Where do you fall?

[rambot]

In regards to the COVID vaccine and its the biology, physiological response, technical aspects, and functionality of the scientific community, where would you put yourself in terms of the amounts of knowledge

I'd be curious to hear about your justification for your choice.
For me? Overall:
5.5
Biology 4.5
Physiological response 4.5
Technical aspects 1
Functionality of the Scientific Community 5.5

I have a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biology and several uni. level classes on human biology and physiology (though this was a long time ago). During my B.Ed I took a couple of GREAT classes on the structure of science, the scientific method etc...

I think the chart is fairly reflective of my confidence level except in regards to the technical aspects, I have matching 0 confidence.


You?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

In regards to the COVID vaccine and its the biology, physiological response, technical aspects, and functionality of the scientific community, where would you put yourself in terms of the amounts of knowledge

I'd be curious to hear about your justification for your choice.
For me? Overall:
5.5
Biology 4.5
Physiological response 4.5
Technical aspects 1
Functionality of the Scientific Community 5.5

I have a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biology and several uni. level classes on human biology and physiology (though this was a long time ago). During my B.Ed I took a couple of GREAT classes on the structure of science, the scientific method etc...

I think the chart is fairly reflective of my confidence level except in regards to the technical aspects, I have matching 0 confidence.


You?

Where's the scientifically structured measuring apparatus, brother Rambot?

All I know is I'm fairly confident that with the education I have and the fact that I have a very positive disposition toward learning during the duration of my lifespan, my current position on the OP is constantly in flux and emerges out of an ongoing confluence of various, philosophical factors.

At the end of the day, what I also know about myself is that I don't like it when other folks---no matter WHO they are---make decisions 'for me' ... particularly when I know the decisions they're making are highly imperfect decisions connected to (and maybe distorted by) this or that social and/or political agenda.

Also, we need to keep in mind that even though it seems to be useful as a form of reflection, and even though it may very well identify an actual dynamic that manifests within the psychological state of some individuals, the term "Dunning-Kruger Effect" is, itself, a hypothetical application of evalution and is not a conceptual catch-all or a one-stop shop that serves as an explanation as to why anyone decisively decides to conclude what they end up concluding.

 

[Nithavela]

I am firmly in the valley of despair.

 

[rambot]

I am firmly in the valley of despair.

Cause you're German right?

 

[rambot]

Where's the scientifically structured measuring apparatus, brother Rambot?

All I know is that I'm fairly confident that with the education that I have and the fact that I have a very positive disposition toward learning during the duration of my lifespan, my current position on the OP is constantly in flux and emerges out of an ongoing confluence of various, philosophical factors.

At the end of the day, what I also know about myself is that I don't like it when other folks---no matter WHO they are---make decisions 'for me' ... particularly when I know the decisions they're making are highly imperfect decisions connected to (and maybe distorted by) this or that social and/or political agenda..

So you feel very confident in your education eh?

 

[dzheremi]

There are certain things that it is absolutely fine to outsource the knowledge of to actual experts in the relevant fields. I think the technical/scientific aspects of the vaccines (or really any vaccines) is one of those things, for me. What use could there possibly be in me pretending to be my own doctor by pouring over medical journals and reports and coming to my own conclusions based on what I think I understand, but probably don't? My background is in linguistics (BA 2009 UO, MA 2015 UNM), not medicine, so while I may -- I repeat may -- be able to apply that to understanding the structure of the study/studies (I assume that we deal with a lot of the same structural features in the design of studies across the sciences), or in a more general "this is how you form a hypothesis/read the interpretation of data/understand conclusions" sort of way, I really have no business presenting myself or thinking myself to have more medical knowledge than I have. And as a layman, I have whatever the medical professionals tell me, perhaps refined slightly by follow up questions, a.k.a., the same as any other non-medical schmoe.

It is a bit shocking to me that apparently not everyone thinks this way. "Do you own research", "Google it", etc. are all horrible ideas if you don't know enough about the field to be able to understand what you find, or (even worse) to be able to tell what is a scientifically-grounded source or opinion in the first place.

So, uh...overall 3.5 to 4? Despair is not something I'm entertaining, but this is all bigger than my own finite ability to understand it.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

So you feel very confident in your education eh?

Yes... enough to say that I don't think I harbor much of anything in the way of the Dunning-Kruger Effect.

 

[Sunshinee777]

Peak of mount stupid lol

 

[jayem]

Overall, I'll give myself a 7. I 'm a retired health care provider. I have a medical degree and I'm board certified in internal medicine. I do keep up with the literature. I volunteered as a participant in the Pfizer clinical trial last year. There was a 28 page consent form. Which provided quite comprehensive information about the vaccine and possible side effects. By September, 2020, I'd received both injections. Of course, the trial was placebo controlled and double blinded. But I knew I was given the vaccine because my arm got sore several hours after each jab. Which would be extremely unlikely had I been given saline. Last December, following the emergency use authorization, Pfizer unblinded the study, and it was confirmed that I was in the group getting the vaccine. I'm pretty sure I got the first vaccine card in my neighborhood. There's also a schedule of in-person visits at the clinical research facility, where blood is drawn to check antibody titers. I'm somewhat peeved that Pfizer hasn't yet released this data. Since I'm over 65, I also received the booster shot about 6 weeks ago. Again, a sore arm for 2 days. But no other side effects so far. Count me as a vaccine believer. In my career, I've seen a few horrendous cases of illness that could have been prevented by immunization. During my training, we had a patient with full-blown tetanus. The man had apparently never gotten a booster. His chest and abdominal muscles were contracted so tightly, he had to be paralyzed so that the ventilator could inflate his lungs. I also saw a case of polio. The poor girl was essentially living at the hospital in one of those old Drinker respirators, AKA, an "iron lung." Imagine living your life in one of these tanks. And all because your family didn't believe in vaccination.

 

[Percivale]

I think I'm camped near the bottom of the slope of enlightenment, and not sure I want to put forth the effort to make the climb, but I'm not sure anyone can accurately place themselves on this diagram.

 

[gaara4158]

The thing about the Dunning-Kruger effect is you’re not supposed to be able to place yourself on the graph accurately. That’s kind of the whole premise, in fact, so it’s a little ironic to have a topic asking where everyone falls — and even more ironic to see people trying to answer! Reminds me of this meme I reference a lot.