1) Clever person doesn't like something unpopular that adolescents tend to do a lot of. Take your pick: texting, video games, raves, punk rock, skateboarding, disco, heavy metal, The Monkees, comic books, the Jitterbug, Zoot Suits, dungarees, bloomers... hell, we could probably take this clear back to curdled milk.

2) Clever person toys with the idea that "something unpopular that kids tend to do a lot of" hinders said adolescents in something that clever person happens to be an expert in. NOTE: If the clever person is a psychologist/behavioral scientist/village elder/shaman/wiseman, said clever person's idea will gain much more traction.

3) One of clever person's associates repeats the idea to social media/local beat reporter/town crier, whom immediately repeats claim for entertainment value, because everybody hates "something unpopular that adolescents tend to do a lot of" (with the notable exception of the kids, whom everyone also hates because they tend to act like teenagers)

4) Clever person finds themselves the center of attention, with concerned "think of the children" types around them 24-7. Concerned "think of the children" types breathlessly hound clever person for an elaboration on his "theory" (which was actually more of a "wild hair") but prove themselves fundamentally incapable of following along with the clever person (their cleverness is typically inversely proportional to their passion and directly proportional with their need to find a scapegoat for the behavior of one or more adolescents in their immediate care). Clever person meets with the most enthusiasm the less evidence, reason or fact-based analysis he uses.

5) Other clever people who are clever enough to follow along with the first clever person's reasoning ask for it... often in a skeptical tone of voice. Now acclimated to slavish adulation from stupid people, the original clever person deflects this unwelcome threat to their new social status by turning the mob on their questioners.

6) The clever person and his mob run rampant over public opinion until they've annoyed enough bystanders that a few of them are pissed off enough to ask the skeptical clever people to explain their doubts. The mob then reverses and vilifies the original clever person.

7) The town crier/local beat reporter/social media then focuses on the vilification of the clever person, because people are stupid and shouldn't be forced to think for themselves.

8) Monty Python makes a movie about it.

Steps 1-7 are all too common and step 8 is all too rare.

Who is this woman? What has she wrought upon the sponge-like minds? Such farcical tales of technological woe do not instruct according to OUR will. These devices were built to be bought. These systems were built to be utilized! This the path of OUR will.

This woman has no place in that ivory tower. She spoils her privileges on selfish poppycock!

Get in line, Ms. Baroness Greenfield. Baroness!?! What times are these?

Good Lord.

The question for me is how do these people get (and hold onto) such prestigious positions? There are so many talented scientists who can't get tenure-track jobs that it blows my mind when I hear about quacks who have them. Sad.