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Scientific American's departing editor and the politicization of science

(reason.com)
473 points Bostonian | 10 comments | 18 Nov 24 22:04 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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devindotcom ◴[19 Nov 24 00:59 UTC] No.42179087[source]▶
Every piece called out here is clearly labeled "opinion" - did they even read the normal news and analysis sections? Countless newspapers and outlets and actual scientific journals have opinion/editorial sections that are generally very well firewalled from the factual content. You could collect the worst hot takes from a few years of nearly any site with a dedicated opinion page and pretend that it has gone downhill. But that this the whole point of having a separate opinion section — so opinions have a place to go, and are not slipped into factual reporting. And many opinion pieces are submitted by others or solicited as a way to show a view that the newsroom doesn't or can't espouse.

Whether the EIC of SciAm overstepped with her own editorializing is probably not something we as outsiders can really say, given the complexities of running a newsroom. I would caution people against taking this superficial judgment too seriously.

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defrost ◴[19 Nov 24 01:09 UTC] No.42179132[source]▶
The linked article itself is an opinion piece.

Reason does interesting stuff, sure, but no mistake it has a bias and that is a right centre libertarian view that loads factual content toward a predetermined conconclusion that individual free thinkers trump all.

As such they take part in a current conservative habit of demonising "Science" to undermine results that bear on, say, environmental health, climate change, on so on that might result in slowing down a libertarian vision of industry.

I still read their copy, I'm a broad ingestor of content, but no one should be blind to their lean either.

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karaterobot ◴[19 Nov 24 02:18 UTC] No.42179511[source]▶
Are you saying the linked is meant to demonize science? The impression I got was that he was doing the exact opposite: saying that SciAm's editorial direction was harming the public perception of science, which could have far-reaching effects. I don't see that as an anti-science stance.
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gopher_space ◴[19 Nov 24 02:40 UTC] No.42179616[source]▶
The author's little trans tirade is a great example, and you can start with his "I'm something of a medical expert" line. Pure ideology.
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mitthrowaway2 ◴[19 Nov 24 03:12 UTC] No.42179775[source]▶
I can't find where the author writes "I'm something of a medical expert". But for myself, I'm not up to date on the research. Does this article misrepresent the current state of scientific understanding?
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1. gopher_space ◴[19 Nov 24 03:36 UTC] No.42179893[source]▶
> Most importantly, [the article] falsely claimed that there is solid evidence youth gender medicine ameliorates adolescent suicidality, when we absolutely do not know that to any degree of certainty.

There's solid evidence youth gender medicine ameliorates suicidality. Cherry picking from a single study is dishonest.

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2. TheOtherHobbes ◴[19 Nov 24 08:48 UTC] No.42181271[source]▶
And unscientific.

To be clear - the accusation isn't SciAm was politicised, but that it was politicised in an ideologically unacceptable way.

I doubt we'd hear a squeak of complaint if a new editor started promoting crackpot opinion pieces about how all research should be funded by markets instead of governments (because governments shouldn't exist), or that libertarianism is the highest form of rationality.

I'll take its deeply-felt concern for science and reason seriously when it starts calling out RFK Jr for being unscientific. (Prediction: this will never happen.)

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3. codocod ◴[19 Nov 24 09:02 UTC] No.42181336[source]▶
> There's solid evidence youth gender medicine ameliorates suicidality.

Not at all true, there is no solid evidence of this. That's why it's so controversial, because ideologues are pushing for these pharmaceutical and surgical interventions on children despite the paucity of evidence.

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4. strken ◴[19 Nov 24 11:21 UTC] No.42182256[source]▶
Did we read the same article? It literally has a section calling out RFK Jr, as follows:

> If experts aren't to be trusted, charlatans and cranks will step into the vacuum. To mangle a line from Archer, "Do you want a world where RFK Jr. is the head of HHS? That's how you get a world where RFK Jr. is appointed head of HHS."

What is this, if not an explicit call-out? I don't agree with or see a need to defend Reason very often, but what more do you want from them, here?

5. ◴[19 Nov 24 11:25 UTC] No.42182273[source]▶
6. Nevermark ◴[19 Nov 24 12:31 UTC] No.42182722[source]▶
> I doubt we'd hear a squeak […]

Perhaps, especially in a dialogue specifically about scientific, reasoning and factual quality, we should avoid arguments based on counterfactual conjectures. A type of argument so weak it facilitates any viewpoint.

If you have even weak evidence, better to reference that.

7. miltonlost ◴[19 Nov 24 15:54 UTC] No.42184829[source]▶
> ideologues are pushing for these pharmaceutical and surgical interventions on children despite the paucity of evidence.

And you're pushing anti-trans propaganda that surgical interventions are happening on children despite paucity of evidence that it's happening. Not to mention lumping together puberty blockers with surgery, which you should not.

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8. codocod ◴[19 Nov 24 16:35 UTC] No.42185324{3}[source]▶
> And you're pushing anti-trans propaganda that surgical interventions are happening on children despite paucity of evidence that it's happening

It is well documented that it's happening.

See for example https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-tran..., specifically the section titled "U.S. patients ages 13-17 undergoing mastectomy with a prior gender dysphoria diagnosis".

That's not propaganda, it's data from medical insurance claims. There is other evidence too, including peer-reviewed research published in medical journals, and recordings of clinicians discussing this.

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9. jl6 ◴[19 Nov 24 17:51 UTC] No.42186252{4}[source]▶
It’s become something of a cliche to see this exchange: “it never happens”, followed by clear evidence of it happening. One wonders if it ever leads to the person questioning what other misconceptions they’ve been fed.
10. gopher_space ◴[19 Nov 24 20:45 UTC] No.42187903[source]▶
It's mainly the parents pushing for medical intervention. Keep in mind that the impetus is generally a suicide attempt or self-mutilation by their 10 year old.

There's nothing fun or trendy or exciting about this for child or family. Deeply embarrassing, far worse than getting your first hernia check if your memory goes back that far.

The one thing we absolutely did. not. need. through all of this were politicians and the peanut gallery weighing in on a private medical situation while ignoring the point of our effort.

Nothing in this article, and none of the comments here mention the life of the child in question. Too busy scoring points to think about reality or humanity in any way. What do you think that looks like from my perspective?