..
still - great vid..
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
Zoiros85
I have two problems with the assertion at 5:47 - "According to the Big Bang Theory, The universe bagan with a huge explotion."
1) It was an expansion, not an explosion.
2) If you talk about a "Big Bang" you're practically telling them the answer.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
stevebee92653
Intimating that good science and evolution are one and the same is bad science. But you use it as a good indoctrination ploy in this silly vid. You are doing the same thing that your instructors did to you. Indoctrinating. You don't go for critical thinking unless the "solution" is evolution. That is the diff between you and me. Critical thinking. You accept without skepticism. Only you don't know it. You have been indoctrinated. I am the skeptical/critical thinker you say you espouse.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
stevebee92653
Re: your poll. Most people could care less if it's Adam and Eve or Lucy or "who knows". Or how the universe started. It doesn't affect their everyday lives even one tiny bit. Few are interested in science like you and I. So don't get too upset about your poll. It not a crisis.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
cablepanos
No wonder so many people believe in god.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
Phibeta696
lol. You did not just cite the daily mail! Isn't that the tabloid? Maybe another newpaper, right? Obviously no THE daily mail! Right?
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
edd77
Here in England we have The Sun newspaper, the most widely circulated paper here owned by Rupert Murdoch. There is always a page every other day about UFO's. Pattern emerging?
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
mrdaym
Aren't there more than 2 groups to this issue though, like me, who only knows the basics of science but still actually thinks that science is the way to go instead of supernatural mumbojumbo?
Or as Penn & Teller put it; I'm not a scientist but I belong to the cheering squad.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
naannyms
At approximately 7:28 you use the phrase "that included paranormal phenomenon such as ghosts and ESP". The plural of "phenomenon" is "phenomena".
I love your videos! It's nice to know that I'm not the only one frightened by the pull towards ignorance in the world...
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
TheWhiteRabbit1990
*Pats self on back*
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
derek24hudson
I would love to know what a 'reputable' witness is with regard to alien abduction. Reports of UFO's often state that they were seen by, wait for it, POLICEMEN. That's it then. Do you really think that the brains, minds and imaginations of POLICEMEN are less subject to error than anyone else's? The same goes for other 'reputable' witnesses. The least reliable evidence in every court case comes from...? Yes, witnesses.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
Marri3free
When I was talking to my friend about religion and such, she kept asking me "why does eveything have to be about evidence for you?". Some people just don't get the fact that everything is about evidence for them too, except when it comes to lore, religion and things they WANT to believe. Science is just common sense. In any oher, mundane aspect of our lives do we believe anything without evidence? What reason is there to belive wihout evidence? Unless the belief is forced upon you
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
ariuszarim
I suspect that people would have done better on the survey if the questions had been on which theory was predominately accepted in science. Science does not make absolute claims. The center of the Earth is unobserved, thus we say that all observable evidence points to it being very hot. There is a big difference between something being the accepted theory and something being true. I think the survey failed to recognize that fact.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
advancedprimate
couldn't you also include propaganda in lore? e.g. the resulting prohibition of cannabis due to propaganda that an entire generation of people now believe/enforce without question, despite a lack of evidence, and evidence that shows the contrary.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
JamesThWilliams
This information on graduate level intellegence is tragic.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
optiuum67
What you have is the thoughts of a group of people who are willing to answer telephone surveys. That only proves that people who are willng to answer telephone surveys are likely to be ignorant on scientific issues. I always put the phone down at the mention of a survey. I don't have the time nor the inclination to answer questions for free when i'm busy.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
mrdaym
I believe you just politely called me a dumbass C0nc0rdance!
Can't believe I failed such basic questions.
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
mrdaym
I disagree about there being two camps, those who value scientific knowledge and those who don't, there are also us who value science in general, but just don't understand most of it, sort of like cheerleaders for sciene, we don't play ball, but we do root for "our" team (the scientists).
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM
xspettacolare
wow great subject !! i had no idea how stupid some people are .
where does gary null fit into this .
lmao reversing the aging process.
lmao
August 8, 2010 8:24 AM