From COVID-19 to climate change, scientists are facing a flood of hate mail, threats and harassment from conspiracy theorists.
From COVID-19 to climate change, scientists are facing a flood of hate mail, threats and harassment from conspiracy theorists.
Beware of anger.
Conspiracy theorists intimidate scientists with anger, but their anger is a bluff to overcome the fear that lies deep within them.
Likewise, defenders of scientists need to stop reacting with fear-based anger against conspiracy theorists.
We need to put aside our anger and just discuss the facts in a straightforward manner to advance science.
the issue here is that the ‘opposition’, for lack of a better word, is thoroughly disinterested in facts. any discussion of the facts is reasonable, don’t get me wrong. but most people advocating against climate change- or anything else, for that matter- are not on about the science or the facts.
in those cases, the only real way to ‘get through’ to them is find somebody who has some close relationship that holds their respect, and have them talk with them. Beyond that… they’re pretty much goners.