Comments on: The Roots of Anti-Vaccine Insanity http://trueslant.com/ryansager/2009/05/11/the-roots-of-anti-vaccine-insanity/ A newswire of human stupidity Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:16:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Do Corrections Work? - Ryan Sager - Neuroworld - True/Slant http://trueslant.com/ryansager/2009/05/11/the-roots-of-anti-vaccine-insanity/comment-page-1/#comment-2182 Do Corrections Work? - Ryan Sager - Neuroworld - True/Slant Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:22:34 +0000 http://trueslant.com/ryansager/?p=1331#comment-2182 [...] talked on this blog before about the fact that correcting bad information can serve (unintentionally) to reinforce bad information. But this adds a partisan spin to things. If we want to believe the correct [...] [...] talked on this blog before about the fact that correcting bad information can serve (unintentionally) to reinforce bad information. But this adds a partisan spin to things. If we want to believe the correct [...]

]]> By: Autism Study Retracted - Ryan Sager - Neuroworld - True/Slant http://trueslant.com/ryansager/2009/05/11/the-roots-of-anti-vaccine-insanity/comment-page-1/#comment-2044 Autism Study Retracted - Ryan Sager - Neuroworld - True/Slant Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:51:46 +0000 http://trueslant.com/ryansager/?p=1331#comment-2044 [...] Of course, don’t expect this to do anything other than redouble the belief of vaccine crazies that — contrary to all evidence — vaccines cause autism. [...] [...] Of course, don’t expect this to do anything other than redouble the belief of vaccine crazies that — contrary to all evidence — vaccines cause autism. [...]

]]> By: Ryan Sager - Neuroworld – The Brilliance of Astroturfing - True/Slant http://trueslant.com/ryansager/2009/05/11/the-roots-of-anti-vaccine-insanity/comment-page-1/#comment-775 Ryan Sager - Neuroworld – The Brilliance of Astroturfing - True/Slant Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:45:55 +0000 http://trueslant.com/ryansager/?p=1331#comment-775 [...] the president going around trying to debunk the “death panels” nonsense — remember, debunking bad information just tends to reinforce it. I’d be organizing my own “astroturf” counter-protests in favor of popular parts [...] [...] the president going around trying to debunk the “death panels” nonsense — remember, debunking bad information just tends to reinforce it. I’d be organizing my own “astroturf” counter-protests in favor of popular parts [...]

]]> By: Ryan Sager - Neuroworld – Birthers and Truthers and Morons, oh my! - True/Slant http://trueslant.com/ryansager/2009/05/11/the-roots-of-anti-vaccine-insanity/comment-page-1/#comment-753 Ryan Sager - Neuroworld – Birthers and Truthers and Morons, oh my! - True/Slant Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:27:03 +0000 http://trueslant.com/ryansager/?p=1331#comment-753 [...] The real question, I think, is whether these things are getting better or worse in the modern age. Since we don’t have any public opinion polls from 1775, I’m not sure exactly how one would tackle the question. In a world of far less literacy, a partisan political press with little “fact checking” ability, and most information traveling by word-of-mouth, you’d have to think the conspiracy theories were more prevalent and harder to combat hundreds of years ago. At the same time, when any crazy theory (say, birtherism) can get massive coverage on all the major cable networks, spreading the “infection” to millions of people in a matter of minutes, maybe things are worse today. (And even if the reports are framed as “debunking” the conspiracy theory, we’ve seen that repeating bad information — even to correct it — can still spread the bad ....) [...] [...] The real question, I think, is whether these things are getting better or worse in the modern age. Since we don’t have any public opinion polls from 1775, I’m not sure exactly how one would tackle the question. In a world of far less literacy, a partisan political press with little “fact checking” ability, and most information traveling by word-of-mouth, you’d have to think the conspiracy theories were more prevalent and harder to combat hundreds of years ago. At the same time, when any crazy theory (say, birtherism) can get massive coverage on all the major cable networks, spreading the “infection” to millions of people in a matter of minutes, maybe things are worse today. (And even if the reports are framed as “debunking” the conspiracy theory, we’ve seen that repeating bad information — even to correct it — can still spread the bad ….) [...]

]]> By: Things That Make You Go Hmmm · Iranian Election Coverage http://trueslant.com/ryansager/2009/05/11/the-roots-of-anti-vaccine-insanity/comment-page-1/#comment-618 Things That Make You Go Hmmm · Iranian Election Coverage Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:32:06 +0000 http://trueslant.com/ryansager/?p=1331#comment-618 [...] but false positives are hard to let go of. That is the way the human brain is wired. Ryan Sager wrote awhile ago about why the anti-vaccine conspiracy theories remain despite all the evidence to the [...] [...] but false positives are hard to let go of. That is the way the human brain is wired. Ryan Sager wrote awhile ago about why the anti-vaccine conspiracy theories remain despite all the evidence to the [...]

]]> By: sciencemum1 http://trueslant.com/ryansager/2009/05/11/the-roots-of-anti-vaccine-insanity/comment-page-1/#comment-534 sciencemum1 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:27:23 +0000 http://trueslant.com/ryansager/?p=1331#comment-534 There are two other problems I see as well. First is a lack of understanding of the evidence and how it fits into everyday life, which prevents people from judging risks. This is another part of the availability bias, but it is invisible to many of the vaccine advocates because it is all around us. Ehamiter's comment is a perfect example, and I'm sympathetic because I've worried about it myself. But I found that children are more exposed to antigens and foreign substances by brushing their teeth than they are in a vaccine. I can only see basic education helping to fill in these gaps, or making sure health providers actually ask parents about their specific concerns rather than assuming it is autism. The second problem is related, and I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone mention it. The genetic factor is a huge issue. For people searching for a reason, they see the word 'genetic' and think 'my fault.' At that point many shut down and refuse to listen. I'm not sure how to deal with this one, except with tact and understanding. There are two other problems I see as well. First is a lack of understanding of the evidence and how it fits into everyday life, which prevents people from judging risks. This is another part of the availability bias, but it is invisible to many of the vaccine advocates because it is all around us. Ehamiter’s comment is a perfect example, and I’m sympathetic because I’ve worried about it myself. But I found that children are more exposed to antigens and foreign substances by brushing their teeth than they are in a vaccine. I can only see basic education helping to fill in these gaps, or making sure health providers actually ask parents about their specific concerns rather than assuming it is autism.

The second problem is related, and I’m surprised I haven’t seen anyone mention it. The genetic factor is a huge issue. For people searching for a reason, they see the word ‘genetic’ and think ‘my fault.’ At that point many shut down and refuse to listen. I’m not sure how to deal with this one, except with tact and understanding.

]]> By: Ryan Sager - Neuroworld - Dave, Please Stop Apologizing - True/Slant http://trueslant.com/ryansager/2009/05/11/the-roots-of-anti-vaccine-insanity/comment-page-1/#comment-521 Ryan Sager - Neuroworld - Dave, Please Stop Apologizing - True/Slant Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:46:46 +0000 http://trueslant.com/ryansager/?p=1331#comment-521 [...] joke about a young girl, he should stop repeating the accusation. We’ve covered this before (and recently), so I’ll just link and reiterate: Repeating the lie reinforces the [...] [...] joke about a young girl, he should stop repeating the accusation. We’ve covered this before (and recently), so I’ll just link and reiterate: Repeating the lie reinforces the [...]

]]> By: Ryan Sager - Neuroworld - Iran: Knowing Nothing - True/Slant http://trueslant.com/ryansager/2009/05/11/the-roots-of-anti-vaccine-insanity/comment-page-1/#comment-505 Ryan Sager - Neuroworld - Iran: Knowing Nothing - True/Slant Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:41:30 +0000 http://trueslant.com/ryansager/?p=1331#comment-505 [...] It seems a few common errors are occurring here (many familiar from our look at The Roots of Anti-Vaccine Insanity): [...] [...] It seems a few common errors are occurring here (many familiar from our look at The Roots of Anti-Vaccine Insanity): [...]

]]> By: Ryan Sager - Neuroworld - Da Echo Chamber - True/Slant http://trueslant.com/ryansager/2009/05/11/the-roots-of-anti-vaccine-insanity/comment-page-1/#comment-408 Ryan Sager - Neuroworld - Da Echo Chamber - True/Slant Thu, 28 May 2009 18:12:51 +0000 http://trueslant.com/ryansager/?p=1331#comment-408 [...] discussed confirmation bias on here before: The tendency to search for and filter for information that confirms your preconceptions. [...] [...] discussed confirmation bias on here before: The tendency to search for and filter for information that confirms your preconceptions. [...]

]]> By: ewilliams http://trueslant.com/ryansager/2009/05/11/the-roots-of-anti-vaccine-insanity/comment-page-1/#comment-350 ewilliams Sun, 17 May 2009 01:14:56 +0000 http://trueslant.com/ryansager/?p=1331#comment-350 This is a huge problem. While some people believe delaying and staggering to be good compromises, the reality is that this delays the protections vaccines can provide at a time when children are most vulnerable. This is a huge problem. While some people believe delaying and staggering to be good compromises, the reality is that this delays the protections vaccines can provide at a time when children are most vulnerable.

]]>