How the pandemic is changing the norms of science

Re:How the pandemic is changing the norms of science by bjt2n3904 on Monday September 13, 2021 @08:26AM (#28510586)

So often, I see people lamenting how people are untrustworthy of science. They are quick to attribute it to their favorite bogeymen: Fox News, disinformation, Facebook, Twitter. Look in the mirror! You are the one causing people to not trust science!

First, the truth is being stretched to hyperbolic proportions. Anyone can see it. "The vaccine is 100% effective, and has no complications!" slowly became "It might wear off in five months, and has a cardiac risk."

Second, we are attaching moral judgements to a technical problem. When choosing whether to use NodeJS, Python, or Rust -- there may be a better fit. But if you choose NodeJS, it does not make you a bad person. If you do not get the vaccine, "the science" crowd will label you as a morally bad person.

The emperor is naked, and I'm tired of being told only idiots and bigots say that.

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Re:How the pandemic is changing the norms of science by neogodless on Monday September 13, 2021 @09:43AM (#28511377)

> "The vaccine is 100% effective, and has no complications!"

Source? Who claimed this?

> If you do not get the vaccine, "the science" crowd will label you as a morally bad person.

This has nothing to do with the "science" crowd. The vaccine reduces the spread of infection. Infection causes harm. Taking the vaccine reduces the statistical probability of you spreading infection to others, and others suffering the consequences of infection. That's a moral issue.

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Re:How the pandemic is changing the norms of science by lordloki on Monday September 13, 2021 @10:00AM (#28511601)

Natural immunity also reduces the spread of infection. The fact that we don't account for the natural immunity of those who have already been infected means that we are not following science but political dogma.

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Re:How the pandemic is changing the norms of science by watwut on Monday September 13, 2021 @10:33AM (#28512006)

Who is that "we"? Cause I have seen that both accounted in models and in regulations.

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Re:How the pandemic is changing the norms of science by neogodless on Monday September 13, 2021 @10:18AM (#28511811)

Where did I claim otherwise? Are you just assuming I think the same things that "everyone" thinks?

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Re:How the pandemic is changing the norms of science by bernulli on Monday September 13, 2021 @12:45PM (#28513652)

Yeah, but picking Rust over Python won't get others killed.

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Re:How the pandemic is changing the norms of science by baja_blast on Monday September 13, 2021 @02:10PM (#28514732)

Unless it's a Boeing 737! I kid, but yeah I agree with your point.

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Re:How the pandemic is changing the norms of science by shadowgovt on Monday September 13, 2021 @10:33AM (#28512009)

You are quite correct that people are making moral judgments too broadly. There's a lot of unknowns during a rapidly-moving pandemic. It's understandable... If our moral systems aren't related to avoidance of death and needless suffering, what are they even for? But I think people should remember that there are a lot of things that we won't know until the pandemic is under control. Humility should be the order of the day, all the way around.

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