[cthalupa]

I don't quite understand how we go from "Ancient aliens" to "real science" - I've never spoken to someone who believed in that stuff as the jumping off point that later went on to being curious about actual science when they weren't previously.

>Just as many right wingers are going to buy passive houses, closed loop energy, solar panels, Teslas as left wingers.

I also don't know that this is actually true. I as only able to find "what do you want to buy" polling for cars, but in a study surveying actual solar usage, it's 34% democrat and 20% republican.

https://www.autoblog.com/2016/10/26/democrats-tesla-republic...

https://grist.org/article/republicans-are-buying-rooftop-sol...

But I think this is also a false premise - that somehow conspiracy theory nuts have the same impact on public perception of science as one of the most public scientific issues with consensus from tens of thousands of scientists including basically 100% of the leading experts in the field. And the fact that there are long term economic advantages for things like solar, etc. that don't take into account at all whether or not you believe in man made climate change.

[banmeagaindan2]

True - but most people never become scientists - not even amateurs - but there exists a flourishing industry of science books for people who are a bit science curious. Scott Alexander used to be a giant Hancock fan - anecdotal I know but he later realized it was sort of bullshit - but still was interested in deep archaeology. I'll call that a win.

On the stats - that's a rabbit hole I won't go down today but every time I've seen people talk about alternatives to the system the left and right become like a long married couple ending each other's sentences.

>And the fact that there are long term economic advantages for things like solar, etc. that don't take into account at all whether or not you believe in man made climate change.

Sure.

> But I think this is also a false premise - that somehow conspiracy theory nuts have the same impact on public perception of science as one of the most public scientific issues with consensus from tens of thousands of scientists including basically 100% of the leading experts in the field.

There I think you're making a mistake. Literary people think Proust is awesome. A lot of people have read Dan Brown. Who is having more impact? You're making a face now - I can see through the interneticals.