Doing your own research also means being open to the possibility that your hypothesis is incorrect.
I agree with you here in premise, pal.
The “who” they’re attacking is my mother in law. She believes all modern cancer treatments are bad because she’s done her research. She would likely cut off anyone who has had a chemo treatment she feels so strongly about this.
She goes to “children’s health alliance” type seminars and fundraisers and gives them money. She spreads anti vaccination propaganda to her friends, family and any stranger that will listen to her.
She went to nursing school (didn’t graduate) 55 years ago, so she has “knowledge and experiences in these matters”.
She prints out articles and tapes them around the house for when she has company. She email blasts and pastes articles or videos in group messaging feeds. She is right and nothing will change her mind. Evidence and logical rebuttals are met with “deep state” and “big pharmaceutical companies” retorts.
The crazy thing is, it’s a mix of truth and lies which blurs the lines of what you can call out and can’t, and she loves to change the subject as soon as one brings up a point she can’t refute. Raising her voice makes her arguments that much more true.
Now dear reader you must be thinking “How exhausting. What a waste of time to even engage this!” That would be correct, and I don’t. But the point is to bait and draw people into these conversations and although that isn’t me, it’s successful here and there for her to win and feel validated with all of this energy.
The worst part? Her family loves her and seeks her approval so many of them buy into it all. Including those with kids now going unvaccinated.
So I hear your initial point, but this type of questioning could lead to someone being shut down properly if enough were to hit a “I did my research” perpetrator like my MIL. This isn’t about “top 5 ways to fix your AC condenser unit when it stops” type research.
i have a close relative who is basically exactly like this, but with everything alternative medicine. i feel you.
i usually ask them leading questions when they bring up ridiculous health claims, like who published this and what else have they published, what’s the theory of work behind this, etc. the only effect is that they have taken to mocking me by asking me the for sources and paper trails random things i bring up in conversation.
Yeah, and I get that, reading fraudulent facebook posts about alternative medicine while on the toilet doesn’t really count as research, but the original post itself comes across as more elitist than anything and anybody who’s looking into alternative medicine probably already has a distrust of anything the scientific community throws at them anyways. So telling them, “You’re not following the accepted scientific method,” they’re just going to respond, “Well, yeah, that’s the point.”
We know what the OP is attacking, and generally agree. Effectively saying that commoners can’t do their own research isn’t the way to get that done.
You need more practical advice than just “you can’t do it”. Something like the CRAAP test mentioned here is closer to the right approach.
Thinking about it more, something simpler makes more sense.
- Don’t trust the algorithms.
- Question your sources
- Understand the opposite point of view from their point of view.
- Don’t search for the conclusion you want
If you’re into talking to a flat earther, I’d recommend getting a little into flat earth stuff. You’ll understand it better if you’re looking at the same sources they are (valid or not). And, of course, vice versa. And you can then choose which one makes more sense, maybe even switching if the opposite side seems to make more sense than your own.
