This morning, I decided to take a look at what was happening on Twitter, formerly my platform of choice for sharing ideas and keeping up to date on current events.
Thanks for writing this, as you have captured succinctly what I have been struggling with for a long while now. We need to get over this “everyone’s opinion matters” nonsense, and right quick if we want to have any chance of staving off geopolitical disaster or even more environmental calamity. The problem, though, is how do you define expertise? I’ve seen many “military experts” on the news over the years (as I am sure you have as well) who clearly have only the most rudimentary understanding of the issues surrounding a modern armed force. Even “experts” often have their own agenda. It’s exhausting.
Indeed. I’ve even encountered it on here, albeit to a very minor degree. A true expert defines their lane and stays within it. For instance, I’m not at all qualified to comment on economics beyond the most rudimentary aspects, so keep quiet on such issues. A danger sign, I think, is when one strays outside that lane.
I would say that people “who clearly have only the rudimentary understanding of the issues” can’t possibly call themselves experts. And I understand that sometimes it’s hard to tell! I’m from the health field and it’s an unending battle exposing so-called Wellness “experts” who sell hopes, dreams, and quick fixes. It’s a huge and lucrative industry!
This kind of crap is why I no longer regard religious convictions as harmless; nothing that indoctrinates people to accept assertions without evidence is harmless anymore.
This is an old quote from Isaac Asimov that I retained when I first encountered it. It's getting more prescient by the day and has spilled over into Canada, sadly:
"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'" - Isaac Asimov
Excellent piece. Though I should also note this Age of Stupidity actually started in the Bush administration - the invasion of Iraq was based on myths about Saddam's WMD, wrap your house in duct tape, anyone who demands actual proof was a traitor, "Freedom Fries", Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld and Rice knew best, "Mission Accomplished", the "reality-based community" wasn't relevant anymore, etc. And then even with Obama, we got all the racist Tea Party nonsense, the Obama birth certificate, the Louis Gates beer summit, "they go low we go high", etc.
I will never forget watching a CNN interview in around 2006 with Frances Townsend, the Bush Homeland Security Advisor, who was talking about the success of the Bush administration in killing Bin Laden -- and when the reporter said that had never happened, she replied "its a success that hasn't happened yet" and she went blithely on with the interview. It was utterly bizarre.
I agree 100% and just want to add… people have all kinds of opinions about the climate emergency but you can’t argue with physics. The biggest single issue we have—and it should be galvanizing action everywhere to address it—is how to transition off of fossil fuels asap.
I often think about the contrast with the 1980’s where the world came together to address the depletion of ozone caused by CFCs… and the whole effort was lead by… Ronald Reagan and Maggie Thatcher!
We are in a similar crisis now but the stakes are much higher. But the science is being ignored or actively undermined by those who profit from “business as usual”.
I think we'd probably find ourselves on the same side on most issues, and definitely in favour of courting facts over untrained speculation, but I think you stray into dangerous territory when you say only experts' views should be listened to.
That approach has done major damage in medical science, for instance, where entitled senior experts sometimes - too often - block out new understanding that threatens their long held beliefs.
I'm sure you can think of many examples. If not, please reply and I'll dig out the properly spelled names.
I think you’ve overstated my position. I’ll refer you to this quote from the piece:
“That experts, especially when confronted with a dynamic and unpredictable situation like COVID-19, made errors only exacerbated the situation…”
Of course deferring to expertise shouldn’t stifle innovation, but when credentials and experience are disregarded completely we have a significant problem.
Thanks for writing this, as you have captured succinctly what I have been struggling with for a long while now. We need to get over this “everyone’s opinion matters” nonsense, and right quick if we want to have any chance of staving off geopolitical disaster or even more environmental calamity. The problem, though, is how do you define expertise? I’ve seen many “military experts” on the news over the years (as I am sure you have as well) who clearly have only the most rudimentary understanding of the issues surrounding a modern armed force. Even “experts” often have their own agenda. It’s exhausting.
Indeed. I’ve even encountered it on here, albeit to a very minor degree. A true expert defines their lane and stays within it. For instance, I’m not at all qualified to comment on economics beyond the most rudimentary aspects, so keep quiet on such issues. A danger sign, I think, is when one strays outside that lane.
I would say that people “who clearly have only the rudimentary understanding of the issues” can’t possibly call themselves experts. And I understand that sometimes it’s hard to tell! I’m from the health field and it’s an unending battle exposing so-called Wellness “experts” who sell hopes, dreams, and quick fixes. It’s a huge and lucrative industry!
This kind of crap is why I no longer regard religious convictions as harmless; nothing that indoctrinates people to accept assertions without evidence is harmless anymore.
Kelly-Anne 'Liar' Conway legitimized, for the fascist elements of the right wing, the lies as truth practice by giving it the label "Alternate Facts".
Problem is, for the most part corporate media has bought in on that idiocy too.
Remember when we absolutely hooted when she christened "alternative facts"? That seems like such a long, naive time ago.
Well said. Something that definitely needs to be said more often.
This is an old quote from Isaac Asimov that I retained when I first encountered it. It's getting more prescient by the day and has spilled over into Canada, sadly:
"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'" - Isaac Asimov
Excellent piece. Though I should also note this Age of Stupidity actually started in the Bush administration - the invasion of Iraq was based on myths about Saddam's WMD, wrap your house in duct tape, anyone who demands actual proof was a traitor, "Freedom Fries", Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld and Rice knew best, "Mission Accomplished", the "reality-based community" wasn't relevant anymore, etc. And then even with Obama, we got all the racist Tea Party nonsense, the Obama birth certificate, the Louis Gates beer summit, "they go low we go high", etc.
I will never forget watching a CNN interview in around 2006 with Frances Townsend, the Bush Homeland Security Advisor, who was talking about the success of the Bush administration in killing Bin Laden -- and when the reporter said that had never happened, she replied "its a success that hasn't happened yet" and she went blithely on with the interview. It was utterly bizarre.
I agree 100% and just want to add… people have all kinds of opinions about the climate emergency but you can’t argue with physics. The biggest single issue we have—and it should be galvanizing action everywhere to address it—is how to transition off of fossil fuels asap.
I often think about the contrast with the 1980’s where the world came together to address the depletion of ozone caused by CFCs… and the whole effort was lead by… Ronald Reagan and Maggie Thatcher!
We are in a similar crisis now but the stakes are much higher. But the science is being ignored or actively undermined by those who profit from “business as usual”.
A well written post.
You are exactly correct.
I think we'd probably find ourselves on the same side on most issues, and definitely in favour of courting facts over untrained speculation, but I think you stray into dangerous territory when you say only experts' views should be listened to.
That approach has done major damage in medical science, for instance, where entitled senior experts sometimes - too often - block out new understanding that threatens their long held beliefs.
I'm sure you can think of many examples. If not, please reply and I'll dig out the properly spelled names.
I think you’ve overstated my position. I’ll refer you to this quote from the piece:
“That experts, especially when confronted with a dynamic and unpredictable situation like COVID-19, made errors only exacerbated the situation…”
Of course deferring to expertise shouldn’t stifle innovation, but when credentials and experience are disregarded completely we have a significant problem.
I've reread your post and you're right, I did. Sorry.