BS filter overload

BobJudy

The internet has been both a boon and a detriment to humanity. Thursday Judy and I met with a woman who had some donations and supplies for our annual breast cancer charity sporting clays shoot. She is an upper level administrator at a major local hospital. Naturally the conversation veered toward covid19 and the possibility of a viable vaccine on the horizon. She proceeded to give me a lecture about the dangers of vaccines, especially in children because of the vaccines containing mercury that can cause autism among other things. I asked if this was the opinion of the medical professionals at her hospital and she said she didn't know. She gets her information from facebook, youtube and antivaxxer websites. I asked her why autism rates have not gone down since out of caution all childhood vaccines have been mercury free for the last 20 years. I asked her what form of mercury was she worried about, meythl or eythyl? I explained that meythl mercury, like in seafood, accumulates in the body and eythl mercury which is in very few adult vaccines doesn't. My facts fell on deaf ears because of all the BS that she has ingested from the "experts" on the internet. It seems that either a lot of people are born without a BS filter or the vast amounts of erroneous information has overloaded their filters so all garbage passes through. Now with Covid19 there is even more fake, half truth information bombarding us and I fear all of our filters will be overloaded. For now I take nothing at face value but it sure can be tiring. 

Sorry for the rant, but I guess I get cranky when I am tired. Bob

rufe-snow

Her being a being a " upper level administrator" at you local hospital. Would be a matter of great concern to me. If I lived there.

Can't reconcile, her being in a position of authority. And believing all the phony BS, that is spewed out, by net trolls. It could become, a really scary and dangerous situation for your local community. If she is able to influence the decisions, regarding the vaccination of children. For diseases like measles, polio, etc. 

Marc1301

I'm right there with you Bob,....the BS is getting old all the way around. I'm amazed at how many people get their information from FB. Sad

Nanuq907

I'm with you, Bob.  What's really tiring to me is these people armed with half truths have also lost sight of decorum.  Mask shaming comes to mind, with accusations that you're selfish, self-absorbed, an idiot, arrogant, selfish, or borderline murderer.
No longer are you granted the freedom to have your own opinion, and if you attempt to express it, you're a science denier.
It's okay to be cranky.  Everyone is.  I try to remember people are stressed out, and give them the benefit if the doubt.

BobJudy

rufe-snow said:

Her being a being a " upper level administrator" at you local hospital. Would be a matter of great concern to me. If I lived there.

Can't reconcile, her being in a position of authority. And believing all the phony BS, that is spewed out, by net trolls. It could become, a really scary and dangerous situation for your local community. If she is able to influence the decisions, regarding the vaccination of children. For diseases like measles, polio, etc. 

Fortunately her responsibilities don't encompass the setting or enforcing of medical policies or decisions. I guess my frustration is that she is surrounded by highly trained medical professionals and instead of learning from them, gets her information from the internet. Worse is the way she accepts those internet factoids without any scepticism. I see this same gullibility in others from all walks of life and it truly is sad. Bob

buddyb

Seems people believe everything on the internet and talk radio.

pulsarnc

Presumably , she holds a college degree , at least a BA. Goes to show being educated doesn't make you smart . Unfortunately I know way to many folks like that . Many of them in positions of authority . 

Nanuq907