Share this page!

David Gorski, MD, PhD Profile picture
Twitter logo
3 Dec, 4 tweets, 3 min read
So @RobertKennedyJr is trying to rally his followers to write to @OregonGovBrown and various leaders at @ProvHealth to try to reverse Oregon's decision to remove antivax Dr. Paul Thomas' access to @CDCgov Vaccines for Children program. 1/ childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/suppo…
Perhaps some pro-vaccine letters and emails are in order to these same people refuting Thomas's bad science with respect to vaccines, in particular his most recent awful study with @lifebiomedguru that doesn't show what they claim it shows. 2/ respectfulinsolence.com/2020/11/25/cov…
RFK Jr. also references an awful study by the same not-so-dynamic duo demonizing aluminum adjuvants in vaccines. 3/ respectfulinsolence.com/2019/12/20/dem…
Antivaxxers are lying about Dr. Paul Thomas, claiming that he's not an antivaxxer, that he has science to back up his demonization of vaccines (he has risibly incompetent "science" that does not show what he thinks it does), and that he isn't endangering public health. 4/4

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with David Gorski, MD, PhD

David Gorski, MD, PhD Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @gorskon

David Gorski, MD, PhD Profile picture
3 Dec
One common characteristic of science denialists/cranks/conspiracy theorists like antivaxxers and #COVID19 deniers is black-and-white, all-or-nothing thinking when it comes to medical tests or interventions. I'll tell you what I mean, using antivaxxers as a first example. 1/
I've seen it time and time again. Antivaxxers have an attitude that if a vaccine is not 100% safe and 100% effective, it's worthless, rather like that Mike Myers sketch. 2/
So, basically, to antivaxxers, if a vaccine isn't perfectly effective and safe, it's crap, not worth using and to be despised. The concept of balancing large benefits vs. tiny risks never even occurs to them. 3/
Read 8 tweets
David Gorski, MD, PhD Profile picture
17 Nov
Yep. This is exactly what I’ve been saying since the pandemic began. Anyone who’s followed the antivaccine movement can immediately spot the similarities between #COVID19 denial and antivax disinformation.
The only change I’d make is one of emphasis. The antivaccine movement is based at its heart on a conspiracy theory that vaccines are harmful/don’t work but “they” (CDC, medical profession, big pharma, etc.) are “suppressing” that forbidden knowledge.
#COVID19 denial is based on a similar conspiracy theory that COVID is engineered/not that deadly/plot to impose vaccination, but that “they” (CDC, deep state, public health infrastructure, etc.) are “suppressing” that knowledge.
Read 8 tweets
David Gorski, MD, PhD Profile picture
24 Oct
This is why science deniers deny. They want to give the impression that there is an actual legitimate “debate” over scientific conclusions supported by mountains of evidence; e.g., climate change, vaccines, the ineffectiveness of alternative medicine, evolution, etc. 1/
In other areas of science not as well settled (e.g., #COVID19), they seek to undermine current scientific consensus by vastly exaggerating the evidence behind minority and fringe positions and mischaracterizing and minimizing evidence in support of current consensus. 2/
They then add to this technique conspiracy theories to “explain” why the fringe science is dismissed and not taken seriously by relevant experts and fake experts (plus the odd real expert turned fringe) to give the appearance of authority to fringe viewpoints. 3/
Read 4 tweets
David Gorski, MD, PhD Profile picture
11 Oct
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/
#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…
Read 5 tweets
David Gorski, MD, PhD Profile picture
22 Jul
Dumbest idea ever: A vaccine "debate" between two lawyers, @AlanDersh and @RobertKennedyJr, neither of whom has significant scientific knowledge about vaccines, and one of whom is rabidly antivaccine. 1/ ageofautism.com/2020/07/vaccin…
This sort of nonsense is what I like to call, "All Truth Comes from Live Public Debate." It's a favorite crank trope that serves two purposes. 2/ respectfulinsolence.com/2013/04/26/all…
Basically, this tactic serves two purposes for the crank. First, it allows cranks to appear on the same stage/venue as seemingly an equal to an actual authority, thus giving the appearance that their viewpoint is worth serious consideration scientifically or based on evidence. 3/
Read 6 tweets
David Gorski, MD, PhD Profile picture
22 Jun
@thereal_truther @hbhbglenn1 @Melissa08972285 @delbigtree @uTobian It's also a 20-year-old conspiracy theory that we old timers demolished when @RobertKennedyJr first published it almost exactly 15 years ago today. Let's just put it this way. The transcript doesn't show any conspiracy or coverup or data manipulation. skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/2005/…
@thereal_truther @hbhbglenn1 @Melissa08972285 @delbigtree @uTobian @RobertKennedyJr I read the whole thing back in the day, and let's just say that I was underwhelmed by it as evidence of any sort of malfeasance. What I saw were scientists soberly addressing a concern and examining the evidence. oracknows.blogspot.com/2005/06/skepti…
@thereal_truther @hbhbglenn1 @Melissa08972285 @delbigtree @uTobian @RobertKennedyJr I also examined @RobertKennedyJr's conspiracyfest of an article that popularized the Simpsonwood conspiracy theory. It was full of cherry-picking, unsupported assertions, and, yes, conspiracy mongering. oracknows.blogspot.com/2005/06/salonc…
Read 11 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Like this author's thread?

Get emails when @gorskon has new unrolls!

Check out other threads from @gorskon!

Read all threads by @gorskon