@zleap I understand why we have these problems - people feel that their tweets should matter, and realise that their facebook posts are hollow and meaningless, and that they have almost no power. (Which makes people want to "do something" to have a sense of control.) The problem is that [Wash hands, wear mask, get vaccinated] seems too easy in the face of a virus that has already killed so many. (And humans do very poorly in isolation, while also suffering the illusion of being independent.)

@isobel People also want instant updates which is never a good thing.

@isobel The government can't win, but they need to get the right balance so the right information is given out.

Either that or we need better education so we can make science papers more available so people can make their own minds up

@zleap I am hugely disappointed by the current UK government, but I keep a journal and looking back to the end of 2019 and early 2020 my entries show that I wouldn't have been much better at communicating, because there is such a large variation in science literacy amongst the population. (So I fully agree that more and better education is required, but I disagree with the "make their own minds up" because that is expecting average, (and below average) people to be experts on medical topics.

@isobel Well yes i agree there. But maybe not understand science papers but be able to do own research and find proper reliable information.

As for evidence but understand how to ask yourself the right questions.

@zleap I used to think that exactly! (When I was only doing anthropology.) Then I started doing the practical part of sociology and was horrified that most people don't want to learn and enjoy their ignorance. (Which also explains football supporters ;-) )

@isobel

This is why I want to support the campaigns from people like Sense about science.

https://senseaboutscience.org/
https://askforevidence.org/index

I am sure platforms such as Facebook just make the issue worse, people don't want to, or are just too lazy to look things up properly, result is just mis information spreading around about all sorts of things, usually this defies even common sense,

@zleap ooh that looks interesting. (Thank you for the link.)
You no longer have to be "sure" that facebook is evil - we have documented proof that they know that their platforms, (especially instagram) are detrimental to the mental health of the people that create accounts on their sites.
#deletefacebook #deleteWhatsApp #deleteInstagram

@isobel indeed hence the first part of my blog post here

https://personaljournal.ca/paulsutton/facebook-manipulated-689-003-users-emotions-for-science

I am trying make a strong point in that you can't be committed to safeguarding and keeping people safe while at the same time support the use of a platform that is causing more harm than good.

At least I am prepared to say that Fediverse isn't perfect. It isn't, nothing will be, but so why pretend it is the perfect solution.

@zleap I don't know anyone that is pretending that Fediverse is perfect. (I had some ignorant neo-nazi tease me about "having pronouns" today. Educating them isn't my job.) But the democracy of the Fediverse is a huge improvement over Facebook. (And if we can improve things then we probably should.)

@isobel Indeed,Ii just don't want to give some impression to people that we think it is some sort of perfect place to be.

@isobel This could also explain why certain crimes seem out of control here in the UK (e.g knife crime) people don't want to accept kids as young as 13 can go around and stab others to death. Result is no one wants to discuss and come up with robust effective solutions.

Meanwhile more people die.

Same as with the current crazy of labelling teachers paedophiles on tik tok, to get a grip on that means accepting it is happening, accepting there is little excuse and do something about it.

@zleap
As for UK knife crime, that seems to be equal part [a symptom of poverty] and [lack of parental accountability]. (But like most things, I think that the majority of people - including me - do not have enough info to solve that problem.) That doesn't mean that we shouldn't keep looking for solutions.

@isobel The whole issue is complex, thing is we have had poverty in the past BUT there was parental accountability and responsibility at one time.

So you have a good point, as for solutions. Banning knives / bladed articles won't work as people find something else to hurt someone with usually.

@zleap I remember working as a chef in London when the new knife ban came into effect, (after teacher Philip Lawrence was stabbed to death). We had a strange moment when it was announced over the radio and everyone looked up, holding large knifes and realised we had all, in that moment become criminals.

@isobel I think as a chef you would not normally walk around the streets with a knife on your person (e,g down trousers or in a coat pocket) , it would be in a case of come sort if you are going from home to work or from your place of work to another restaurant.

Your work ID or other documents would prove why you are in possession of the knife

@zleap We were an outside catering company. Most days I was crossing London carrying my knife roll with at least three knives that broke the law.

"Work ID" didn't exist back then. We knew who everyone was and my name and my face were all that I needed to prove who I was. "I'm from [company]" was all I needed to get past security in those days.

@isobel Things are a little different now.

Common sense should kick in however, but that is hardly something that is common place these days.

@zleap "Common sense" doesn't exist. It is the cry of presumption bemoaning variance in human experience. (Or someone unaware of their own privileges.) It is the first cousin of, "have you tried not being poor?"

The only things that humans have in common is ignorance.

@isobel I get the impression with some parents child raising it is seen as someone else's responsibility.