Friday, January 27, 2023

Some ideas are so stupid that only ideological intellectuals believe them.

Yesterday I complained about dysfunctional public intellectuals.  I offered two documented examples of mainstream media/pundits holding untenable positions.

Electing a woman as Prime Minister is admirable but rejecting her for her failed policies is sexism.   ASHG wants to avoid advocacy agendas but enthusiastically supports a specific advocacy agenda.  Universities support free speech but not speech of which they disapprove.

And the tide of news today brings in a fresh batch of examples of public intellectuals being demonstratively stupid.  The two examples are The New York Times and Mt. Sinai Medical School.  In both cases, they are advocating that anyone who wishes to maintain a healthy diet and avoid obesity is a practicing racist.  

From NYTimes is now Pro-Obesity & Mt Sinai Med School Says Weight Loss is Racist: Medicine is Drowning in Deranged Ideas. by Vinay Prasad.  The subheading is We need to stand up for common sense in medicine

This week, I read two things that are emblematic of just how common sense is in a decline in American medicine. They are both on the topic of obesity. First, let’s remind ourselves that obesity is a problem that is rapidly getting worse in America. We are fatter than ever before.


















Click to enlarge.

[snip]

Medicine is suffering from a brain parasite: the ideas expressed in both these essays. Trying to lower weight among those with unhealthy weight is a racist goal, and we should be happy with surge in obesity among children—- These are clearly ridiculous ideas that are being presented as if they are fact with little push back.

Its as if these people are actively trying to convince the public that we should no longer listen to them

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