Are we believing lies?!

When I first read the title of this particular blog post I thought to myself that this author is right, we, as a society, for our own benefit and the to the benefit of science itself, should have more scientists who can “write badly” or “ at our level” so we can better understand!  But after reading the blogs entirety I see I was a little off!

First off this was shocking to me how the presented contrasting articles were not only different in technique and informational display but in fact the first one was blatantly making false claims and in fact was a lie! This I would have never known or taken the time to have fully researched to reveal its lack of proof. How upsetting to think the average person, not being scientifically qualified, could actually perhaps be being fed lies and false reports on a daily basis. Then the fact that it was overlooked not to be shunned to the appropriate degree and was at full penalty only spotted by a fellow writer makes me even more apprehensive of similar articles. Although it was far easier to read than the actual scientific breakdown and convincing in its claims appealing to the common desire to focus better in school the article itself was providing false information and convincing the audience of false remedies.

I have learned that not only myself but also the society as a whole needs to keep their eyes opened. If we simply take word we read then we may all be running to the stores buying crazy things off the shelves of Walgreens just because someone wrote it will make us feel better or perform better or some other reasonable claim that will actually be lunacy!!!  The fact that so many people did go out and purchase omega-3 and even so saw no clear results shows how easily we can be fooled and how once fooled we simply stay blinded. We desire remedies so badly any claim to remedy becomes the remedy for our desire to be remedied.

I learned that when writing a popular scientific article you must learn the art of maintaining the science while accurately appealing to the intended audience. You cannot substitute opinion for scientific research or add what you hope the medicine might do from what the medicine actually does do! Scientific articles for the popular audience most certainly are not for a dumb audience so write accordingly, validate the claims and be honest!

Liberman provides snip-its of each article he mentions, providing a clear representation of his claims. These are helpful to show the precise faults made and the combating arguments against it.

The bad science column was sharp enough to refute the careless claims and reveals our incredible need for more Bad Science writers everywhere indeed! To see what we cant see and reveal the truth to the common popular science article reader who may have innocently fallen into an unknown trap of misquoted science for the sake of its popularity!