As a scientists, I'd say it gets a little dicey. Just because I say something is my opinion doesn't mean it's my considered scientific opinion or even whether I'm the right person to get a considered scientific opinion from.
I'll tell you a story from the way back machine, when I was in grad school. A group was gathered for dinner and conversation when the subject of why the moon looks bigger when it's near the horizon came up. I'd recently found out the answer, but the group as a whole was largely in support of some explanation that was bogus. It sounded lovely and definitely sounded scientific, but it had no basis in reality. Now this group were good scientists, they just weren't experts in astronomy or atmospheric sciences. Or Psychology, as it turned out.
(And if you're wondering, the moon looks bigger because near the horizon because there are objects you can compare it to. It's a classic psychology textbook example of an optical illusion. It has nothing to do with diffraction of light or any other aspect of physics.)
Trust the scientist if the topic is really in their area of expertise. But their opinion is no better than yours when it comes to questions unrelated to their specific area.
I'll tell you a story from the way back machine, when I was in grad school. A group was gathered for dinner and conversation when the subject of why the moon looks bigger when it's near the horizon came up. I'd recently found out the answer, but the group as a whole was largely in support of some explanation that was bogus. It sounded lovely and definitely sounded scientific, but it had no basis in reality. Now this group were good scientists, they just weren't experts in astronomy or atmospheric sciences. Or Psychology, as it turned out.
(And if you're wondering, the moon looks bigger because near the horizon because there are objects you can compare it to. It's a classic psychology textbook example of an optical illusion. It has nothing to do with diffraction of light or any other aspect of physics.)
Trust the scientist if the topic is really in their area of expertise. But their opinion is no better than yours when it comes to questions unrelated to their specific area.
