Sunday, August 28, 2005

Rhetoric switch: The Game!

One of the old propaganda pieces published by the anti-MeNZB cranks had a paragraph, that now I think about it, sounds strangely familiar.
Science and medicine are by no means unanimous about vaccines. In fact, there is a long-running controversy about both the safety as well as the effectiveness of many vaccines. Many doctors and scientists believe that vaccines are generally safe and effective. However, many other doctors and scientists disagree. The safety and effectiveness of the NZ Meningococcal B vaccine are also now a matter of contention among doctors and health professionals.
This wouldn't look out of place in many other kinds of quackery press releases such as from the discovery institute (The Intelligent Design movement think tank). For example, I could see the DI using that statement with a few modifications, particularly as it already has the 'teach the controversy' slogan;
Scientists are by no means unanimous about evolution. In fact, there is a long-running controversy about both the theory as well as the importance of natural selection. Many scientists believe that evolution has generally occured. However, many other scientists disagree. The theory of evolution is now a matter of contention among scientists.
Hmmmm, not bad for just chopping out and inserting the odd word here and there. I wonder how it would do for those that deny HIV causes AIDS, let's have a look!
Science and medicine are by no means unanimous about AIDS. In fact, there is a long-running controversy about both the ability of HIV to cause AIDS as well as the effectiveness of HIV prevention methods. Many doctors and scientists believe that HIV is the cause of AIDS. However, many other doctors and scientists disagree. The ability for HIV to cause AIDS is now a matter of contention among doctors and health professionals.
Hey, this is pretty easy! It's no wonder you get so many similar sounding kinds of statements from various groups pushing crank theories, they probably all steal eachothers statements and change a few words around. Sure beats having to come up with something new each time.