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Americans perception of scientists

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animaster
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25 Sep 2014, 4:40 pm

Tollorin wrote:
Humanaut wrote:
We're heading for a new ice age.

What are your evidences? So far the data show that the opposite is happening.

Image


http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/sotc/sea_ice.html



The_Walrus
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25 Sep 2014, 4:46 pm

Janissy wrote:
ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo wrote:
What's really interesting is, people can say anything and have it make sense and seem scientific if they try hard enough. It is easy enough for people to be fooled and to fool themselves.


That is often true and it's a problem. It's something traditionally exploited by marketers (putting claims in ads that sound scientific) and more recently exploited by Intelligent Design proponents.

I learned as a child to closely look at claims and not just accept them because they looked science-y ("seems legit" in today's slang).

Just to defend "seems legit", it's usually used to mean "that's clearly bollocks".

In the UK, the problem that critical thinking suffers from is that the A-Level course, whilst informative, is not valued by universities because it is too easy. The universities then complain that students aren't studying critical thinking, after they have explicitly told them that they are wasting their time!

I did Critical Thinking on top of my normal studies because it was much less time intensive than a normal A Level, but it was really informative and has certainly been helpful in my university studies. I think if universities provided an incentive to encourage prospective students to study it, they'd see the benefits.



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25 Sep 2014, 5:50 pm

If not for science we would not know about the MENACE of Dihydrogen Monoxide!

http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

Quote:
Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as Dihydrogen Oxide, Hydrogen Hydroxide, Hydronium Hydroxide, or simply Hydric acid. Its basis is the highly reactive hydroxyl radical, a species shown to mutate DNA, denature proteins, disrupt cell membranes, and chemically alter critical neurotransmitters. The atomic components of DHMO are found in a number of caustic, explosive and poisonous compounds such as Sulfuric Acid, Nitroglycerine and Ethyl Alcohol.

For more detailed information, including precautions, disposal procedures and storage requirements, refer to one of the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) available for DHMO:

...



:o


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naturalplastic
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25 Sep 2014, 7:24 pm

GoonSquad wrote:
If not for science we would not know about the MENACE of Dihydrogen Monoxide!

http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

Quote:
Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as Dihydrogen Oxide, Hydrogen Hydroxide, Hydronium Hydroxide, or simply Hydric acid. Its basis is the highly reactive hydroxyl radical, a species shown to mutate DNA, denature proteins, disrupt cell membranes, and chemically alter critical neurotransmitters. The atomic components of DHMO are found in a number of caustic, explosive and poisonous compounds such as Sulfuric Acid, Nitroglycerine and Ethyl Alcohol.

For more detailed information, including precautions, disposal procedures and storage requirements, refer to one of the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) available for DHMO:

...



:o


Not to mention that its also a dangerous addictive narcotic.

Once you're hooked on doing dihydrogen oxide you can NEVER kick it! Atleast I've never heard of anyone who ever gave it up, and lived!



Janissy
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26 Sep 2014, 8:47 am

The_Walrus wrote:
Just to defend "seems legit", it's usually used to mean "that's clearly bollocks".


:lol: :oops:
It is my destiny as a middle aged person to misuse current slang.