The pursuit of truths: A letter on the boy who cried aliens (op-ed)

[Admin]

As scientists, we must not forget our collective direction: the pursuit of truths and our responsibility to share these truths — and only these truths — with humanity.

The pursuit of truths: A letter on the boy who cried aliens (op-ed) : Read more

 

[Unclear Engineer]

While I basically agree with the need to make realistic press releases and have "news" media that tries to convey the truth without hyping things - that clearly is not how societies actually operate.

And, most of us are used to it, by now.

News media need to make money, which they do by selling advertisements, and they compete to get attention - "clicks" these days. So, hype is part of the competition - in tension with "credible source" reputation. Today, "credible sources" are becoming increasingly scarce as politicians and activists seek to control information sources for their own purposes.

Researchers need to find economic support, so tend to hype the results, and even the potential for results of the things they do and want to do.

And, a lot of just plain citizens crave the fame they see on television or even podcasts, so hype their own stories.

My reaction is "Ho-hum, not even worth reading the paper," unless the headline looks at least plausible. Usually just reading the media story tells me that it is not what the headline hypes it to seem like.

I've been around for a while - and remember the "canals on Mars" days.