Critical thinking

One of the things which tends to annoy me in critical discussion is a lack of long-term thinking. In general, we are a "what can you do for me now?" society. We see this general line of thinking in a number of areas, both specific and generalized.

Take the idea of self-destructive behavior - People, often, exhibit signs of self-destructive behavior in lieu of working to create something. Why? Because creating something takes effort. It's hard work. For a simple example, it's easier to tear down a house than it is to build one. Gravity can manage most of the work for you. It also takes less time.

I sympathize. I truly do. I'm both a destroyer and creator.

However, the problem I want to make note of isn't about how people choose to self-destruct. It's about the people who choose to self-destruct and refuse to acknowledge the positive rewards from doing hard work. Hard work is a long-term solution. Hard work is undergoing some pain now to reap the rewards in the future for yourself, others, or future generations.

The CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) turned on today. I knew there was a general public hubbub that this machine could mean the end of the world. How did that hubbub spread wildly? The answer is ignorance and fear. The societal spread of information in this case is interesting to me in the sense that it doesn't matter whether or not the CERN Large Hadron Collider will destroy the world (with astronomically high probability, it won't), the issue is how people, both in the media and also general public, sensationalized the idea it could and the outcry that resulted.

Why did the media sensationalize the risks (or non-risks depending on your viewpoint) of the LHC? They did it for the same reason most media outlets sensationalize. It's a more exciting read. More excitingreads cause a higher emotional response. Marketing shows that a higher emotional response from information outlets result in higher circulation and, in turn, a higher bottom line.

Why did the general public respond to the sensationalist media reporting in a sensational way? They did it for the same reason most people respond sensationally. It's easier to understand "the world is going to vanish from existence" than it is to understand the physics behind the LHC. The amount of energy slammed against the Earth on a daily basis from space is astronomically higher in amount than any energy that could be generated by the LHC.

I started reading on CNN about user comments regarding the LHC project. The majority of comments expressed moral outrage stemming from religious beliefs. Other comments revolved around the large amount of money that was spended on the project, that it would be better suited to spend on other endeavors (usually world hunger and our precious children). Those issues are important (especially our precious children), but it still shows lack of understanding. Scientific research isn't about instant gratification. It's about making best-effort observations given previous knowledge, and then altering existing knowledge or creating new knowledge based on these observations. That's it. Scientific research usually has no practical output, except when you wait many years if not decades for innovators to apply that research in a useful way. It got me thinking about how many useful things I use on a day-to-day basis that was the result of scientific research - a computer, my water bottle, the internet, a light-emitting diode, glasses, a cellphone. I'm pretty sure none of these devices, even at their most primitive idea level, whether it be a CPU, a piece of plastic, a chemical reaction, a sound wave were discovered in a day. The research takes time. It takes work.

Anyhow, the following are some choice bits...

First, some strawman arguments:

"A 9 billion waste! Same as America another waste of taxpayers dollars spent on "what is on Mars" the French no different. The people of this planet Earth need medical research on Better Health Conditions and a cure for Cancer..to have and enjoy a better quality of life!!"

"I am all for learning more about the universe. BUT, I think there are more important things in this life than finding out how the universe came to be. There are starving children, homeless people that cant even get back on their feet beacuse of Hurricanes and other weather tragedies we are faced with in these times. Maybe we should put more into helping people, than researching things that the only benefit would be... "Oh, so thats how that happened!" I mean think about what $9 Billion could do for your fellow man!?!?!?"

"How many hungry people could have been fed? How many destitue people could have gotten needed medicine. Bunch of self-centered, oblivious scientists with a big shiny toy."

"What a waste of money, we have so many problems and worries on earth. As mentioned in another email, starving children, helpless and starving animals! Just to push their own ego to find what in the end?!"

Next, how about massive conspiracy theories:

"makes you wonder why governments have poured so much money and are showing so much interest in this. Manipulating and controlling mankind with the current inventions of destruction is not enough......."

Finally, sensationalist responses based on misinformation:

"So we are now creating black holes right here on earth. When will we learn that we don't need scientists to create a new type of nuclear bomb?"

My blood started to boil after reading these comments, but then I went back to a state of calm, rebuking myself internally. I responded emotionally and sensationally in the same way and I got annoyed with myself as a result. The one comfort I responded with, in turn, was that I was critical enough to realize that.