Social distancing from fake propaganda

Life is a blend of science, social science and common sense working in tandem or sometimes in isolation. Of late, we see people associating pseudo-scientific logic to every ritual and tradition they follow. The earlier generation did not require science to back these rituals and traditions because they lived out of fear of religion. The younger generation is inquisitive and rational, and they may need logic to understand many of these rituals and traditions. Thus the need for these convoluted concepts from science, to pique their interest to carry on traditions.

Rituals and Traditions

The Indian tradition of using rice powder to draw a kolam (a form of drawing patterns on the floor ) in front of houses, as a gesture to feed small insects and applying turmeric on the lower jamb of the door to prevent insects from entering homes was nothing but common sense. Continuing the same tradition of using rock powder to draw a kolam and applying yellow paint on the jamb may not help.

Science and Social Science

A game of football has science and social science involved throughout the play. The speed at which players run, the force and the angle of strike, air pressure and weight of the ball, wind speed and aerodynamics, friction from the turf and many other parameters is the science. Passing or striking the ball at the right time, being a team player, and not a solo player would be other social dynamics that are crucial to the game. If we start analyzing these things scientifically, then we may not enjoy the game.

Politics is a social science.

The right messaging devoid of biases, by all individuals of a country, builds a positive ecosystem for all of us to live in harmony. Recently, the Prime Minister of India addressed the nation on the COVID-19 pandemic. He advised social distancing and as a token of appreciation to service providers like doctors, nurses and essential services workers, to clap hands and clang vessels at a particular time. It was surprising to see that people quickly came up with pseudo-scientific concepts on the benefits of clapping and clanging vessels. Apart from generating sound, and the resonance it can bring, while clapping hands and clanging vessels, there are no other scientific aspects. These half baked concepts were viral on social media taking away the right essence of the message, and even the educated falling for this was disappointing.

Coming together is always fun. Any group activity can bring happiness. The science behind happiness is the secretion of one or more of these hormones; endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. The Italians felt happy when they came to their balcony and orchestrated music during the lockdown due to the pandemic. It was their way of fighting the boredom and nothing more than that.

Let us be responsible citizens

Laying sheets of styrofoam on a small water body to prevent evaporation is science. A politician, deciding to lay sheets of styrofoam on a large water body, a lake was stupidity. Many times religious rituals, celebrations and political actions overlook research and scientific facts. The hazards of chemical pollution when lighting fireworks or the usage of plastics during festivals is purely scientific, and yet it falls on deaf ears. As responsible citizens, it is important to pass the right message to our society and our future generations. Let us not use concepts of pseudo-science as a reason to make an individual follow a ritual or a tradition. It is in our hands to make the right messages go viral and employ social distancing for all other fake propaganda.

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