On Sat, 30 May 2009 10:16:15 -0700, Joan Warmbold wrote: >Haven't we discussed this exact issue before on TIPS?
Somewhat, search for "Wakefield Redux" and " 'Wakefield Redux' Redux". >As I responded previously, Offit is destroying a theory that many >parents and other "authority figures" have deeply invested in. There >are plenty of other examples of this as per how the Freudian-leaning >folks got so upset with Hobbs and his activation-synthesis theory of >dreaming and Belsky's research on the potential downside to extensive >use of day care for children in the first two years of life. We are human a >fter all and can be quite irrational when a treasured belief system is >challenged. >I believe it's caused cognitive dissonance, right? BTW, I couldn't access >Stephen's URL so if others had that problem, I have an article about >Offit's experiences from the NYT's. > > http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/health/13auti.html?_r=2&ref=science Although Stephen Black refers to a May 2009 review of Offit's book, the book was published in September 2008 and it has been reviewed in many venues (the January 2009 NY Times article is just one). A more interesting review (IMHO) is provided by David Gorski in his blog on the Science-Based Medicine website which I recommend that Tipsters read because it does provide additional background on Offit's text; see: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=220 Gorski also relates how he had become involved with the antivaccine debate even though he is a cancer physician/researcher (he is interested in pseudoscience and the critical analysis of alternative medicine as well as having had a significant internet presence). For more on his background see: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?author=8 -Mike Palij New York University [email protected] --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
