Hello Everyone, I hope you're hanging in there.
In this post, I'm going to explain what I mean by a limitation of knowledge. Anyone and everyone should know the limitations of their own knowledge. Using this information, I'm going to explain to you why I'm not going to be making a post or video about the science behind COVID-19.
In these constantly changing times, it's understandable that people want to better understand the source of the uncertainty in their life. It's no surprise that almost every scientist in the world is posting about COVID-19, trying to explain and increase our understanding. The majority of these scientists have the best of intentions and only want to help. However, explaining a topic that is outside of your area of expertise can lead to confusion and misinformation.
For example, my mom is a hairstylist. I know almost nothing about how to properly cut and color someone's hair. I didn't go to school for cosmetology. Sure, I could look up the basics on the internet, but it doesn't give me the information necessary to open a salon and do other people's hair. If I want to use the information I've gathered from the internet to do my own hair, I have every right to do so. But if I decide to open a boutique in a mall and offer to color paying customer's hair; I'd be rudely awakened by other cosmetologists and public health professionals about all the laws I would be breaking.
Likewise, my significant other drives truck. Several times he has tried to explain various rules about trucking to me and I never seem to fully understand. In a life or death situation, I could surely drive a semi-truck. However, I have no right to do so in any other situation; and if I tried, I'd probably end up in jail.
These examples show that even though I can do something, I probably shouldn't because I don't have the necessary training or background to completely understand.
This is something that scientists must also be held to.
I could look up information about COVID-19, and use that information to make a post or youtube video that would surely get thousands of hits. However, I am not a virologist or epidemiologist. Virologists study viruses. They are well equipped to talk about the complex virus that is currently ruling all of our lives. Epidemiologists are also well equipped to talk about the spread of COVID-19. They can tell us why it spreads so fast and how quickly it could overtake our entire population (scary, I know).
I am not equipped to talk about COVID-19. When it comes to viruses, I am as informed as the next scientist. I am not a Virologist. I have no expertise in viruses. I have taken a class in Microbiology, which gave me basic information about viruses and their structure and how they infect people. This makes me only slightly more knowledgeable than the next joe-shmo on the street.
My knowledge is limited and one of those limits is in virology.
So to all the scientists in the world right now who are trying to explain COVID-19 and talking about something that is out of their wheelhouse, please stop.
I know it can be hard. My family (who are almost all nonscientists) all think that I am going to find a cure for this virus. It gives me a big head and makes me feel important. To come back down to earth, I think about my areas of expertise and why I love them.
Chemistry and Biochemistry are my areas of expertise. I love them because they make sense to me. I also very much enjoy Biology and Microbiology, though I am better equipped to explain the basics of these topics than the more specific details.
I have never taken a course in Virology and I have next to no understanding of the field.
To the people who go online and find information about COVID-19 which they then share with their family, friends, and all over Facebook. Please check your sources before sharing this information. Not only could sharing this information cause more harm than good but if the information is wrong, it will only reflect badly on you. Use reputable news sites that are as politically neutral as possible. Try and find information on multiple different sites, the more sites that have that same information, the closer it probably is to the truth.
This post isn't meant to be negative. I only want it to serve as a warning in these difficult times. Speak to your areas of expertise, and understand the limitations of your knowledge.
After all, I'm sure my dad (who is a plumber) wouldn't want me to teach a new generation of plumbers how to improperly glue pipes together. Just like the Virologists and Epidemiologists don't appreciate me or any other person who doesn't have the background and education explaining COVID-19.
Know your limitations and your strengths. Stay safe everyone.
Saren
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