I run a small publishing company that specialises in peer-reviewed medical journals. Needless to say, I am not a medical professional, but I am a publishing professional. Not a day goes by where I don’t feel that I have to tell some medical specialist that sure, they can transplant a heart, but they cannot reference their way out of a paper bag. That is why we do not all do the same things. That is why I have a business and you transplant hearts.
And yes, I feel that I should add a section to my blog titled “rant”.
“This cape does not enable the user to fly” or “The contents of this cup is hot”
The world caters to people who do not necessarily think for themselves… why is everyone now suddenly an expert?
So, everyone is quoting but no one is quoting.
It seems that the below was said by Stevie Berryman. I thought it ironic that this was flying around FB without the name of the author. The statement is however very valid. In a time where I keep having to put my foot in my mouth, because I have upset someone about the vaccination…
From Stevie Berryman
One of the most dangerous ideas that has come about in the last 3 years is that all points of view are equally valid, and that Average Citizen (YOU) are just as equipped to judge which have merit as anyone else. “Hear all sides. and judge for yourself!” No. I do not condone the death of Expertise, and neither should YOU.
I am an expert in very, very few things. But in those areas, my expertise is hard-earned through study, work, experience, and aptitude. None of it comes from attending Google University. But unless you are an expert in exactly the same areas, your opinion is not just as valid as mine. It’s not. And my opinion is not as valid as experts’ in other fields. That is why THEY ARE THE EXPERTS. So if our leading epidemiologists largely agree that “A” is correct, and a couple of discredited doctors make a video that says “B” is correct, our response should not be “I’ll listen to both and decide which makes sense to me.”
Confirmation bias exists, and only fools think they are free of it. To paraphrase Asimov, your ignorance is not the same as their experience. Genuinely smart people look for answers from people who are smarter than themselves. Only ignorant people believe their guess is as good as anyone else’s.
The above refers specifically to vaccinations (the COVID ones, interestingly, a lot of these same people have been vaccinated against other things), but can we not apply this to so many things in our lives?
I do not disagree with the fact that people should do their own research. But then please do the research! Please make informed, well-researched decisions and realise that we are not only responsible for ourselves here. Stop referring to stats that you yourself do not understand.
You are responsible for others as well. There is a reason why medical articles of research are peer-reviewed. And yes, if through all this research and investigation you still feel that you should not be vaccinated, then please stay safe… in your own home. And if someone then asks you, why? Then please have a well-formulated, backed-up answer. You are not my mother, “because I said so” does not count.
That is why we trust a backyard mechanic who has been servicing our cars for years, to service the car. That is why you get your hair cut at a salon and that is why the whole “do not try this at home” slogan exists. That is why your husband should not paint your toenails (and in my case why I shouldn’t either). We trust the people who know what they are doing, with our everyday lives. We pay the good money. We get reputable references. We do our research. We trust the experts.
For months we have been praying for an outcome. Here it is…