The Scientist

      My participation in this particular blog was quite bias as I have written previous blogs on who I define as a scientist. I just drew two different people, one “average” looking woman and one “average” looking man. I thoroughly believe that anyone and everyone is a scientist in their own way. The experiences in our everyday life are not only scientific in method but in action, examining action and reaction. Similarly to mine a friend drew a picture of a woman in the jungle. She has long hair and she is examining a monkey. There were no real defining traits besides being a woman. I think this is commentary about either about the changing perception of science or the similar type of thinking between my friends.

          I do not think that the stereotypes are to blame for disconnect between science and the public. Truthfully, I do not think most people think about the people who are performing the experiment, unless they are challenging their accountability, and then they seem to know every detail of the individual. However, stereotypes continue feelings of apprehension and pretension. Science writers struggle to simply get an audience as the general public is alienated and therefore less interested. There needs to be a reformation in the way that the public thinks about science, a revolution if you will.

          I generally have a hard time believing that people are as ignorant to say that they distrust science because of the disposition of another individual. I also believe that most people are intelligent enough to discount Jenny McCarthy’s arguments of vaccine related Autism. We live in a society of diverse thought and opinion and if Jenny McCarthy did exist I am sure there would be someone else to fill the role. What I mean is that I think overall people trust science, and in my opinion too trusting. If people did not trust science there would be a higher readership of science related articles and ideally more people becoming involved in the search for the truth. When homosexuality was part of the DSM there was an outrage by the society, which eventually led to its removal. People did not believe that being gay or a lesbian was a medical phenomenon and therefore challenged scientists to further examine what it means to be homosexual. A distrust of science keeps the entire field moving forward and continuously testing “facts,” and unfortunately I believe the citizens are largely apathetic.