Before I get into my posting, let me apologize to religious people - but not all religious people, the ones that practice it privately and don't let it affect their logical thinking when it comes to other aspects of life. Having said that, people making decisions based on non-existent sky deities are silly, don't get me wrong. The decision to support an organization that preaches the existence of a sky fairy is mind-boggling.
Apparently that doesn't piss me off as much as people speaking (preaching) with authority on things which they are ill-informed. I don't have a problem with a person choosing to remain ignorant but when they speak to others and suggest others do insane things based on their malformed opinions, they're nothing short of loathsome.
"There is a sky fairy" is far less dangerous (it leads to other crazy, wild and dangerous things, sure) than someone saying "the H1N1 vaccine kills more people than the H1N1 flu does".
Scientists (yeah, I'm talking to you!) need to get their heads out of the sand - facts, alone, don't speak for themselves. The evidence shows the efficacy of the H1N1 vaccine and the risks of being vaccinated (immunized really, but I won't get into that) are absolutely INSIGNIFICANT compared to the REAL risk of contracting the H1N1 virus. Yet, with all that, people are still (wrongly) preaching against getting immunized.
The trouble with science is that the scientific method works - scientists do not speak with certainty on anything and it is the provisional status of "truth" that makes science work. The willingness to accept where the evidence leads is what brings about updated theories and, as it applies to medicine, improved procedures and medicine and a continual improvement in the reduction of human suffering.
The overwhelming consensus among scientists is that the H1N1 virus is PANDEMIC and is a serious threat to even healthy people (oddly, maybe more dangerous to them!). Scientists, however, are not media figures, they aren't interested in the publicity and often aren't the best people to popularize their fields. This is what needs to change.
If someone suggests to you that there are legitimate reasons to not get vaccinated, they are based on falsities, myths and/or blatant lies.
It is not only the right thing for you to do for yourself (protect yourself by being immunized - especially by a vaccine that is a near perfect match to the virus!), it is your obligation to your fellow human beings.
If the evidence (facts), alone, spoke for themselves, there would be a number of things that would be different.
For example, there would be:
- No anti-vax movement
- No homeopathy, reflexology, aromatherapy, acupuncture
- Fewer viral infections (immunizations work - small pox, polio, etc.)
- Less people taking antibiotics
- No Young Earth Creationists
- No anti-evolution movement
- No faith healers
- No need for me to get pissed off about such blatant ignoramuses
Having said all that, Amy Wallace got a LOT of response to her article about the war on science and the anti-vax movement - some of it might bring you to tears.
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/10/readers-respond-to-an-epidemic-of-fear-part-1/
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/10/readers-respond-to-an-epidemic-of-fear-part-2/
Please, educate yourself (at the very least before you find a soap box).
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6 comments:
Being a believer i must say that im comforted knowing that something upsets you more than people believing in God.
Your connection to speaking from authority about something that one is not informed about is not far fetched. How ever there are many people who know better but benefit from not telling the truth. Natural health practitioners may feel they have to tell people to avoid shots to keep a consistent stance on westernized medicine to "fit in" and to sell their products.
I must add your site to my list of bookmarks.
(There is a God)
Though I would have to agree that there are some people who "practice" alternative medicine that are being blatantly dishonest - I think that there are a LOT that actually believe they're helping.
If it wasn't the case, again, facts would speak for themselves and people would be reasoned away from the false beliefs.
I'm not so sure the idea that the people preaching actually believe what they're preaching can be equally applied to priests and pastors - many of whom have been trained in the historical critical/textual criticism of the bible yet still preach like it is the inerrant and literal word of "god" (the Christian personal god does not exist, by the way).
Lying for Jesus, as some would say.
There are no gawds. Never have been, never will be. The god you have is all in your mind and that is why we call you delusional.
Hey skeptic, did you think about the cruise?
It's funny that you call yourself a "skeptic" yet you will fall for the H1N1 hysteria, hook, line and sinker. It is NOT a pandemic, not even close. The only mania there is surrounding it is the government (and of course the drug companies) push for mass vaccination. It's a flu for Christ's sake, not frickin' polio.
Be a real skeptic and check out the facts, just because the issue is based in the realm of medicine and science doesn't mean any opposition to the vaccine needs to be dismissed outright. There are a lot of credible doctors and scientists out there that are opposed to this vaccine for numerous reasons.
If you should be skeptical of anything, it is the government.
eyeswideopen: I am skeptical of ANYONE who suggests such blatant absurdities without providing any supporting evidence.
Aside from little (if any) legitimate concerns (again, please point me in the direction of such evidence) it seems a BIT too implausible to suggest that you could get government officials in almost every nation to suggest that this is important. Based on percentages alone, you'd think one nutball would have spoken up if it was anything less than legitimate.
Based on what is involved, alone, there'd be some great payout (fame, fortune, awards) for someone to come forward with evidence to support some theory that immunizations don't work, etc.
Your point is also interesting in regards to "it's a flu" as if it is "just a flu" - something I've addressed and many others have also.
The seasonal flu kills only 36,000 people in the US now - as a result of the effectiveness of immunizations. If you think that number, itself, is acceptable, you are extremely selfish and misinformed.
what do you make of this Jane Burgermeister person? Is she and what she claims for real?
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