Bill Nye on engaging with conspiracy theorists
The ever lovable Bill Nye is back with a compelling perspective. It's not the first time it's been suggested, but it is indeed a matter of cognitive dissonance, where people cling on to their long held beliefs, often rejecting rigorously examined, peer-reviewed, cold hard evidence from professionals around the world.
His advice is very sound, to engage conspiracy theorists with patience and with the understanding that we are on the same side. Often, animosity between conspiracy theorists and rationalists cause their beliefs to be further strengthened. They form cliques and it adds to a vicious cycle of confirmation bias.
It's never going to get us all on the same page. We need to work together, with patience and effort. When it comes to facts backed by overwhelming evidence, there should be no space for different opinion - we should be all on the same page. Of course, there certainly are legitimate conspiracies out there.
It's funny how Nye is one of the most delusional fanatics around, and he's the one denouncing others.
if you believe the earth is flat you can't call anyone else delusional lmao
Are you saying that because I don't agree with Nye, I believe the Earth to be flat? I don't. There's plenty of evidence the Earth is not flat. There's just no evidence that Nye has any idea what he's talking about.
That's the first flat Earth straw man I've ever seen. Oh, if Bill only had a brain!
Where'd you possibly get the idea I thought the Earth was flat, anyway?
because most anti science on steemit are flat Earthers lmao
Shows what you know about people or science.
If anything I'd say conspiracy theorists are being proven right over and over again.
The latest being vault 7. Before that was snowden and manning, dnc corruption and emails, the panama papers and so on and so forth.
Edit I guess if anything I just think generalizing all conspiracy theorists as the same brand is a little inclusive. There are people who believe in reptilian shape shifting aliens running the planet and those who believe there's financial manipulation at an international level to keep the powers of those that be in place. I feel like they're on separate levels. Just imo.
Like I mentioned, certain conspiracies are realistic. Personally, I wouldn't even call them conspiracy theories. Some have called it deep vs shallow etc, but I agree all of this shouldn't be generalised. Snowden's reveals were not conspiracies at all - it's all there in the Patriot Act. It's not even illegal. I'd just call it confirming something, that while dubious, was entirely expected.
You'll notice Nye focuses on conspiracy theories which have overwhelming evidence against their viability. I guess he has a similar definition to mine. He doesn't mention stuff like Russians manipulating the US elections, which is entirely realistic. But again, I see your point, and I'd like to see different terms too. One for people clinging on to beliefs that are thoroughly invalidated by overwhelming evidence, and two for people who are skeptical about certain things but that may actually be realistic and reasonable just pending evidence.