Neil deGrasse Tyson slammed for suggesting shooting deaths in Ohio and Texas pale in comparison to deaths from other causes
Neil deGrasse Tyson sparked major backlash following a tweet about the tragic mass shooting deaths over the weekend.
The astrophysicist and author tweeted about the shootings in Ohio and Texas, suggesting they were insignificant when compared to deaths from other causes like illnesses and accidents, CNN reports.
In the past 48hrs, the USA horrifically lost 34 people to mass shootings.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) August 4, 2019
On average, across any 48hrs, we also lose…
500 to Medical errors
300 to the Flu
250 to Suicide
200 to Car Accidents
40 to Homicide via Handgun
Often our emotions respond more to spectacle than to data.
Many people felt Tyson was downplaying the ramifications of gun violence in America after he compared the loss of 34 people over the weekend to deaths from accidents or illnesses.
In response, tens of thousands of Twitter users blasted Tyson for his words.
"Cold take, Neil. 200+ Americans died from gun violence in the past 48 hours," author and gun control activist Shannon Watts wrote.
Several other people argued that while causes listed by him were already being researched or had reliable preventative measures that could be taken like vaccines, gun violence remained an unsolved issue.
"I think motive, avoidability, and culpability are all forms of data that have perfectly logical emotional ramifications," responded Washington Post opinion writer Elizabeth Bruenig.
"You'd be angrier if somebody shot your kid than if your kid died of typhus, this is obvious and rational."
"My father died of a medical error earlier this year," Netflix movie director Ted Geoghegan wrote. "I’ve lost numerous friends to suicide. My family was torn asunder by a car accident... this is a terrible take. The president’s hateful rhetoric isn’t inspiring the flu to shoot people in the (expletive) face."
"This is such a disappointing response," video game designer Jennifer Scheurle chimed in.
"You can care about mass shootings, the radicalization of young white men and gun violence while also caring about the other problems you mention. To be emotional about violent, preventable death is no sign of not caring about other issues."
The science communicator later posted a note on Facebook acknowledging his mistake.
"My intent was to offer objectively true information that might help shape conversations and reactions to preventable ways we die," his note read.
"Where I miscalculated was that I genuinely believed the Tweet would be helpful to anyone trying to save lives in America. What I learned from the range of reactions is that for many people, some information –-my Tweet in particular -- can be true but unhelpful, especially at a time when many people are either still in shock, or trying to heal – or both."
"So if you are one of those people, I apologize for not knowing in advance what effect my Tweet could have on you," he continued.
"I am therefore thankful for the candor and depth of critical reactions shared in my Twitter feed. As an educator, I personally value knowing with precision and accuracy what reaction anything that I say (or write) will instill in my audience, and I got this one wrong."