2 ms·

The FDA is not stopping the press, they are preventing them from misreporting their statements and processes. Spare me the over-zealous "independent" label. The

The FDA is not stopping the press, they are preventing them from misreporting their statements and processes. Spare me the over-zealous "independent" label. The press isn't some magical segment of society with high standards and accountability. And these general sentiments are definitely "alt-right." It has a generally conspiratorial tone with completely overzealous fear mongering about what the FDA is doing.

aetherson 10y ago
I don't think I will spare you the "independent" label, thanks. The press is a deeply flawed institution. The idea that what the press needs to become less flawed is to be more controlled by the subjects of their reporting is, frankly, idiotic. It's genuinely the stupidest thing I've heard this week. I have no particular bone to pick with the FDA. I neither revere nor hate it. I don't want to defund it, but neither do I think it is above all reproach, nor that it is above trying to make itself look better than it is. But this isn't really about the FDA in particular, but about the general relationship of the subjects of reporting with the press in general, and particularly about the relationship of the government with the press. Having as reliable as possible information about what our own government is doing is a bedrock foundation of a functioning democracy. We should be doing what we can to make sure that we get that information, not celebrating the government's attempts to manipulate the press. The certainly does not preclude criticizing the press for their many failures, but it does mean supporting them when they do the right thing, as the Scientific American is here. PS: As far as the general sentiments of the alt-right go, the alt-right is defined by a belief that we should have a more authoritarian government that maintains order and ignores democracy. Guess who sounds kind of alt-right-ish in this conversation?
- popmystack 10y ago
  No one is controlling the press. I am not sure where you are hearing that, but it's genuinely concerning that you seem to be concerned about things that aren't happening. The government is not blocking any information. It is managing contacts. It wants trust worthy contacts who aren't going to spin things around for financial gain. The actual information related to their policies are accessible again, by people who actually understand the material. Thousands and thousands of scientists from competing organizations observe and consume information from the FDA. There is nothing stopping journalists from seeking out this information and gathering opinions from the employees of these organizations, or professionals in whatever field they're reporting on in general. "Do the right thing." How shallow and means absolutely nothing in the context of this conversation. Please say something a bit more substantial than that. The FDA wants to interact with reporters who don't spin information or misquote members of the FDA for their own gain. That's literally it. What's this "do the right thing" battle cry in reference to again? It's extremely aggravating that this needs to spelled out on this forum these days. PS: Nothing about what the FDA doing is remotely authoritarian. Stop promoting click bait, and furthermore at the very least don't try pathetically defending it.

aetherson 10y ago

I don't think I will spare you the "independent" label, thanks. The press is a deeply flawed institution. The idea that what the press needs to become less flawed is to be more controlled by the subjects of their reporting is, frankly, idiotic. It's genuinely the stupidest thing I've heard this week. I have no particular bone to pick with the FDA. I neither revere nor hate it. I don't want to defund it, but neither do I think it is above all reproach, nor that it is above trying to make itself look better than it is. But this isn't really about the FDA in particular, but about the general relationship of the subjects of reporting with the press in general, and particularly about the relationship of the government with the press. Having as reliable as possible information about what our own government is doing is a bedrock foundation of a functioning democracy. We should be doing what we can to make sure that we get that information, not celebrating the government's attempts to manipulate the press. The certainly does not preclude criticizing the press for their many failures, but it does mean supporting them when they do the right thing, as the Scientific American is here. PS: As far as the general sentiments of the alt-right go, the alt-right is defined by a belief that we should have a more authoritarian government that maintains order and ignores democracy. Guess who sounds kind of alt-right-ish in this conversation?

popmystack 10y ago
No one is controlling the press. I am not sure where you are hearing that, but it's genuinely concerning that you seem to be concerned about things that aren't happening. The government is not blocking any information. It is managing contacts. It wants trust worthy contacts who aren't going to spin things around for financial gain. The actual information related to their policies are accessible again, by people who actually understand the material. Thousands and thousands of scientists from competing organizations observe and consume information from the FDA. There is nothing stopping journalists from seeking out this information and gathering opinions from the employees of these organizations, or professionals in whatever field they're reporting on in general. "Do the right thing." How shallow and means absolutely nothing in the context of this conversation. Please say something a bit more substantial than that. The FDA wants to interact with reporters who don't spin information or misquote members of the FDA for their own gain. That's literally it. What's this "do the right thing" battle cry in reference to again? It's extremely aggravating that this needs to spelled out on this forum these days. PS: Nothing about what the FDA doing is remotely authoritarian. Stop promoting click bait, and furthermore at the very least don't try pathetically defending it.