[irq11]

It is not. Science is “built on” evidence.

I am a professional scientist. Nobody has ever given me a pass on publication simply because they want to believe me.

That said, science is a human institution, and all humans have cognitive biases that can be exploited - particularly in large groups.

[esyir]

That's a terribly optimistic view of science, speaking as someone who was also in the same boat. They might not just accept anything, but it'll be much easier if they want to believe you. This goes quintuple for social science.

[irq11]

Yes, we agree on that. Which is, again, why we don’t do “science“ by length of signature list.