Slashdot Mirror


The Spread of Ignorance (bbc.com)

New submitter Eric Eikrem writes: BBC Future has just published an interesting article on Robert Proctor, a science historian from Stanford University, who studies how people or companies with vested interests spread ignorance and obfuscate knowledge. The spread of ignorance follows certain patterns, whether it is about tobacco or climate change. 'Proctor found that ignorance spreads when firstly, many people do not understand a concept or fact and secondly, when special interest groups -- like a commercial firm or a political group – then work hard to create confusion about an issue. In the case of ignorance about tobacco and climate change, a scientifically illiterate society will probably be more susceptible to the tactics used by those wishing to confuse and cloud the truth.'

6 of 416 comments (clear)

  1. Nothing new by Hognoxious · · Score: 5, Funny

    This has been going on for 6,000 years.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    1. Re:Nothing new by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's literally as old as the Earth!

    2. Re:Nothing new by haggie · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's been happening since the first human rode a dinosaur!

    3. Re:Nothing new by Barsteward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Donald Trump reckons he's got all the answers - does that count ? :o)

      --
      "The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." - Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
  2. Re:Like Trump supporters. by Greyfox · · Score: 3, Funny

    Mmm. Looking at the odds, Cruz takes the Republican nomination in a contested election, Hillary beats Sanders 51% to 49% and Trump/Sanders goes on to beat Hillary and Cruz in a massive write-in landslide in the general election.

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

  3. Re:Questioning by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 3, Funny

    Except for climate science, where any question of the alleged "Consensus" is heresy suitable for burning at the stake.

    That only happens if you ignore the existing evidence, and bring none of your own.

    Tobacco doesn't cause cancer either. As the Simpsons prove, it is Democrats https://www.youtube.com/watch?... (at 1:38 mark)

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.