Blogger Bob Webster presents the perfect case for scientific skepticism in a recent post challenging the link between hurrican activity and climate change. Webster complains that his earlier climate change posts have garnered criticism from “students who were clearly being taken in by the steady drumbeat of disinformation.” He goes on, “I cautioned them to think for themselves and not simply swallow the diet being forced upon them. Scientific inquiry involves sufficiently questioning assumptions of theories in order to intelligently assess their credibility.”
So sage; so noble. But then Webster marshalls his math degree, his experience as a website designer and his “interest in meteorology” to dismiss the peer-reviewed work of some of the leading scientists in the world.
This thinking for yourself is a good thing. Even better, take care from whom you accept your steady drumbeat of (dis)information.
