Incidentally, **** you, Jenny McCarthy. That is all.

[Lorizael]

He's claiming that there is a possibility of a causal relationship without stating how incredibly small that possibility is.

Yeah. But I don't think that makes him crazy. Additionally, I'm not sure we have a good way of evaluating how possible or not possible a relationship is (without doing more science).

To be clear, I don't believe there's any reason why scientists should believe there is a causal relationship. The whole idea that rising vaccination is linked with rising autism is about as reliable as the correlation between declining piracy and increasing global warming.

I think parents remember very vividly their children crying when they get vaccine shots, then remembering that their child may or may not have developed symptoms of autism some time before, during, or after getting the vaccine, and then their brains link the two events together and it's too late to change their minds. And I don't think that's a good foundation on which to base a study.

[MikeH]

Exactly. The earliest time you can detect autism is co-incidentally just about the time kids get shots.

[MikeH]

Same thing as losing a gold chain in the river one day, the rains coming the next and suddenly we are all worshipping the river god.

[giblets]

Same thing as losing a gold chain in the river one day, the rains coming the next and suddenly we are all worshipping the river god.

Well, thank the river god we have science to work out all this stuff.

[Felch]

He's claiming that there is a possibility of a causal relationship without stating how incredibly small that possibility is.

So? There's a possibility that Natalie Portman will stop by my house tomorrow to give me head. It's incredibly unlikely, but still a possibility.

Part of science is never saying anything more than what you have evidence for. Don't rag on Spencer for being cautious in his statements. He's in the right on this one.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

He agrees that the science done so far demonstrates no causal link between vaccines and autism, thinks children should get their vaccines, and thinks Wakefield is a snake oil salemen. I'm not sure how he's helping the crazies.

once your sentence becomes longer than 10 words that can be easily comprehended, you are helping the crazies... oh wait I am helping the crazies... damn

[OneFootInTheGrave]

So? There's a possibility that Natalie Portman will stop by my house tomorrow to give me head. It's incredibly unlikely, but still a possibility.

Part of science is never saying anything more than what you have evidence for. Don't rag on Spencer for being cautious in his statements. He's in the right on this one.

well if she stops, we want pics

[notyoueither]

The problem is saying it IS possible when there's no indication that anything of the sort is possible is enough for many people to fear it. Like nye, apparently.

It's like saying your daughter's teacher is possibly a child rapist. You don't go saying **** like that unless you have any reason to be it's at all realistically possible.

Talk about arrogance with no foundation. At least Guy has training and what I have to imagine as intensely personal experience.

I can't for the life of me think of why parents would feel uneasy about injecting their children with substances including toxic heavy metals, especially when there is a not infrequent incidence of science and authorities getting it wrong.

The attitudes displayed in this thread towards any questioning of authority and accepted (by some) wisdom, even by someone very well positioned to know what he is talking about, are amazing.

[Asher]

If it's so amazing, perhaps you need to evaluate your opinion.

[notyoueither]

Lead? What problem? It's useful to make pipes and put in paint. No trouble there.
Asbestos? Very useful stuff. Let's insulate our buildings with it and use it in various household and clothing items.
Got a bug? A sniffle? Use this stuff that kills those bugs dead. It's like health candy! Everybody gets some! Only problem, now those drugs don't get all the bugs and there's some that will kill you despite whatever Guy and his cohort can think to do for you. Oops, sorry!

But, just trust us on this one. We know you have been taught to avoid heavy metals as if they carry the plague, but you can trust your children to it, and us. We have it right this time!

Yeah, right.

[Asher]

What will you do when they find something wrong with tinfoil?

[notyoueither]

I stopped using tinfoil a long time ago. I'm positive the US govt has back-doored it.

[notyoueither]

BTW, I'm not sure where you get the balls to stand up for authority and call down any questioning, Asher.

You make a right good little Nazi when the shirts suit your colour and the agenda agrees with your ideas of what is right.

[Asher]

I'm no nazi for calling stupid people stupid.

People can refuse vaccinations all they want, I'm not forcing them. Just don't expect me to pay for your care when you get sick.

And make no mistake, people who refuse vaccinations on the grounds that you think X is icky are stupid. But they have every right to be stupid.

[Asher]

Same goes for smokers. Far as I'm concerned, it's 2011. If you still smoke, you should not be covered by public healthcare for any smoking-related diseases. People have a right to be stupid, just not on my dime.