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[Editor’s note: This excerpt was translated with Google Translate with light editing for clarity]In his book “Democracy gullible”. . . Gérald Bronner describes how the Internet has revolutionized the market of ideas and how – especially on scientific issues – it tends to create a society of hypochondriacs.
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[I tested this phenomena] on the subject of glyphosate. . . . I entered . . . “glyphosate” in Google. . . and viewed the first 30 . . . sites,. . . . 72% of sites [were anti-glyphosate]– linked to organizations or individuals who campaign against pesticides.. . .[T]he rumors that once were confined to small groups, can now grow. . . .
. . . [W]hat we find today on the internet is not representative of public opinion, only those [with the strongest opinions]. [Those] who could present counter arguments . . . do not, due to lack of motivation and time.
. . . . The proliferation of [precautionary] bans . . . goes against rational risk management, . . . the principle of individual responsibility. . . .
It is crucial that [scientists], intellectuals, producers and consumers take responsibility. [We cannot] let . . . alarmist discourse proliferate . . . .
Read the full article in English via Google Translate: The case of Roundup or misleading internet democracy
Read full, original post: Le cas du Roundup ou la démocratie trompeuse d’internet