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This Is a News Website Article About a Scientific Paper

Posted by Soulskill on from the turning-the-scientific-world-on-its-head-or-maybe-not dept.

jamie passes along a humorous article at The Guardian which pokes fun at the shallow and formulaic science journalism typical of many mainstream news outlets. Quoting: In this paragraph I will state the main claim that the research makes, making appropriate use of 'scare quotes' to ensure that it's clear that I have no opinion about this research whatsoever. ... If the research is about a potential cure, or a solution to a problem, this paragraph will describe how it will raise hopes for a group of sufferers or victims. This paragraph elaborates on the claim, adding weasel-words like 'the scientists say' to shift responsibility for establishing the likely truth or accuracy of the research findings on to absolutely anybody else but me, the journalist. ... 'Basically, this is a brief soundbite,' the scientist will say, from a department and university that I will give brief credit to. 'The existing science is a bit dodgy, whereas my conclusion seems bang on,' she or he will continue."

5 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. Re:This Is a Comment Expressing New Found Skeptici by grub · · Score: 5, Informative


    I think your research is bogus. You didn't back it up with a single goatse or tubgirl link.

    --
    Trolling is a art,
  2. Simpsons did it. by MaggieL · · Score: 5, Informative

    No, wait, it was actually http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1174

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    -=Maggie Leber=-
    1. Re:Simpsons did it. by acheron12 · · Score: 3, Informative

      So did Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.

      --
      there is no god but truth, and reality is its prophet
  3. Re:This Is a Comment Expressing New Found Skeptici by Cap'nPedro · · Score: 2, Informative

    You see that asterisk next to eldavojohn's name?

    The asterisk means that this user is a subscriber to Slashdot. They have shelled out some coin to help keep Slashdot running. They get assorted extra features for helping support the site, including the asterisk and the glorious bragging rights that go along with it. [Including seeing front-page posts sooner than us plebs.]

  4. Re:This Is a Comment Expressing New Found Skeptici by Artifakt · · Score: 2, Informative

    This is the comment where I inform you that if I hadn't used all my mod points just a few minutes ago, your post would have gotten one, but don't specify whether that's good or bad for you.

    (Not posting AC, just because I don't wanna).

    --
    Who is John Cabal?