Intellectual elitism

[Kamarling]

I'm becoming increasingly concerned about the trend of some of the threads to be dominated by a certain clique. In one thread, Bernardo made a much appreciated effort to explain his ideas in plain English. Others were not so generous, suggesting that those who could not follow the jargon should constantly refer to Wikipedia for an understanding of the terms. The latter intolerance is little short of intellectual snobbery.

If that is the way things are going, I can't see myself hanging around here much longer. I feel that I can understand many difficult concepts if the person explaining makes an effort to use plain English. Academics are comfortable with the style of written and spoken dialogue used when publishing their papers or presenting a technical lecture. But some of the members here do not have that formal training and following the language can seem like wading through treacle. If Carl Sagan or Rupert Sheldrake could speak and write lucidly and convey difficult ideas, I'm sure it isn't beyond the intellectuals here.

Might I propose a solution? I'm sure the moderators could set up a side forum and invite the professionals and academics to debate away, using the jargon they are comfortable with. I don't think it would take anything away from the main forum. People contribute to the Haven for specialist issues but still take part in the general discussion.

[Kamarling]

Embarrassing but I just looked and found just such a forum: Scientific Debates.

[Arouet]

While I always appreciate posts being made in layman's terms, physics is a pretty tough subject and most concepts take years of training to really fully undestand. While I of course appreciate those in those conversations going out of their way to dumb it down, sometimes that would make it very difficult for them to really have a back and forth discussion.

It's not like every conversation is filled with high-level physics-talk, but I think sometimes it is entirely appropriate and I don't have a problem with it.

Course, they should always be polite about it when someone doesn't understand!

[Kamarling]

I just feel that if they could move the highly technical debate to their own forum (not closed, by the way - in case anyone else really wants to try to follow) they could do so without feeling they had to modify the language to suit the non-technical readers.

[Arouet]

Originally Posted by Kamarling

I just feel that if they could move the highly technical debate to their own forum (not closed, by the way - in case anyone else really wants to try to follow) they could do so without feeling they had to modify the language to suit the non-technical readers.

The thing is, I think most people forget about the sub-forums (I know I do). My bookmark is set to the main page and I'll bet that's where most people's are. I enjoy reading those complicated threads though I don't pretend to understand them.

My advice: just don't read those threads. Again: its not like they dominate every thread!

[Kamarling]

Originally Posted by Arouet

The thing is, I think most people forget about the sub-forums (I know I do). My bookmark is set to the main page and I'll bet that's where most people's are.

Yeah, me too ... that's why I didn't realise there is already a forum fitting the description of the one I was proposing.

[platobird]

Yeh I agree that the techno jargon can be annoying. Beyond that, I also think these left brain thinkers are not seeing the forest for the trees. Dissecting every little issue down to it's mechanical nuances seems so materialistic! What's the point if it's the non-material world we are trying to investigate?

I do breeze down that sort of stuff, (I can't tell you how many Quantum Mechanics books and articles I've read, and understood only vaguely ), but then I stand back....waaaaaaaaay back, and look at the big picture. Unfortunately left brained thinkers rarely roam into their right brain. They almost never even try to put the puzzle pieces of varying research together into a coherent picture.

Or maybe each group, left-right-and in between, has their own roll to play when it comes to nailing down these issues.

[Arouet]

rumour has it we ALL use both halves of our brains!

But as for this topic - I think there is a broad enough membership that different types of discussions can happen. For example, I don't have any problem on this synchronicity issue having one thread to look at the scientific-rationalist approach to it, and another thread where people just tell their stories and give their interpretations of what they mean.

[platobird]

Of course we all use both parts of the brain...I wasn't being literal for heavens sake.

I do so love Jill Bolte Taylor's take on it though.

Almost 2 million views and this thing is all over the net in different venues. ...

How it feels to have a stroke - YouTube

[platobird]

Oh and Alan Snyder is doing research on 'shutting down' some parts of the brain as to kick up a notch another part of the brain. He's having amazing results.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYAfm...eature=related

There's 3 parts to that video so if it interests you, watch them all.