tomate 🍅Mar 3
When someone says „Scientists do not want you to know“ you can dismiss everything from there on. Scientists want you to know. They are desperate that you know. They can’t shut up about what they found out and want you to know.
Show threadTaran RampersadMar 3

@jascha it's the whole point of science.

The friction occurs because of who funds studies, etc. And that can be legitimate.

But science itself is just science.

Every conversation I have had where I encountered this, I made that point. And it sticks.

There is bias in some aspects of what is *presented* as science.

But that's not science.

Science is not marketing. So I point to that. 🙃

Show threadGutterPoetryMar 3

@knowprose @jascha

Not exactly, for example, medical research is riddled with misogyny. The bias towards white males in scientific studies does lead to conclusions which are incorrectly applied to the whole of humanity.

Show threadTaran RampersadMar 3

@GutterPoetry @jascha That is a valid issue.

That is a science issue but it is a blind spot that is being addressed.

I'll give you an example.

My father was in a diabetic coma, but he had no ketones in his urine. Why? He was East Indian. The medicine around that has changed.

Not misogyny. Misogyny requires intent. Medicine has been biased toward white males. No question. But I won't say every doctor who built it hated women. That seems extreme.

Some did. Maybe many. But not all.

Show threadGutterPoetry

@knowprose @jascha

Science is only as unbiased as the researcher, and given that most people (even women) carry unconscious bias against women, there is little chance that this issue will be addressed so easily. The same goes for racial bias. Knowing about the problem doesn't alleviate it, huge changes must be made, studies replicated, new investigations carried out.

Misogyny can be overt or not & through direct and indirect means. Neglect of female health is misogyny & wasn't accidental.

Mar 3 at 6:39pmWeb
Show threadTaran RampersadMar 3

@GutterPoetry @jascha I have no question that there is bias. That's part of being human.

Which is where peer reviews, etc, come in.

As to specific biases that you are pointing to... I don't have specific data so I cannot comment on it.

The whole point of science, imho, it to fill in holes in our knowledge and to ask better questions.

Do you have any ideas on how to improve on the issues you perceive?

Show threadGutterPoetryMar 4

@knowprose @jascha

As I said, replication of biased studies with a representative study population & disregard of older biased studies. Deliberate new research ~ women & other marginalised groups. Scientists & medical staff being forced to recognise the seriousness of past & present bias, so the issues cannot be downplayed any longer - meaning oversight from a body with the power to effect change globally (punish financially). Not likely, especially in the trump (white male superiority) era.