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This comment belies a misunderstanding of institutions and human nature. The notion that the loudest and most populist voices that make ridiculous arguments an
by jasmer 4y ago
This comment belies a misunderstanding of institutions and human nature.
The notion that the loudest and most populist voices that make ridiculous arguments and appeal to sentimentality - have anything to do with the 'truth' or anything positive, is obviously wrong, and for some reason seems to be deeply rooted in some circles.
Ironically, it's a glibly populist view of glib populism.
Next time you visit your 'Corrupt High Priest Doctor' who represents the institution of Medicine, who recommends a therapy, why don't you ignore him and make your own concoction, at home, using the 'alt method' you discovered on some podcast? Good luck.
Doctors and Medical researches have a fundamentally better understanding of the human body that idiots on Twitter.
Which is why some medicine is 'behind the counter' and we don't argue about that very much.
Ideas and memes can define reality, and those who have the power to define reality will possibly abuse it which is why it's not in anyone's interest to have insane people influence how we think.
'Freedom of Expression' is a fundamental and inalienable right, so if Alex Jones wants to believe that Sandy Hook victims are 'actors' it's his right, it may even be his right to stand on the corner and yell it at the top of his lungs, email individuals, or put it on his own web page. But there's also no reason for us to facilitate spread of garbage through the public commons or other sites.
People have been following Sandy Hook families, harassing them and the adversarial courts system is no place to have that worked out.
Similarly with people trying to overthrow the government on lies about election results.
The truth is difficult, it's always subject to perspective and context, most mediums are biased, all institutions have their flaws, and freedom of expression is a fundamental right, at the same time, truth does really matter and it's in everyone's interest to have quality information in the commons, and not noise, or worse, idiots usurping the channels for their own diabolical stupidity.
- amadeuspagel 4y ago> The notion that the loudest and most populist voices that make ridiculous arguments and appeal to sentimentality - have anything to do with the 'truth' or anything positive ... is an obvious strawman. > Next time you visit your 'Corrupt High Priest Doctor' who represents the institution of Medicine, who recommends a therapy, why don't you ignore him and make your own concoction, at home, using the 'alt method' you discovered on some podcast? Again an obvious strawman. Your doctor vs "some podcast". According to a survey done in april 2022, 5.2% of U.S. primary care doctors weren't vaxxed against covid[1]. If you had such a doctor, would you override his judgement based on stuff you've read on the internet? I would. > Ideas and memes can define reality, and those who have the power to define reality will possibly abuse it which is why it's not in anyone's interest to have insane people influence how we think. Woah, sounds dangerous. Should anyone have the power to "define reality"? At least we can trust that those who have to power to stop others from "defining reality" will not abuse it. [1]: https://theconversation.com/the-1-in-10-u-s-doctors-with-reservations-about-vaccines-could-be-undermining-the-fight-against-covid-19-179929 https://theconversation.com/the-1-in-10-u-s-doctors-with-res...
- jasmer 4y agoI think you're a bit confused with the term 'strawman'. The entire nature of 'free speech without consequences' is about populist appeal to stupidity. The evidence exists in the fact that 30% of Americans believe the election was stolen despite there being no material evidence. And all sorts of other things.
- orbital223 4y ago> Next time you visit your 'Corrupt High Priest Doctor' who represents the institution of Medicine, who recommends a therapy, why don't you ignore him and make your own concoction, at home, using the 'alt method' you discovered on some podcast? Good luck. If the doctor recommends that the treatment to a strong cold is to amputate your hands, will you just agree to it or will you apply some level of your own discernment? > Doctors and Medical researches have a fundamentally better understanding of the human body that idiots on Twitter. And yet there were (and are) a ton of doctors prescribind Hydroxicloroquine and Ivermectin to their covid patients. > Which is why some medicine is 'behind the counter' and we don't argue about that very much. We argue about it all the time. That's why people get second, third and fourth opinions. That's why there are medical panels. That's why people sue doctors for malpractice.
- jasmer 4y agoYou're going to use 'If they tell you to jump off of a cliff, would you do it?' arguments? Really? Are you suggesting that doctors don't have an institutiona legitimacy? Seriously? Hydroxicloroquine and Ivermectin? They are medicine. Doctors have been prescribing them for a while. We don't know the full effects of them, but we also know they are otherwise benigng in specific dosages, and there were hopes that there wouldbe an effect. It's good that some Hosptials were making the prescription. And finally, no, we do not argue over the concept of 'behind the counter drugs'. There is 0 debate anywhere that people should just be able to 'self prescribe' and get what drugs they want. That doctors can be wrong is besides the point. I don't think you've made any arguments to suggest that we shouldn't remain having some fairly serious instittional legitimcay in the field of medicine.
- bcrl 4y agoDoctors are like any other profession. There are average doctors, there are really good doctors, and there are also really bad doctors. The world is full of nuance. Sadly some people don't want to believe nuance exists, and others deny that nuance exists for personal gain.
- selfhoster11 4y ago