Large numbers of laypeople mistaking Joe Rogan for a researcher and JRE as a venue for scientific discussion is not a sign of healthy public discourse. It is a sign of low levels of scientific engagement and scientific literacy among the public. Neil Postman warned us about this risk back in the 80s. He saw that the repackaging of serious subjects to fit the audiovisual medium would erode the boundaries between information and entertainment and create a dangerously misinformed public.
Joe Rogan is an entertainer. He is not a researcher, and the JRE is not a forum for scientific discussion. Mistaking entertainment for science is a strong sign that you need to deepen your engagement with scientific material outside of the audiovisual entertainment medium.
Exactly this. Joe Rogan entertaining anti-vax theories in the spirit of "open discourse" is not scientific discussion or a sign of healthy public discourse.
It's just Rogan knowing that he can peddle the line and bring in both the skeptics and the opposition and pretend that he is just promoting an open discussion. Or he is just ignorant, but I think the dude is smart enough to know that controversy drives up impressions and increases ad revenue and ultimately the success and dollars from his brand.
Joe Rogan is an entertainer. He is not a researcher, and the JRE is not a forum for scientific discussion. Mistaking entertainment for science is a strong sign that you need to deepen your engagement with scientific material outside of the audiovisual entertainment medium.