Posts by Hilary Stace
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Cracker: It's a Wonderful Thing, in reply to giovanni tiso,
As far as I remember it only impacted on what the school could routinely sell on its premises, and never stoppped kids selling chocolate or sausages for fundraisers, so why did that affect your school? It gave the secondary school I was involved with the ability to finally get out of its octopus-grip contract with Coca Cola. The school canteen had a bit of transition time but did manage to come up with healthier cheap and popular options. Staff did report a noticeable difference in behaviour. Many students still went to the dairy down the road for pies etc, but at least they had to walk to get there. A senior student initiative wanted the school to go further and be GM and GE free, but that didn't quite happen.
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Christopher, I fear that this is the tip of the iceberg. People with autism will already be very stressed by the earthquake, and will have all sorts of reactions that others won't understand. I hope he gets some help now.
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That was my kind of programme. Thanks Damian.
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Just had a short sharp shake in Wellington.
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John Campbell just did a very nice apology for rudeness but not for challenging someone he thinks is terrifying people with false science.
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OK then, for another distraction, what about those plastic hologram bracelets that are very popular at the moment, particularly with sportspeople? I also notice some politicians wearing them. They cost about $100 and many people (including those well aware of scientific method) swear by them.
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But whatever is right or wrong, people still believe what Ken Ring says, and Andrew Wakefield for that matter. I find it fascinating how people use the 'rhetoric of science' to support beliefs. In my own research I have studied the damage that the 'refrigerator mother' meme and the immunisation/MMR link have done, but however wrong in fact they are still widely believed..
My interest is in how to tackle false beliefs and telling people they are wrong does not appear to be an effective way.
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Carol - If you want to change people's minds you first have to acknowledge that they have a right to their views. Telling anybody that what they believe is rubbish and that something else is 'right' is not much different from any fundamentalist approach. It is harder but more useful to listen to them and then work out what form of challenge would be most effective in getting them to move. John Campbell's interview with ken Ring was an example of how not to do it.
Just imagine the reaction now if someone said that there is no god so we don't need to rebuild any churches.
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Thanks Mark. How did I miss that? And Emma, thanks for clarification. Wouldn't it be great to have a serious TV scientific forum. Sort of like Media 7 and the Court Report but for deliberating on scientific theories. Somewhere to acknowledge alternative views because they are so widely held, but challenge them over scientific method, data etc. Have a real discussion and see if there is any room for agreement. (Reminds me of the Big Bang Theory episode when Leonard decides he can't have a girlfriend who believes in astrology)
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Hard News: The First Draft, in reply to Craig Ranapia,
[off topic] Craig, fortunately, I didn't see John Campbell on immunisation, but I'm guessing he didn't shout at the people refusing to immunise their children. The only mainstream media I've noted which has dealt with this topic well is Kathryn Ryan who actually interviewed Brian Deer.