I cannot say that I am impartial in this – my late father spent a substantial portion of his career as a paediatric pathologist in Australia a)proving the infant mortality rate link to low pertussis immunisation rates, and b)improving the quality of pertussis vaccine.
He was an incredibly peaceful and quiet-natured man. I read articles like this, and cannot help but think how frustrated he would have looked, and how appalled at the needless deaths that these people are causing he would have been. And, then, I remember that he would have just quietly got back to work educating other doctors about how to educate parents, and making sure that the truth was untainted by rage.
i add to that: as a trained micro and molecular biologist who has worked in biomedical research, anti-vaccine chatter is mind-numbing and infuriating at the same time. as if being a movie star equips *anyone* to make medically or scientifically valid assessments of any kind. (many science and medical graduates struggle, and they at least have the education and training to give it an informed go).
double plus good factor: i'm on the autism spectrum (very mild asperger syndrome). the sheer stupidity of anti-vaccine propaganda just shouts 'emotional trainwreck'. i *do* understand how emotions skew perceptions (i'm neither immune to it, nor oblivious to it) but I don't see how that excuses expecting reality to conform to your expectations, and when it doesn't, blaming reality and then ignoring inconvenient facts ... O.o
[frankly, i think these people ought to be legally/financially accountable for the risk and the loss of life and quality of life that results from their ridiculous rantings.]
On an Aspie/Autie specific-note, it has the added shittiness of assuming that NNT people should be cleansed from the population for the greater good. Fucking curebies.
On the general topic, wow. I had no idea Jim Carrey was that much of a dickweed.
I'm more inclined to blame her than him. I don't know if he was really just along for the ride as it seemed, or if she just got more of the press. either way, this angers me and the fact that the press is not crucifying her for this lame stance also angers me.
Honestly, it's part of the modern american disease where we pretend that all points of view are equally acceptable when they are not. I have a right to my opinion and if my opinion is that the sky is green, that's great, but I'm still wrong.
I know you're referring to their anti-vaccination crusade (although I think the connection is arguable at best), but I started envisioning a particularly warped Natural Born Killers remake (that I would watch).
People spreading medical ignorance need a swift kick in the ying yangs - but I also blame the media
Why why why why WHY are people spreading the word on what a celebrity says about vaccines?! They're not even remotely, slightly, imaginably qualified to speak on such a subject!
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As I responded on Phil's blog...
Date: 2010-09-16 09:06 am (UTC)He was an incredibly peaceful and quiet-natured man. I read articles like this, and cannot help but think how frustrated he would have looked, and how appalled at the needless deaths that these people are causing he would have been. And, then, I remember that he would have just quietly got back to work educating other doctors about how to educate parents, and making sure that the truth was untainted by rage.
Dad, I’m sorry to say it, but we still need you.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-09-16 11:18 am (UTC)double plus good factor: i'm on the autism spectrum (very mild asperger syndrome). the sheer stupidity of anti-vaccine propaganda just shouts 'emotional trainwreck'. i *do* understand how emotions skew perceptions (i'm neither immune to it, nor oblivious to it) but I don't see how that excuses expecting reality to conform to your expectations, and when it doesn't, blaming reality and then ignoring inconvenient facts ... O.o
[frankly, i think these people ought to be legally/financially accountable for the risk and the loss of life and quality of life that results from their ridiculous rantings.]
(no subject)
Date: 2010-09-16 01:42 pm (UTC)On the general topic, wow. I had no idea Jim Carrey was that much of a dickweed.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-09-16 02:02 pm (UTC)Honestly, it's part of the modern american disease where we pretend that all points of view are equally acceptable when they are not. I have a right to my opinion and if my opinion is that the sky is green, that's great, but I'm still wrong.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-09-16 06:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-09-16 08:24 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-09-17 05:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-09-17 10:08 pm (UTC)Why why why why WHY are people spreading the word on what a celebrity says about vaccines?! They're not even remotely, slightly, imaginably qualified to speak on such a subject!