Words mean things. Unfortunately, when you’re dealing with jargon, they don’t always mean the same things to different people.
Phil Plait: Scientists are from Mars, the public is from Earth | Bad Astronomy
A couple of days ago here on G+ I linked to a table that shows words scientists use, and how the public hears them – and it’s not the way the scientists think. I had more to say, so I wrote a whole post about it.
Bottom line: if scientists want to sway public opinion, they need to make sure what they say can be understood.
–GP
What scientists say, and what people hear, isn’t always the same thing. That’s a problem with any kind of jargon, but when you get into things that have been politicized, it’s important to be clear.
–FB