Sickening authoritarianism.

What we should do is educate people about how to seek levels of expertise and detail they are capable of evaluating, and respecting expertise with an open mind but making our own decisions. (More follows) https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2020/07/30/you-must-not-do-your-own-research-when-it-comes-to-science/

Of course there will inevitably be people who only listen to their own echo chamber on any of the issues discussed, but literally zero of those will come around by being preached at to “listen to the experts and stop thinking for yourself.”

There are millions of people in the middle who want to be open-minded but lack the skills to discern what is and isn’t true expertise. We could teach them, and do real good.

But “listen to the experts and stop thinking for yourself” can ONLY be used to drum up contempt and snobbishness among the people who already agree with the author against those who don’t.

Increasing snobbish know-it-all-ism among those who are “right” will not serve to win over ANY of those who are “wrong” because all it does is convince them that the mob who disagrees with them is a mob of snobs rather than science-oriented people with a position worth valuing.

Say no to this authoritarian garbage. Promote scientific literacy, education that reaches all levels, humility, curiosity, dialogue, and open debate.

/end rant