"The motivations behind science denial", 2019, McLintic (CFS mentioned)

Tom Kindlon

Senior Member (Voting Rights)
https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/rea...019/2019/vol-132-no-1504-25-october-2019/8027
N Z Med J. 2019 Oct 25;132(1504):88-94.
The motivations behind science denial.
McLintic A1.
Author information
1
Department of Anaesthesia, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland.
Abstract
Across the world highly educated, science-literate parents are refusing to have their children vaccinated against contagious diseases. Decades of international, peer-reviewed climate science is being dismissed as institutional conspiracy. Activists troll and harass scientists who come to unfavourable conclusions in pet areas such as genome modification, childhood memory recall, chronic fatigue syndrome and even the hazards of smoking. And somewhat legitimising this behaviour are rising numbers of populist leaders who pour scorn on whichever science is inconvenient to their popularity. Science denial is tangible on a day-to-day basis and has measurable detriment to health and education. This article outlines the key research underpinning its ideological, psychological and pragmatic motivations.

PMID:
31647799
 
Such a shame they have us so wrong. So clever and convenient of course for our adversaries to be able to lump us in with the loons, the flat earners and the dangerous. We are actually like climate activists fighting AGAINST the resistance and vested interest and for good science.

the wessely Sharpe white CFS CBT model is wrong not just “controversial”, their science and supposed outcomes/Conclusions are flawed, manipulated and Harmful not just “Unfavourable “, we don’t have pet areas or beliefs we have lives and families we are fighting for . I would also contend that the actual level of real harassment has been exaggerated..

it’s very unfortunate, I bet the writer of this has actual very limited knowledge of what “CFS” is, or the true debate around it , it’s just convenient to throw in as an example.

The sad thing is I personally don’t believe those who started this rumour actually do believe we are just anti science=anti psychiatry, I don’t think they Are as bewildered and sad at our continued hostility as they claim, I think that they Are just in damage limitation mode, at our expense, which if true is actually a serious crime against humanity really. This is why they never truly engage in the debate.
 
The author of this piece strikes me as being the kind of person who will say, on his pet subject, "the science is settled".

The "science was settled" for many years on the subject of cholesterol and nutrition - high cholesterol was going to kill us, statins were wonder drugs, eating saturated fat was going to kill us, sugar was fine, we all had to eat up to 11 or 12 servings of carbohydrates, preferably grains, per day to be well, and protein was bad for us. I don't think many serious scientists still think all these things.
 
We should remember that the AntiVax thing was certainly encouraged by a paper in the Lancet (Wakefields paper) which was defended by Horton who has also been key in publishing and defending the PACE trial.
I don't understand why Horton receives zero criticism for his role in this. Especially as he is doing the exact same thing with PACE. He said the same thing: a vocal activist minority who just don't "like" the results, nevermind that the real results of PACE show failure and the main point of criticism is pretending otherwise.

Anyway. Hindsight. 20/20.
 
:banghead:
Appears to be an anaesthesiologist with a certain "world view". He writes:
Cultural cognition is where we view information through the lens of our worldview. Worldview is a term for our deeply engrained values and beliefs that give us our sense of self, group identity and how we want society to be.
https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/rea...019/2019/vol-132-no-1504-25-october-2019/8027

Curiously none of the references he gives mention ME or CFS in the title. So on what science does he base his view of ME/CFS?
 
https://icuadelaide.com.au/files/understanding_statistics_v2009_mclintic.pdf

He's written a booklet called 'Understanding Statistics'.
"STUDY DESIGN
2.Specify target population - Inclusion / Exclusion criteria
4. Requirement for control group if intervention study
7. Prevent bias
Response bias: If patient or observer or analyst knows allocation they can affect outcome. Avoid with blinding and allocation concealment
9. Statistical analysis plan
Outline the statistical analysis strategy in protocol. Avoid data dredging

Key components of EBM
Ask an answerable question
Track down best evidence
Appraise / validate evidence critically
Implement results in clinical practice Evaluate performance"
So, he knows all the theory, he just hasn't bothered to apply it.

More:
ERRORS IN RESEARCH
1. Reading up on the field
Only reading articles that agree with experimenters view
:laugh:
 
Last edited:
Curiously none of the references he gives mention ME or CFS in the title. So on what science does he base his view of ME/CFS?
Some people do recreational anger. The "special report" on "harassed" scientists was fodder for this type.

Ironically, did not bother doing any research and just repeated fake news, engaging in science denial in the process. Oh, if irony were a currency we would all be richer than Jesus and Croesus put together.
 
https://icuadelaide.com.au/files/understanding_statistics_v2009_mclintic.pdf

He's written a booklet called 'Understanding Statistics'.
"STUDY DESIGN
2.Specify target population - Inclusion / Exclusion criteria
4. Requirement for control group if intervention study
7. Prevent bias
Response bias: If patient or observer or analyst knows allocation they can affect outcome. Avoid with blinding and allocation concealment
9. Statistical analysis plan
Outline the statistical analysis strategy in protocol. Avoid data dredging

Key components of EBM
Ask an answerable question
Track down best evidence
Appraise / validate evidence critically
Implement results in clinical practice Evaluate performance"
So, he knows all the theory, he just hasn't bothered to apply it.

More:
ERRORS IN RESEARCH
1. Reading up on the field
Only reading articles that agree with experimenters view
:laugh:
Why ruin a good 2 minutes of hate with facts?
 
:banghead:
Appears to be an anaesthesiologist with a certain "world view". He writes:

https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/rea...019/2019/vol-132-no-1504-25-october-2019/8027

Curiously none of the references he gives mention ME or CFS in the title. So on what science does he base his view of ME/CFS?

Quite a few references from Lewandowsky, who has done his bit promoting lazy prejudices on this topic.

Looking for those old references turned up this 2013 blog, which rather misrepresents attempts to get information about PACE:

Similarly, if requests for data persist after all results of any potential scientific value have been made available, those requests are difficult to reconcile with good-faith attempts to contribute to new knowledge. Such requests are more likely to be harassment than attempts to aid in scientific discovery. Recent decisions by the UK Information Commissioner support this perspective by rejecting requests for prepublication data quite decidedly.

http://www.shapingtomorrowsworld.org/lskymannSubter.html
 
So, he knows all the theory, he just hasn't bothered to apply it.
Since he's not a psych maybe we can forgive him for not recognising cognitive dissonance when he feels it ;). There are others who don't have even that excuse...
Has anyone actually read the commentary? I don't have access.
No access either. All comments based on the publicly available abstract and reference list.
 
Quite a few references from Lewandowsky, who has done his bit promoting lazy prejudices on this topic.

Looking for those old references turned up this 2013 blog, which rather misrepresents attempts to get information about PACE:



http://www.shapingtomorrowsworld.org/lskymannSubter.html
What a lazy argument. Science is never settled. That's what makes it successful. And there is no need to demand access to data when it is openly shared, especially when it is mandated by contractual obligations and public funding.

The PACE authors made it difficult because they had something to hide. If anything, it's a perfect example for why it's necessary to openly share scientific data and demand it when it is arbitrarily refused precisely because the researchers have something to hide. What's not normal is when published papers present arguments not backed by data they are based on, which is what happened here, confirmed even.
 
Would a quiet email to the corresponding author be appropriate? To ask what science denial they are referring to in regards the CFS and perhaps direct them to some resource that leaves them better informed regarding the bad science that has been so damaging.
Brain not working very well today.
 
Would a quiet email to the corresponding author be appropriate? To ask what science denial they are referring to in regards the CFS and perhaps direct them to some resource that leaves them better informed regarding the bad science that has been so damaging.
Brain not working very well today.

Just IMO, I don't think we are dealing with rational thinking or behaviour from the people who still insist on spouting nonsense on this subject. There is ample opportunity and means to properly evaluate and understand this issue around what PwME are saying regarding the PACE trial and their experience of this illness. What they are all lacking is the motivation to do so.

In this case lack of motivation is the crime. Or at least it should be.
 
I think it might just be that he hasn't looked into things very much with respect to ME/CFS yet. (Of course, ideally, people would pause to consider whether the maligning of a whole group of sick people is warranted by the facts before publishing a scientific paper.)

His mind might be open enough to consider evidence presented in a polite email.
 
Would a quiet email to the corresponding author be appropriate? To ask what science denial they are referring to in regards the CFS and perhaps direct them to some resource that leaves them better informed regarding the bad science that has been so damaging.
Brain not working very well today.
I think it might just be that he hasn't looked into things very much with respect to ME/CFS yet. (Of course, ideally, people would pause to consider whether the maligning of a whole group of sick people is warranted by the facts before publishing a scientific paper.)

His mind might be open enough to consider evidence presented in a polite email.
It's hard to say without knowing the man how such an email would be taken.
If he's just been ignorant and careless about fact-checking he might just be open to reconsidering his point of view on ME/CFS.
On the other hand, if he happens to be mates with one of the usual suspects and has his mind firmly made up, then any email - no matter how polite - will be taken as further proof of our supposed harassing of scientists.

Is it worth taking the risk? That might depend on how bad the actual article is. Has anyone been able to access the whole article yet?
 
Back
Top Bottom