2009-07-09 Classic Quote from PZÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Blog vs. Classic Quote from RealClimate

2009-07-09 Chris Mooney Discover Magazine \Unscientific America\PZ Myers vs. Unscientific America\PZ Myers\Pharyngula http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/07/09/classic-quote-from-pzs-blog-vs-classic-quote-from-realclimate/ Classic Quote from PZ’s Blog, vs. Classic Quote from RealClimate Classic Quote from PZ’s Blog vs. Classic Quote from RealClimate  From [a comment on] [[2009-07-08 Unscientific America|PZ's blog]], complete with the standard profanity, which will not be edited in this instance: Mr. Mooney, you seem to have this bizarre notion that anyone here cares what you think, or what you have to offer.

After you spend two chapters essentially telling one of the strongest voices of the pro-science movement that he’s a poopyhead who needs to sit down and shut up, even though he has evidence on your side, do you really think that he or those who think speaking out and up are going to heed what you have to say? To care?

And why – why – don’t you expect the stupid to educate itself, rather than telling people to pat stupid on the head and say, “there, there, I’m sorry if what I said hurt your feelings.” These people are screaming their heads off while smearing feces on the wall. "There there" will not change them. It only enables them, and usually makes them act up even worse.

I don’t think it’s the responsibility of any scientist or pro-science ally to make people feel better. Fuck their feelings! Ridicule can work to make people educate themselves, especially when they are way past the age of being compelled into schools. Yes, well, this whole mindset is precisely what we wrote a book against. The blame the public mindset. The it's not our fault, we're the smart people mindset.

The undeniable reality of the situation is that the gap between scientists and the public is the fault of both, and it won't do to put the blame only on one side. Bridging the gap requires many things of the public, but also many things from scientists – among them some introspection about what has gone wrong these many years.

That’s why we're quite confident that people who are ready to stop blaming the public or the religious, and start working with them to try to change things, will like our book. And indeed, we have plenty of evidence of that.

&ldquo;That’s why we're quite confident that people who are ready to stop blaming the public or the religious, and start working with them to try to change things, will like our book. And indeed, we have plenty of evidence of that.&rdquo;   