3 ms·

I can understand where he (Hotez) is coming from, especially in view of his personal history of having an autistic child. We need to take seriously and combat t

I can understand where he (Hotez) is coming from, especially in view of his personal history of having an autistic child. We need to take seriously and combat the disinformation that pours in through social media like a flood over scorched plains. But when this fight increasingly becomes partisan and/or self-interested it becomes hard to discern what is merely propaganda using the "hoax" and "conspiracy theory" bludgeon, and what is the noble fight. Nowhere is this clearer than regarding the "lab leak" theory (that a Wuhan lab leak is the ultimate covid-19 source, something which if true likely would make continued Gain of Function research nigh impossible). Leading scientists like Peter Daszak even Hotez himself that have been at the forefront of talking down this verily possible hypothesis have been proven to have serious conflicts of interest in the matter. [0] [1] Anti-science sentiments is a problem, but for Hotez to come complaining about it in such a context becomes problematic itself to say the least. [0] https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2414 https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2414 [1] https://usrtk.org/covid-19-origins/critic-of-congressional-probe-into-gain-of-function-research-helped-fund-wuhan-gain-of-function-study/ https://usrtk.org/covid-19-origins/critic-of-congressional-p...

SV_BubbleTime 4y ago
>Leading scientists like Peter Daszak Weird, there must be another scientist with the same name. https://theintercept.com/2021/09/09/covid-origins-gain-of-function-research/ https://theintercept.com/2021/09/09/covid-origins-gain-of-fu...
- stareatgoats 4y ago
  Not sure why you think so. It's the same guy, he was been at the forefront of trying to discredit the any notion of a "lab leak" all while being involved in research in Wuhan involving genetic manipulation the infectiousness of corona viruses. That doesn't necessarily mean that he is trying too hide an actual lab leak, or that there was one at all, only that he behaved unethically when he didn't disclose conflicting interests. The why is interesting, but can only be speculation: could be political seeing that everything is so polarized nowadays: when the "lab leak" was first vented it was seen as a republican (Trumpian) notion that could lead to intensified clashes with China. But reading the correspondence brought to light by the Intercept and RightToKnow it seems that major fear from scientists was that lawmakers might shut down GoF research if a "lab leak" was found credible - something most of the big names in virology are heavily invested in, viewed as a necessary tool in future pandemic control.

SV_BubbleTime 4y ago

>Leading scientists like Peter Daszak Weird, there must be another scientist with the same name. https://theintercept.com/2021/09/09/covid-origins-gain-of-function-research/ https://theintercept.com/2021/09/09/covid-origins-gain-of-fu...

stareatgoats 4y ago
Not sure why you think so. It's the same guy, he was been at the forefront of trying to discredit the any notion of a "lab leak" all while being involved in research in Wuhan involving genetic manipulation the infectiousness of corona viruses. That doesn't necessarily mean that he is trying too hide an actual lab leak, or that there was one at all, only that he behaved unethically when he didn't disclose conflicting interests. The why is interesting, but can only be speculation: could be political seeing that everything is so polarized nowadays: when the "lab leak" was first vented it was seen as a republican (Trumpian) notion that could lead to intensified clashes with China. But reading the correspondence brought to light by the Intercept and RightToKnow it seems that major fear from scientists was that lawmakers might shut down GoF research if a "lab leak" was found credible - something most of the big names in virology are heavily invested in, viewed as a necessary tool in future pandemic control.