I would like to propose “do your homework” rather than “do your own research” for online arguments about science, including for challenging people who say “do your own research” in online arguments about science.

Similarly, when people say, of, for example, well established medical protocols, “I just think they should be studied more,” please ask what results or how much study after the X years of existing data or whatever would satisfy them.

Finally, a reminder that when someone says “it’s only a theory” in order to dismiss some scientific principle, they’re mixing up “theory” with “hypothesis,” whereas a scientific theory is an explanatory framework that best fits the existing evidence. So please advise them of their error. (As a bonus, I like to comment on all uses of this phrase, just to try to move the needle a tiny bit toward mutual comprehension.)
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[Image description:
Screenshot of an online exchange.
User Kabonaaccessories says,
“Please balance me here guys, WHY do you VACCINATE your children and do you do your own research as a parent or you’re just following the norm?”
User Someopinionatedchick responds,
“I did my own research. I randomly selected 10,000 children, collected serum samples, ran ELISAs for antigen-specific IgG titers, performed neutralization assays, calculated seroconversion rates, controlled for confounders using multivariable regression and conducted longitudinal surveillance for adverse events.
“Then I remembered I’m not an immunologist, epidemiologist, virologist or biostatistician, so I took my kid to the pediatrician.”]