The Creeping Danger of Conspiracy Theorists

Except people are not using the scientific method to question things. They are listening to celebrities and talking heads shouting about things based on anecdotal evidence and ideological arguments.

Some basic research that anyone can do will show why Autism is on the rise. There is more reporting about it and more sensitivity in detecting symptoms of it. Kids have been known to have autistic symptoms for centuries but until the 20th C. it didn't even have a name. Now with classification of behaviors under Aspergers and Autism Spectrum (ASD) more and more children which in the past would've just been considered odd or going through a phase are classified as autism.

This is part of the point of the article. The prevalence and persistence of conspiracy theories isn't about educated skepticism but is largely driven by ignorance.

I agree people shouldn't just accept things on face value but at the same time in regard to things like autism and vaccines there is evidence very easily and widely available that counters such perceptions. It is both misleading and paranoid just to discount counter evidence by citing things that don't directly bear upon the issue.

 

You are missing though that these things do actually become dangerous. If parents are choosing not to get their children vaccinated because of they mistakenly believe that vaccines cause autism that is a direct threat to public health. Further the persistence and spread of these views affect policy. The wide spread view that Saddam Hussein had something to do with 911 helped to drive the push for war with Iraq. The persistence of the view that climate change doesn't exist is largely handicapping energy policy.

 

Advertising primarily holds sway over people who are ignorant.

 

We just had a student who has measles come to the U of MN gym and are now issuing warnings for students who are sick, or even think they are, to keep away. This wouldn't be an issue if we had enough confidence in Herd immunity but because there are so many people who aren't having their kids vaccinated we can't be certain. The same thing is going on with the outbreak of Measles at Disneyland.

This is another reminder that the persistence of conspiracy theories about things like vaccines have real world consequences.

 

I think there is a conscience exception.

 

What's even more ironic about that statement is that the link between vaccines and autism has long been debunked. As I stated in an earlier poster we know why there is more autism now. Better reporting and a broadening of a range of behavior to autism.

 

I don't deny that advertizing probably sways some of my choices. I use colgate because I like how it taste. I can't quantify that so maybe advertizing has swayed my decision. If I saw an ad for Tide that said Tide now 10% off I would probably buy it. That only goes though so far. If use Tide and a bargain soap and find that they both get my clothes as clean I'm going to stick with the bargain soap if I end up saving more money over the long run.

The point is is that yes we are bombarded by ads so it is hard not to be swayed by them but in most cases with some simple research you can figure out for yourself what is true and what isn't and also figure out what works for you.

It might've had a credible start as many things do but it was debunked and to continue to cling to debunked information is not credible.