MemeStreams | A Desperate Attempt To Retain Some Consistency

When presented with unwelcome scientific evidence, it seems, in a desperate attempt to retain some consistency in their world view, people would rather conclude that science in general is broken.
This is an interesting finding.
But I'm not sure it makes me very happy.

An exchange:

Frink: "Now that I have your attention, we have some exciting new research from young Lisa Simpson. Let's bring her out and pay attention."
Scientist #1: "She's just a little girl!"
Scientist #2: "Let's not listen!"

Martin Schwartz:

Science makes me feel stupid too.
It's just that I've gotten used to it.

Geoffrey Munro:

The scientific impotence discounting hypothesis predicts that people resist belief-disconfirming scientific evidence by concluding that the topic of study is not amenable to scientific investigation.
Being presented with belief-disconfirming scientific evidence may lead to an erosion of belief in the efficacy of scientific methods.

The Economist's Washington correspondent:

I thought I was unlucky graduating into the tech bust.
I had no idea.

Emmeline Zhao:

Caitlin Johnson, 23 years old and a 2009 graduate of MIT with a BS in computer-science and engineering, said she was unable to land any of the 10 positions she applied for.
So she opted to stay at MIT for her master's in engineering. Having just finished her first year of the two-year program, Ms. Johnson said she might look for a job at the end of the summer to start after she completes the degree next year. But finding graduate school more appealing and facing a job market that remains weak, she said she would most likely go on to earn her Ph.D.
Should Ms. Johnson decide to opt for the job hunt instead of more schooling, she likely will face stiff competition. The number of 20- to 34-year-olds with master's degrees in the labor force in June was 12% higher than it was two years earlier. And first-time grad-school enrollment rose 4.5% in 2008 and 6% in 2009 across the country.

Marge Simpson:

Bart, don't make fun of grad students! They just made a terrible life choice.

Georgia Tech ranks #1 (percentage-wise) among US colleges and universities on Payscale's ROI survey (MIT is #1 in total lifetime return):

With the average cost for college rising, PayScale helps you figure out which school's tuition costs will return the biggest dividends for you after graduation.

A Desperate Attempt To Retain Some Consistency