John Oliver discusses how and why media outlets so often report untrue or incomplete information as science, confusing scientific facts with entertainment. Join the club if you’re puzzled daily by conflicting bits of ‘scientific’ information. One source claims a glass of red wine is just as good as an hour at the gym. Before you get excited, TIME – no less, published the following information “smelling farts might prevent cancer.” The former information is reason for everyone but teetotalers to rejoice, and the latter is good news for victims of the ‘dutch oven’ treatment…But neither of those ‘facts’ are true! Today, I read that hugging your dog causes stress for the dog. Perhaps that study was done by a sample group of Chihuahuas, with no control group of Golden Labs to give the study the necessary breadth ?
John talks about why we’re faced with so much disinformation masquerading as science, and calls for the media to be more responsible. When people no longer believe stories masquerading as science, they also fail to believe actual science. It’s no wonder that the truth about climate change and the efficacy and safety of vaccines remain blurred for some.
If the media can be convinced to be more truthful, we will still need entertaining ‘science’ to talk about. That’s why a new network is on the horizon. “TODD Talk – The format of TED Talk, and the intellectual rigor of morning news shows.