Do you "babble" science too much?

[Elite Engineer]

When ever my girlfriend or my friends ask me a scientific question, and I ACTUALLY explain the answer they tend to get

 

annoyed and/or distracted. Sometimes they say I "talk just to hear myself talk" or that I "go on and on and on", but I'm just

 

trying to illustrate the actual scientific reason behind the answer, and in return they get frustrated. I imagine I'm not the

 

only person ever to have this problem?

 

~thoughts?

 

~EE

[StringJunky]

Aim to answer a scientific question within the attention-span of your audience; addressing only the salient points. After that let them ask more questions to fill the gaps. This way you are actually having a conversation instead of presenting a lecture.

[Strange]

And maybe start with some questions to establish the level of your audience.

 

"You know how ... ?"

 

a. "Yes" "Great. So what happens here is like that but ..."

b. "No" "OK. Well imagine you have ..."

[Ophiolite]

It is said that there is a fine line between teaching and preaching. In my experience, with minimum effort, one can always step over it.

[ajb]

The same rule applies when giving talks to any audience; know your audience. You have to try to tailor the answer to the people who asked it. Not always easy, especially when it is a deep question that you know good answers to.

 

Maybe a little off topic but I made that mistake with my sister in-law who was about 6 at the time. She asked if she was going to die. My answer was 'yes'. Then she asked if she will die soon. My answer 'I do not know, but probabily no'.

 

Maybe I could have tailored my response to '...not for a long time' or something like that.

[davidivad]

most people dont want to hear a logical contraption. the common response i get is a look that says "your a *********"

in reality they could care less.

science requires attention that the average person does not want to spend.

having all the answers is not always the best solution.

for most, technicalities will due and they do not have to be correct to be effective.

you can lie.

[Phi for All]

You're probably peeling the onion a bit too much. Stick with the outer layer when you can, and let your audience ask for a more in-depth answer if they're interested.

 

That's been my experience. People like to learn in small chunks, but we tend to teach by tossing out everything we know. Maybe try spoon-feeding to keep them interested, instead of just pouring it all in a bowl and letting your pets decide how much to eat. [/food analogies]

[CharonY]

Typically I ask them how deep of an answer they want to get rather than trying to force feed them more than they are willing to take up. Also, as others already mentioned, the trick is not to lecture them but to figure out what pieces they need to understand a particular concept.

Edited November 26, 2014 by CharonY

[Dekan]

I think it's clear, from everyday experience, that only a minority of people are genuinely interested in Science.

 

Most people simply do not want to know about Science. That must be because there's some vital ingredient lacking in their brains. It's not just intelligence. Many non-scientific people show obvious signs of intelligence. But something is lacking - a sense of wonder, a wish to find out facts about the world, how things work, the details and the maths - to explain things.

 

Non-scientific people can be cultivated a bit, perhaps, by talking to them in broad and general terms. Showing them colour pictures of Saturn, or big Dinosaurs. But no detailed explanations should be attempted. Such explanations cause social failure.

 

They make people look at you like you're a Martian. And so you get pushed out.

[Janus]

The same rule applies when giving talks to any audience; know your audience. You have to try to tailor the answer to the people who asked it. Not always easy, especially when it is a deep question that you know good answers to.

 

Maybe a little off topic but I made that mistake with my sister in-law who was about 6 at the time. She asked if she was going to die. My answer was 'yes'. Then she asked if she will die soon. My answer 'I do not know, but probabily no'.

 

Maybe I could have tailored my response to '...not for a long time' or something like that.

That reminds me of a an instance with my niece when she in her "Why?" stage. I can't remember the actual original question, but after about four attempts of a simple answer which always resorted in another "Why?", I finally gave her a long complicated answer (way above her head). She looked at me for a moment, and then said "Oh.", and that was that.

[elfmotat]

I think it's clear, from everyday experience, that only a minority of people are genuinely interested in Science.

 

Most people simply do not want to know about Science. That must be because there's some vital ingredient lacking in their brains. It's not just intelligence. Many non-scientific people show obvious signs of intelligence. But something is lacking - a sense of wonder, a wish to find out facts about the world, how things work, the details and the maths - to explain things.

 

Non-scientific people can be cultivated a bit, perhaps, by talking to them in broad and general terms. Showing them colour pictures of Saturn, or big Dinosaurs. But no detailed explanations should be attempted. Such explanations cause social failure.

 

They make people look at you like you're a Martian. And so you get pushed out.

 

I've noticed the same thing, which is why I don't usually bother people with science-related discussion unless they bring it up first. That, plus I learned when I was little that nobody likes a know-it-all, especially one that doesn't shut up.

[CharonY]

Worst combination: someone who does not shut up but only has little knowledge about what he/she is talking about. Triple points when doing it among professionals that actually do.

[Ophiolite]

If, as a society, we were truly oriented towards science education there would be white boards located in all public areas to facilitate impromptu explanations.

[Fuzzwood]

Tentative conclusion: people quickly get mad or laugh (stress induced in chimpanzees causes a similar response) when they don't understand you, instead of asking for clarification. The latter would cause them to lose face in front of the group, and therefor lowering their social position. You gotta love the zoölogists.

Edited November 27, 2014 by Fuzzwood

[Strange]

Good article here about the importance (and difficulties) of adjusting your language for your audience:

http://stroppyeditor.wordpress.com/2014/11/27/physician-explain-thyself-science-english-vs-lay-english/

[davidivad]

If, as a society, we were truly oriented towards science education there would be white boards located in all public areas to facilitate impromptu explanations.

i actually have an idea board opposite of the mirror in my bathroom...

i get ideas when im relaxed....

[ajb]

I've noticed the same thing, which is why I don't usually bother people with science-related discussion unless they bring it up first.

That is why I tend only to socialise with scientists, you don't have to worry someone will bring science up! This of course can annoy my wife; meeting with colleagues does not always have to be about work.

 

Last time I was out in a bar the discussion of if more dinosaurs were feathered than previously thought and it some were 'semi-warm blooded'. Great fun when a little tipsy!

 

So I change my original statements here. Don't bother to get to know your standard audience, find a better one!

[Ophiolite]

Don't bother to get to know your standard audience, find a better one!

That's why we are here.

[Sensei]

i actually have an idea board opposite of the mirror in my bathroom...

i get ideas when im relaxed....

I have always 40+ empty pages of paper A4, and calculator in my toilet. Used every day not once..

[davidivad]

yup, it strikes you at the strangest times, right?

[Sensei]

yup, it strikes you at the strangest times, right?

Toilet-bathroom is good place to make experiments also.

I have there couple 25L aquariums where is produced HCl, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and other substances (how many do you know people who are keeping their gold in toilet? electrodes...)

So while watching how things are going (sometimes not going, 2 weeks ago there was explosion of Oxygen at 4 at night, so access to water is needed. I just finished repairing electronics that was damaged in this accident), I have new ideas how to improve setup, or ideas of new experiments, etc.

[Fuzzwood]

Explosive unplanned disassembly.

[davidivad]

hahaha, that's great!

sounds awesome.