The realm of magic

The realm of magic

Thanks Kee Hinckley for posting this. I’m often debating with various conspiracy theorists on G+. Whether it’s big pharma conspiracies or Monsanto/anti-GMO conspiracies, this video helps put the anti-science proponents in perspective. When people use big pharma as an argument against a lot of the biomedical science that I post about, it does two things. First it insults people like me that spend their careers using science to fight things like cancer. When conspiracy theorist say things like “big pharma has a cure for cancer but it’s more profitable to keep the cure secret”, it implies that I, along with my colleagues, are bumbling idiots or unscrupulous scum. Well I’ve said many times, big pharma must have the wrong address for me because I drive a VW. I wish I knew who is cashing my checks from big pharma.

Secondly, the conspiracy theory card is a cop-out. It’s very difficult to argue against because the conspiracy theorists just negates everything you say because you are part of the conspiracy. It’s very convenient and lazy.

My favorite quote from the video is:

Once you’re forced to hypothesize whole new technologies to keep our conspiracy possible, you’ve stepped over into the realm of magic. It demands a deep and abiding faith in things you can never know.

and knowing vs. believing is very powerful.

Kee Hinckley posted the mobile link, which is why I didn’t reshare his post. However his comments are also worth sharing.

This video has a very important lesson for people who believe every government conspiracy theory out there.

You don’t have to watch the whole thing, although he does an excellent job of showing how the technology available in 1969 was incapable of faking a moon landing. But watch the last two minutes (11m and on). There he explains why it matters that you don’t fall for conspiracy hoaxes. Because yes, the government does lie, and that makes it even more important that you have the critical skills to distinguish the real problems from the made up ones. When your conspiracy theory starts relying on faith (whether in technology, ridiculous numbers of secret organizations, or anything else) you’ve crossed the line.

#ScienceEveryday  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGXTF6bs1IU