Evan Prodromou
This was an interesting one!
I am a strong yes. I am much more interested in following real, three-dimensional people than I am in following The Inventor of Staplers or The World's Greatest Chef.
The people I respect the most in technology and other fields bring a lot more to the table than august pronouncements in their area of expertise.
I occasionally get called on this by people who follow me expecting me to be some kind of Elder of the Fediverse. I don't meet that expectation very well.
Evan Prodromou
On the subject of experts posting dangerously ignorant misinformation: I actually think this is great.
When a vulcanologist posts about how women have a special bone structure that lets them do laundry better, or whatever, and they are roundly chastised for it, the best ones learn from their mistake.
The ones who double-down and found the Women's Laundry Skeleton Institute, and blow up their own careers, well, they were probably also bad vulcanologists.
Evan Prodromou
I'd much rather have these discussions be transparent, with lots of feedback, than have them happen behind closed doors, where groupthink can take hold.
I realise that misinformation sucks really badly and costs lives. I'm also really averse to powerful people developing bad ideas and executing them without the rest of us being involved.
It's not posting online that makes that cinematographer an anti-vaxxer; they already were one. But it might be how they stop being one.
Evan Prodromou
@axeln I think being a good leader in any field requires some cognitive skills that you don't develop as a transphobe or flat earther.
axel.
@evan Or, they are excellent volcanologist and bad human beings.
This sounds true in principle, but it can be observed that they are NOT roundly chastised and attract a certain bubble who shares their belief. See also Elon Musk.
Evan Prodromou
Phil L.
The paradox is that real experts will rarely venture to comment on other fields of knowledge, unless they are absolutely certain of what they are talking about
Even if their knowledge in that field is much higher than the average person
Bad vulcanologists have no such compunction
Evan Prodromou
I like this quote, via Wikipedia: 'As described by his Los Angeles Times obituary, "He went from being a physicist with impeccable academic credentials to amateur geneticist, becoming a lightning rod whose views sparked campus demonstrations and a cascade of calumny."'
Walter van Holst
@evan @slothrop And then there was William Shockley, co-inventor of the transistor, recipient of a Nobel prize for physics, who was a bloody white supremacist pushing for eugenics. We may have to live with the idea of humans being able to be brilliant at one thing and otherwise mostly failing as human beings.
Evan Prodromou
I think being good in your field means not only doing good research, but also being a leader for future generations, providing important support for your peers, and giving good advice to policy makers.
I think people who are racist, homophobic, or sexist are likely to also be bad at these skills.
I'll concede that could be theoretically untrue, but I'm not aware of it.
Evan Prodromou
I'd also much rather have a Shockley who exposes himself for what he is, than have that same person foisting their beliefs onto students, asserting them quietly in the faculty club, or worming them into policy suggestions for the university.
I agree that the best thing is for these people not to have these ideas.
I think the second best thing is that they air them, get corrected, and learn from them.
The third best is that we know what they're doing and can stop them.
Evan Prodromou
@whvholst @slothrop great. So, "probably a bad vulcanologist" is still OK.
Walter van Holst
@evan @slothrop There are plenty examples of people being pretty good at all of these things while being shitty at the same time.
jph
@evan I actually followed you because I kept seeing your polls boosted and find them fun. I only found out about your background later ?
Evan Prodromou
@jph wow! Good to know I'm gaining some notoriety for it
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