Narrow minded or am I asking too much?

[PsychD_Student]

I smell fish.

This is the problem. This is a political issue, one of which is highly emotional. Individuals can have an emotional reaction that prevents them from seeing the perspective of someone else. Emotionally evocative subjects can also prevent people from even learning more about the opposite side's point of view. Discussions about these sensitive topics may even reinforce their views by simply hearing points from the other side.

However, I believe that information is never the problem. It's how people use the information. The same material can be used for different purposes, such as his research could be used by some people to suggest that it because BPs have bacteria in their mouths, then they must be dangerous. However, the counterargument can explain so do cats and ferrets, yet we keep those as pets-- among a million other counter arguments that could be made against this.

So in a grant application, if you fail to explain the significance and impact of your work it is the failure of the (highly experienced) review committee to "understand" the work?

Scientists have a responsibility to ensure that their work is communicated effectively, clearly, and efficiently to the media and to the general public.

Well, when I'm writing my proposal for the university's Internal Review Board or a grant proposal to the NIH, I am writing to colleagues, not laypersons. Therefore, if they weren't seeing the positive implications of the research clearly laid out, then they may have a personal problem with the topic. Which is when politics comes into play. The inherently political nature of information and how it can be used, in addition to individual's political agendas, can highly affect the approval of research. So researchers aren't different than non-researchers when it comes to political agendas.

What I am saying is chill out. If you're not a researcher, then you probably dont understand the research process, which includes the implications of research. Just like I don't know how to perform surgery, which stocks are the best to purchase in 2012, or how to run a school district. Those aren't in my area of expertise.

You instantly focus on the negative aspect, and ignore any possible beneficial information that can be gained from research. Please do not talk down to me because you had an emotional reaction to a topic on a forum. His research, regardless of how much you believe may cause harm, can be VERY beneficial in many applied fields. You never know until you conduct it.

You sound like the Church in 500 A.D.

If I want to know more about something I will learn more about it. I don't expect someone to teach me. They are researchers, not teachers.

Right! If you have a problem with the research, regardless of the reason (political, naiveté, or indifference) then don't participate. But I think it's more that you're not willing to listen and open your mind to learn about why this research is important and how it can help you as an individual. I find thats often the reason for not participating in research on hot topics.

I don't know about you guys, but I want to know as much as I can about my babies in my rack system!