The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe > Podcast Episodes

SGU 5x5 #109

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Mike:
Celebrity Pseudoscience

AngleWyrm:
"By your command." ~ Sharon Valerii

It is a problem of famous and important people, that specializing in fame/importance seems to be mutually exclusive with detailed understanding and knowledge of other fields of human endeavor. Sadly, there is the impetus to contribute, often run afoul of shallow understanding. And yet these people are the ones with the resources and following to make modifications.

It reminds me of the tragedy of a dumb Cambodian farmer (Pol Pot) who became dictator and decided to abolish all cities, a Back-To-Nature protocol that resulted in the deaths by starvation and execution of 1/5 of the nation's population.

Trinoc:

--- Quote from: AngleWyrm on Apr 13, 2012, 04:25:47 PM ---"By your command." ~ Sharon Valerii

It is a problem of famous and important people, that specializing in fame/importance seems to be mutually exclusive with detailed understanding and knowledge of other fields of human endeavor. Sadly, there is the impetus to contribute, often run afoul of shallow understanding. And yet these people are the ones with the resources and following to make modifications.

It reminds me of the tragedy of a dumb Cambodian farmer (Pol Pot) who became dictator and decided to abolish all cities, a Back-To-Nature protocol that resulted in the deaths by starvation and execution of 1/5 of the nation's population.

--- End quote ---

I think it may be selection bias to think all celebs are airheads only concerned with fame. We don't notice those who either keep their mouths shut about things they don't understand or who actually make a positive contribution to science or engineering. An example of the latter is of course Hedy Lamarr, who jointly invented some of the radio communication techniques we use in things like Wifi and Bluetooth today.

dorbie:
Let's remember that Joe Rogan got absolutely Spanked by Phil Plait in the first show but then during a do-over he requested he was MUCH more aggressive and better prepared. Did a total Gish Gallop and Penn was useless as a moderator.

James:

--- Quote from: dorbie on Sep 14, 2012, 05:23:13 AM ---Let's remember that Joe Rogan got absolutely Spanked by Phil Plait in the first show but then during a do-over he requested he was MUCH more aggressive and better prepared. Did a total Gish Gallop and Penn was useless as a moderator.

--- End quote ---

That's not how I remember it, in the first debate Rogan(mainly using Gish Gallop) spanked Phil Plait, then in the second, Plait came back better prepared but still lost or made it a draw at best.

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