Because we get the magazine, though I’m so tired of their crappy journalism, I’m just about done with them. And yes, I was a little worried at first, because I believe that the science is easily on my side, but fear is an extremely powerful tool, and I’d hate if a glossy article filled with helpless little babies ruined whatever seed of doubt I’d helped contribute to all you lovely and loyal readers.
Buuuuuut, that was another in a long line for Time of ill-researched and stupidly biased articles. So many wrong facts and misleading arguments I don’t know whether to cheer or be disgusted. (Disgusted, obviously.)
From my own observation and others (on MDC) here are just a handful of mistakes:
*State laws don’t require vaccinations, schools do
*WC is already endemic
*Hib is a freaking BACTERIA, not a virus.
*The 77% compliance rate touted as the highest ever flies straight in the face of a recent CDC announcement saying rates are in fact, falling.
*They conveniently failed to mention the lawsuit against Pfizer after multiple kids got sick when referencing the 888 Nigerian polio cases due to religious exemption.
Whatever. The article was so slanted surely that’s obvious from both sides. The implication that parents only worry about autism when questioning vaccines is laughable at this stage in the technological parenting game. It’s more than herd immunity, serotype replacement, pathogenic environment or even plain ole sanitation.
Google eczema and smallpox, for instance. Just do it.
It’s not the fact that I roll my eyes at the caption that the baby being held down is being brave. I mean, c’mon. It’s a baby. It’s not being brave, it’s being held down. I can haughtily bash the simplicity of these arguments compared to the actual science behind it. I don’t care if people reading this think I’m wrong.
I just care that the cover story of a ‘news’ magazine can actually write such shit, and ostensibly get away with it. They’ll get a slew of angry letters, they’ll have to bury some correction somewhere in a future issue, and things will carry on. But there will be a huge number of parents on the fence, who don’t know how to find or learn the real facts, that will – out of irrational fear – shoot up their kids after reading this trash.
And that is why this is ridiculous. If ‘they’ believe that vaccines really are what they say, why the poorly-written article? The lack of scientific authority from the other side?
Look. Vaccines at this point are too hot a topic to not do it justice. Put the facts out there and people will do what’s best for their family. And panic is never a good reason to make a choice.
Truth, my ass.



5 comments
Comments feed for this article
Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 11:31 am
Brandi
I canceled my subscription to Time when they made Bush man of the year. Time is the college man’s People, if you ask me. But you didn’t.
And, uh, Jen…I’ll be needing some vax advice from you come, oh, let’s say December…
Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Jen
WHAT?! HUZZZZZZAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
(Need a doula?
)
Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Brandi
If you’re free around Dec. 17! There are lots of options to hospitals here in D’land, so I’m considering my options. Of course, it’s a long-ass way till then. For now I’ll take not barfing at the sight/smell/thought of coffee and dryer sheets.
Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 5:56 pm
SS
You know, I guessed as much when you said you had big news… and CONGRATS!!!! Misty can sympathise for sure, her first trimester sucked, as she likes to say “morning sickness my ass, I had DAY/NIGHTsickeness.
We’re 7 1/2 months there and let me tell you it’s great. Really, we love it all ready. We’re getting near the end and I can’t wait till she gets here. It’s going to be great, don’t let anyone tell you any different. Very happy for you. Congrats to you both!
Ahhh, little Brandis and Sams… pair them with Lo and Jack and the world may never be the same. ha. pro.
Friday, June 6, 2008 at 11:01 am
Brandi
I can’t wait to stop puking, my friends. I am now at the beginning of the fourth month, and there seems to be no end in sight. It’s like the morning after a night in Aggieville. Over and over and over.