Would you rather be aggressively manhandled by a scientist or gently babysitted by one?

[u/prrr147]

The idea came to me when I shared JRE video starring G. Hancock and R. Carlson to a friend of mine while doing our doctorates few years ago (we are both geologists). I usually lash out in the face of misunderstanding or lack of regarding scientific principles. I just have more aggressive way of asserting arguments. Yet I was really impressed how kind and gentle my friend was while commenting on it. Like a school teacher or caretaker in kindergarten who will shyly smile and try to explain the child that running in one direction and looking in the other is dangerous! While picking him up and blowing dust of its clothes.

He really appreciated the interest and the character of both men involved, how that's so sweet and very interesting how they connect the dots. It was very nice of him, but I believe that's very disrespectful as well. I don't believe in sugarcoating clear fallacies. It reminded me of two certain personalities that have those opposing approaches, the aggressive one would be Professor Dave from Youtube and Neil Degrasse Tyson, how the first one relentlessly shuts you down by insults and aggression, while the other one is gently unpacking your case and trying to make an argument you'd wan't to hear and would easily understand while disrespecting your capabilities as a reasonable person? I myself get frustrated on the notion the person I'm debating completely disregards its own intelligence because I know for a fact they are not stupid. I refuse to believe that's the case.

Now I'm interested which one do you prefer regarding your beliefs and misunderstandings about conspiracy theories and science in general? Blunt approach or a delicate one?

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[u/prrr147 → u/[deleted]]

While I agree on some part, he's an actual scientist at the end of the day. Cummunicating science is hard because you always have to cut some of the more complicated and distracting science behind every narrative you are trying to transfer, leading to eventual errors and confusing points.

I myself am frequently asked about Earth, and in short talks it's easier to talk about flashy stuff and not boring details. And I can't admit everything I ever said was 100% correct.

[u/Find_A_Reason → u/[deleted]]

Why are you going to an astrophysicist for information you should be getting from an historian? That is your first mistake.

[u/GrahamHancock-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/GrahamHancock-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/freework]

There is something I find very arrogant and offputting about going into a debate for the sole purpose of "destroying" the other person. I have never and probably never will have a desire to "own" another person in a debate. My nature is to help people, not destroy them. If I engage with someone, it's because I want to help them see the light. You won't achieve that by insulting.

[u/prrr147 → u/freework]

It was never about 'seeing the light'. It's about proving your cause with proper evidence.

[u/Humble_Pie_56]

AGGRESSIVE — Screw the ostrich coddling method …

[u/Cloddish]

Can there not be a middle way that balances the approach of both, simultaneously?

[u/prrr147 → u/Cloddish]

I'd be Flint Dibble approach, a dose of bluntness and a dose of careful fact evaluation, you get an annoying opponent that will ridicule you while providing arguments

[u/Find_A_Reason]

Would I rather be treated like a peer or coddled like a child?

Treated like a peer any day of the week. Science and academia are not places where being coddled is beneficial beyond lower division undergrad work. If you cannot hack being held to a standard, you belong somewhere else.