Comments on: While the Anti-Vax Movement Strengthens, Their Arguments Only Get Weaker http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/09/04/while-the-anti-vax-movement-strengthens-their-arguments-only-get-weaker/ A blog about science, politics, and how to let each help the other without compromising them both. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:35:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Ian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/09/04/while-the-anti-vax-movement-strengthens-their-arguments-only-get-weaker/#comment-950 Ian Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:33:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/09/04/while-the-anti-vax-movement-strengthens-their-arguments-only-get-weaker/#comment-950 @Jim: Hey Jim, I'm sorry to inform you, but the vaccinations have nothing to do with Autism. You are correct in pointing out that autism rates have increased over the past 30-40 years. Some "medical" doctors say this is due to better diagnosis and wider recognition of the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders, but we know the the true cause of Autism. NASA. Human spaceflight has increased drastically in the passed 30-40 years. It doesn't take a genius to see the correlation between space flight and autism. After we stop spaceflight, then we can start working on stopping computers, rap music and the Superbowl, which by Jim's logic all contribute to autism. @Jim:

Hey Jim, I’m sorry to inform you, but the vaccinations have nothing to do with Autism. You are correct in pointing out that autism rates have increased over the past 30-40 years.

Some “medical” doctors say this is due to better diagnosis and wider recognition of the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders, but we know the the true cause of Autism.

NASA.

Human spaceflight has increased drastically in the passed 30-40 years. It doesn’t take a genius to see the correlation between space flight and autism. After we stop spaceflight, then we can start working on stopping computers, rap music and the Superbowl, which by Jim’s logic all contribute to autism.

]]> By: Jim http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/09/04/while-the-anti-vax-movement-strengthens-their-arguments-only-get-weaker/#comment-943 Jim Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:43:49 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/09/04/while-the-anti-vax-movement-strengthens-their-arguments-only-get-weaker/#comment-943 Is it reasonable to assume that natural selection weeds out autism (and allergies) from the population? That would be a big YES, autistic individuals are at a distinct reproductive disadvantage. Is it reasonable to hold the premise that the incidence of autism has substantially increased over the past 30 years, YES. And is it therefore reasonable to assume some new environmental variable has been introduced within the past 30 years that is a primary cause for autism, YES. Are multiple vaccines one of many new variables introduced to the environment within the past 30 years, YES. Is it reasonable to assume there is a correlation between vaccines and rates of autism, YES. Has causative link been found, NO. Has the CDC, NIH, APA, etc ever conducted a study that comprehensively compares unvaccinated children with full schedule vaccinated children, NO. Would such a study at least be helpful in understanding the perimeters of the correlation, YES. Given all this is it unreasonable to see why some parents seek to reduce the number of variables that may cause autism and thus the risk? More radical in thinking, is autism as bad an out come as death? Does autism not rob a person of some of the most fundamental aspects of being human? Given that, is the motivation to reduce the number of possible causative variables of autism unreasonable or foolish? Is it reasonable to assume that natural selection weeds out autism (and allergies) from the population? That would be a big YES, autistic individuals are at a distinct reproductive disadvantage. Is it reasonable to hold the premise that the incidence of autism has substantially increased over the past 30 years, YES. And is it therefore reasonable to assume some new environmental variable has been introduced within the past 30 years that is a primary cause for autism, YES. Are multiple vaccines one of many new variables introduced to the environment within the past 30 years, YES. Is it reasonable to assume there is a correlation between vaccines and rates of autism, YES. Has causative link been found, NO. Has the CDC, NIH, APA, etc ever conducted a study that comprehensively compares unvaccinated children with full schedule vaccinated children, NO. Would such a study at least be helpful in understanding the perimeters of the correlation, YES. Given all this is it unreasonable to see why some parents seek to reduce the number of variables that may cause autism and thus the risk? More radical in thinking, is autism as bad an out come as death? Does autism not rob a person of some of the most fundamental aspects of being human? Given that, is the motivation to reduce the number of possible causative variables of autism unreasonable or foolish?

]]> By: AutismNewsBeat http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/09/04/while-the-anti-vax-movement-strengthens-their-arguments-only-get-weaker/#comment-925 AutismNewsBeat Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:01:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/09/04/while-the-anti-vax-movement-strengthens-their-arguments-only-get-weaker/#comment-925 Thank you, Melissa, for fighting the good fight. Nothing will ever dissuade the hard core anti-vaxers, but with your help we can limit their influence. Thank you, Melissa, for fighting the good fight. Nothing will ever dissuade the hard core anti-vaxers, but with your help we can limit their influence.

]]> By: Sullivan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/09/04/while-the-anti-vax-movement-strengthens-their-arguments-only-get-weaker/#comment-924 Sullivan Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:39:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/09/04/while-the-anti-vax-movement-strengthens-their-arguments-only-get-weaker/#comment-924 They love to offer the false choice. There is no choice of "measles or autism". There is no good evicence that vaccines (especially the MMR, as we know from the results released yesterday) cause autism. It's the classic attempt to make people accept a false premise. They love to offer the false choice. There is no choice of “measles or autism”. There is no good evicence that vaccines (especially the MMR, as we know from the results released yesterday) cause autism.

It’s the classic attempt to make people accept a false premise.

]]> By: Joan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/09/04/while-the-anti-vax-movement-strengthens-their-arguments-only-get-weaker/#comment-923 Joan Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:35:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/09/04/while-the-anti-vax-movement-strengthens-their-arguments-only-get-weaker/#comment-923 I hope the wheels are finally coming off the anti-vax bus. I hope the wheels are finally coming off the anti-vax bus.

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