General Discussion

LiberalArkie

(15,730 posts) Sat May 23, 2020, 12:16 PM May 2020

Why scientists are changing their minds and disagreeing during the coronavirus pandemic

PUBLISHED SAT, MAY 23 20209:15 AM EDT

If you’ve been the daily news cycle during the coronavirus pandemic, you probably noticed circumstances where scientists seemed reluctant to share information, debated the latest research on social media or downright changed their views.

In our culture, we often hold politicians, corporate executives and other leaders accountable for the consistency of their positions. In political debates, candidates will often point out on the debate stage that a rival swung to the left or right over a controversial issue. It suggests a lack of authenticity, or even careerism, and indicates that they can’t be trusted to do what’s right for their constituents.

In the scientific world, it’s expected that even the highest-ranking academics will evolve their thinking — and many have done so during this Covid-19 pandemic.

But some scientists fear that the public doesn’t understand this, and is losing faith in scientists who change their minds. And that’s having real consequences on the front lines.

Snip

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/23/why-scientists-change-their-mind-and-disagree.html

4 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Why scientists are changing their minds and disagreeing during the coronavirus pandemic (Original Post) LiberalArkie May 2020 OP

We've seen that for decades in climate science genxlib May 2020 #1

but no, in these cases with WH medical experts from the CDC and elsewhere bigtree May 2020 #2

I'm a nurse practitioner, I have been arguing this point for years to a friend that does not trust tulipsandroses May 2020 #3

Some can't handle it. Igel May 2020 #4

genxlib

(5,546 posts)

1. We've seen that for decades in climate science

Reply to LiberalArkie (Original post)

Sat May 23, 2020, 12:24 PM

May 2020

Why should this be any different.

Except that only some of it is natural. Much of it is fostered doubt by people with an agenda.

bigtree

(86,009 posts)

2. but no, in these cases with WH medical experts from the CDC and elsewhere

Reply to LiberalArkie (Original post)

Sat May 23, 2020, 12:28 PM

May 2020

...Trump has repeatedly compromised the info they publicly relate to the point where it's questionable at best with omissions and misleading qualifications on basic science and medicine.

If it weren't so important they stay in their real jobs, they should have left his side months ago in protest.

tulipsandroses

(5,131 posts)

3. I'm a nurse practitioner, I have been arguing this point for years to a friend that does not trust

Reply to LiberalArkie (Original post)

Sat May 23, 2020, 12:37 PM

May 2020

medicine and science. He says asinine things such as medicine is called practice because that is what they are doing, practicing on people, telling them do one thing one minute and then do something else the other.

I have tried to explain to him that medicine and science are not static. By that I mean we are always studying and learning. In fact, for those of us in the medical community, we are required to keep studying to keep our licenses. You are required to renew your license every couple of years. To do so, you must have a number of CMEs - Continuing medical education.

The more we study, the more we discover and protocols may change. We do that to provide the best evidence based treatment.

Igel

(35,382 posts)

4. Some can't handle it.

Reply to LiberalArkie (Original post)

Sat May 23, 2020, 02:55 PM

May 2020

I wouldn't say "changing their minds" but "revising claims based on the data and better understanding."

One sounds capricious, and is usually used that way; the other makes clear that it's not a personal whim that's at issue.

Reply to this discussion