<p>by me:
"You can't just read articles on neuroscience and talk about it without ever having taken a neuroscience class.. or a physiology class, or a highly advanced chemistry class, or a highly advanced biology class.."</p>
<p>Because of my education, I regard "classes" as self-studying, given that you study appropriate texts and cover what would be covered in the in-class equivalent. Thus, I did not make a false assumption.</p>
<p>You say that a professor doesn't read science journals often. I think that's BS. My bio prof was always reading and bringing new material to class to interpret to us. He wasn't, however, reading high schooler's blogs, calling up his other professor buddies, collaborating on this stranger's potential internship. I think that's way too hopeful.</p>
<p>If the student doesn't interpret it and offer new insights, but merely comments w/o authority, then I don't see the scientific merit/point. Yes, it's great he's commenting; it's good for his intellectual developement. But does this mean he has a scientific mind, just because he's interested in science? Does this reveal new talent and insights for scientific progress?</p>
<p>Yes, I'm very opinionated myself. If someone says something completely bigoted, I feel compeled to inform them of the new research that concludes otherwise. I try to do so as politely as I can, and I remember my place when doing so. I remember that when I was younger, I was sure of things that I now know to be false; I had research then and I had research now. I trust that my elders, and my contemporaries alike, have insights that I don't share, and vice versa. I try to approach such a conversation with a very, very open mind, considering all possibilities, distantly and closely tied to rationale alike. Thus, I do not go around asserting my opinion like an authority, but as a contributor to yet-defined knowledge.</p>