Jackie Danicki

Ben Goldacre, who is generally very good at shining light on bad science, does not disappoint in his devastating account of how this scare was fed and cared for by the media (of which he is a fully paid up member). It serves as something of a defense of Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the author of the original study. Goldacre’s conclusion:

It is madness to imagine that one single man can create a 10-year scare story. It is also dangerous to imply - even in passing - that academics should be policed not to speak their minds, no matter how poorly evidenced their claims. Individuals like Wakefield must be free to have bad ideas. The media created the MMR hoax, and they maintained it diligently for 10 years. Their failure to recognise that fact demonstrates that they have learned nothing, and until they do, journalists and editors will continue to perpetrate the very same crimes, repeatedly, with increasingly grave consequences.

What’s the answer? For individuals within our societies to be a lot less gullible and give much more scrutiny to what they are told by the media. I’m astonished at how many people I encounter who really do perceive that they are being spoonfed truth by TV and newspapers - especially if those outlets seem to favor their view of the world.

One thing that would help immensely here would be if certain media entities could drop the pretense of being “objective” and “unbiased”. Ditto the offensive and ludicrous claims some make that they are trying to “inform” people to be “better citizens”. Propaganda comes in all colors, and those peddling it - no matter the variety - are all convinced that they’re doing the world a favor.

What will get people to employ critical thinking? Being allowed greater autonomy and the opportunity to suffer and enjoy the consequences of our choices. So check back in a hundred years or so and we’ll see how that’s worked out. Right now I’m not so optimistic, but things can change rather quickly.

Filed under: Life