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When it comes to scientific debate, here are three perfect ways to shut someone up:<\/span><\/p>\n Malarkey. Baloney. Poppycock.<\/span><\/p>\n After more than 15 years as a <\/span>writer and researcher<\/span><\/a>, one thing I know for sure is that <\/span>science is never settled<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another thing I know for sure is that <\/span>scientific debate is always healthy<\/b>. And <\/span>censorship is always wrong<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n Censoring scientific debate can and does lead to grave consequences. Censorship (coupled with junk science) helped give tobacco companies a free pass for years. Censorship<\/a> (and junk science) led medical doctors to wrongly believe that <\/span>diethylstilbestrol<\/span><\/a> was safe during pregnancy. Without open and honest scientific debate, children <\/span>get injured<\/span><\/a> by <\/span>unscientific medical practices<\/span><\/a>. People die.<\/span><\/p>\n So what does all this have to do with coronavirus?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Why is scientific debate important when it comes to COVID-19?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These are trying times. <\/span><\/p>\n The global fear of and reaction to COVID-19 has put much of the world into lockdown, led to a rise in <\/span>domestic violence<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>child abuse<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>suicide<\/span><\/a>, and self-harm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The lockdown in America may very well cripple the economy<\/a> for years to come.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the same time, tens of thousands of people have <\/span>tragically died<\/span><\/a> from the novel coronavirus. <\/span><\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt this is an <\/span>extremely severe illness<\/span><\/a> for some people. But some doctors and scientists are wondering out loud if <\/span>lack of timely testing<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>faulty treatment protocols<\/span><\/a>, an unwillingness to consider <\/span>alternative interventions<\/span><\/a>, and an <\/span>over-exposure to toxins<\/span><\/a> are responsible for some of the most acute cases and deaths.<\/span><\/p>\n Most of us are running scared. We\u2019re terrified of getting sick, devastated by the idea that we may be asymptomatic carriers and inadvertently get someone else sick, and also panicked about what seems to be a worldwide violation of <\/span>religious freedom<\/span><\/a> and civil liberties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I suspect that <\/span>shelter-in-place orders<\/span><\/a> may be too extreme, a sledgehammer when a small knife is all that’s needed. I suspect that a more scientific approach, which includes widespread testing and subsequent quarantine for people who are exposed (the model that has been <\/span>successfully used in Singapore<\/span><\/a> and other countries) may be the more effective course of action.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m also concerned about the rollback of civil liberties. There is a very real threat that we may be paving the way to give power to fascists, dictators, and demagogues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Even if the shelter-in-place method <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> the best one, what if we are inadvertently creating more problems than we\u2019re solving, stomping on human rights to \u201csave\u201d humanity?<\/span><\/p>\n This is an evolving situation with no easy answers. <\/span><\/p>\n Which is why we need scientific debate, as well as political debate, dinner table discussions, and a willingness to consider the data about COVID-19 coming in from all sides.<\/span><\/p>\n Haters gonna hate. And it turns out when you speak out against censorship\u2014and in favor of scientific debate\u2014it can bring a lot of ugly out of the closet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To wit, this email arrived in my inbox today:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cJust wanted to say fuck you antivaxxer. I sincerely hope that you and your family get covid19 and suffer extremely bad before you die. You absolutely fucking waste of oxygen.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That hate letter comes on the heels of a debate I started on <\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/a> that exploded.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s what I wrote:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Censorship<\/span><\/a> is dangerous. Dialogue and discussion are healthy. I know we are all smart enough to read and consider multiple points of view. It\u2019s small-minded to try to use ‘science’ to shut people up. As if science were written with a capital S.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Name-calling and ad hominem attacks aren\u2019t going to get you or me or any of us anywhere. <\/span><\/p>\n When you get infuriated because you disagree with something someone says, I suggest you take a moment to breathe and to examine your own <\/span>anger<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n Look what happened to Macbeth. Instead of trying to shoot the messenger, consider the message.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What you believe today may not be what you believe tomorrow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Be humble enough to know that you may not be right.\u00a0<\/span>Be mature enough to apologize when you are wrong.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Be open-minded enough to keep reading, questioning, thinking, and engaging in scientific debate.<\/span><\/p>\n Let\u2019s agree to disagree. Maybe even often. Scientific debate is healthy. Dialogue is always good. Working together, talking together, and problem-solving together is how we save lives.<\/span><\/p>\n Symbicort and COVID-19: A Dangerous Combination<\/a> Published: April 10, 2020 When it comes to scientific debate, here are three perfect ways to shut someone up: Challenge their credentials. Call them a \u201cquack,\u201d a \u201cconspiracy theorist,\u201d or, simply, \u201cunqualified.\u201d Dismiss their ideas or their research as \u201cunscientific.\u201d Even when it’s published in a peer-reviewed journal. Insist that they\u2019re wrong, not because there\u2019s anything factually incorrect about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"categories":[8349,532,8348],"tags":[8456,11780,11778,9817,11777,11776,11781,11779],"yoast_head":"\n\n
You can\u2019t have science without debate<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Hatemongers can\u2019t quell scientific debate<\/b><\/h3>\n
![\"Nasty](\"http:\/\/www.jennifermargulis.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Fuck-you-comment-I-hope-you-die-1024x206.png\")
<\/p>\nKeep an open mind<\/b><\/h3>\n
Related articles:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nGlyphosate and COVID-19: MIT’s Stephanie Seneff Connects the Dots<\/a>
\nFinding Your Strength and Your Self During a Global Pandemic: Chinese Medicine Shows You How<\/a><\/p>\n
\nLast update: April 12, 2020<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"