You know why we are behind the rest of the world in science education?

[TZ]

Its because people in this country can't even distinguish between science and pseudoscience and science and religion!
Okay, I saw this thread in the science forum about dowsing and thats what got this started. How many times do we see things posted in the science forum that aren't science? UFO/alien invasions, wacky scientific "inventions", quantuum woo, etc. And when people like me complain about it, often we get "why are you being so closed minded"? AARGH! And then of course there are the science is just another philosophy PO-MO crap where I and others get accused of having "faith based science" ie the Gardasil idiots, or worshipping at the alter of science!
And of course the ever present creationist idiots like Sarah Palin that think creationism should be taught ALONG SIDE scientific evolution because you know all POV should be taught in "science class" (although I wonder what she would say if we offered to teach the Hindi and other views of creationism along with the biblical stuff..). As if evolution was not scientific fact but opinion.
How the hell can we possibly compete with the rest of the world if people here don't even understand the basic scientific method or how it works....?
To our international friends..it seems to me like in other countries at least THAT basic understanding seems commonplace?:rant:

[YankeyMCC]

1. That upset me too

I'm typically quiet on these things, perhaps too quiet and thanks to all of you who are more active in fighting this sort of harmful thinking, but when I saw the origins of that thread - the thread in E/E - it really upset me because on the issues we're currently facing, as a world not just the nation, in regards to the environment and energy are the most pressing issues facing humanity today and ignorance and rejection of science has cost us so much already.

[semillama]

3. Yes, I had to reply to that E/E thread with my standard dowsing link.

Really, it's one of those things that if you think hard enough about it, it becomes obviously absurd. This whole thing is a result of a lack of critical thinking skills among the general populace. In fact, I would go so far as to say that critical thinking is actively rejected by a large part of the country.

[mr blur]

2. As far as Mooselini goes,

how about suggesting that contraception advice and condoms be given alongside the abstinence-only Fundie garbage? You know, just so that "the kids" can see both sides of the argument and make their own minds up? She could start with her own family...

[Orrex]

4. Let me tell you about my divine rod

Finding water is only the least of what it can do.

[TZ]

5. Oh.

I thought that was actually your wizard's staff a la Pratchett...;)

[PVnRT]

8. Water SPRAYS out of mine

[YankeyMCC]

6. Why I don't usually speak up

... I tried to keep at it but people will Just not let go of their magical beliefs. :banghead:

[Warpy]

7. On the positive side, the most recent Health Lounge

chew toy got tombstoned in record time, thanks to Skinner's vigilance.

I wonder how long it will take to think up another screen name and open another account. It'll be back.

The sad truth is that the anti intellectualism in this country has pretty much destroyed most interest in geeky, unattractive, pimples and glasses type of education, making kids think they'll automatically turn into that stereotype if they pursue it at all. Besides, when one political party starts treating opinion as fact and saying they create reality, what's the point? Why bother studying when you can hand in purchased papers and lie on your resume and no one will be motivated to check up on you until you screw up, and if you quit fast enough, not even then?

I missed the dowsing thread, but I'd probably have alerted on it, "not science, please move."

[skepticscott]

9. Are you sure it's not the other way around?

Is the reason people in this country can't distinguish between science and pseudoscience or between and science and religion because our science education is so poor? I can state from personal experience (as can others, I suspect) that even what passes for a higher level science education in this country is virtually useless when it comes to instilling critical thinking skills.

[realisticphish]

10. well

woo is correlated with education across the board. And I don't think the failure is at higher level science. If anything, lower level science is the problem, because that's where most people stop.

I also don't think critical thinking is all that different in other countries. Their woos just believe different stuff, rather than creationism etc

[Deep13]

11. I was going to say Fundy idiots...

...but your answer is a lot more complete.