Thread by @gorskon

Because they're mostly not scientists, and few of the actual scientists are epidemiologists, and because they are spewing disinformation. #barringtondeclaration is propaganda, not science. 1/

https://twitter.com/THEHermanCain/status/1314981278303703040

#COVID19 deniers and conspiracy theorists are taking a page from a old crank playbook. Does anyone remember "Scientific Dissent from Darwinism" and "Physicians and Surgeons Who Dissent from Darwinism"? These were similar "declarations" against evolution and for creationism. 2/

Or what about the open letter by the "Group for the Scientific Reappraisal of the HIV-AIDS Hypothesis" calling for a "thorough reappraisal of the existing evidence for and against this hypothesis [HIV-AIDS] be conducted by a suitable independent group"? 3/ sidasante.com/contacts/group…

Or what about the numerous "open letters" or "declarations" by climate science deniers, most of the signatories of which are almost never actual climate scientists? 4/

The bottom line is that "declarations" and "open letters" like this are a favorite tactic used by science denialists to give the impression that their pseudoscience or quackery has scientific support. Almost always, few of the signatories are actual experts in the field. 5/5