RESPECTFUL INSOLENCE

"A statement of fact cannot be insolent." The miscellaneous ramblings of a surgeon/scientist on medicine, quackery, science, and pseudoscience (and anything else that interests him).

Antivaccine nonsense Autism Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Politics Quackery

If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em: Crash this poll

Post author By Orac
Post date December 31, 2008
60 Comments on If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em: Crash this poll

I know, I know, I’ve criticized P.Z. Myer’s poll-crashing proclivities as being childish and pointless. However, so few people seem to agree with my take on it that I’m wondering whether, if I can’t beat ’em I should join ’em. So let’s try it out.

On the Obama Transition Team website, Generation Rescue has put up this question (just type in the search term “Generation Rescue” to find the question:

Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey were named 2008 Couple of the Year (www.ageofautism.com) due to their advocacy work for Generation Rescue. Why hasn’t the Transistion Team made autism a top priority and sat down with the leaders of this organization?

Currently, the tally is 67 for, 17 against the question as a “good question.” That’s a small enough poll that my influence might actually make a difference. I realize my impact will be blunted by the fact that the Obama website requires registration to vote, but let’s see what happens. The worst that happens is that I fall flat on my face and I’ll never do this again, which, depending upon your point of view, might be a good thing.

In the meantime, crash that poll!

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By Orac

Orac is the nom de blog of a humble surgeon/scientist who has an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his copious verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few probably will. That surgeon is otherwise known as David Gorski.

That this particular surgeon has chosen his nom de blog based on a rather cranky and arrogant computer shaped like a clear box of blinking lights that he originally encountered when he became a fan of a 35 year old British SF television show whose special effects were renowned for their BBC/Doctor Who-style low budget look, but whose stories nonetheless resulted in some of the best, most innovative science fiction ever televised, should tell you nearly all that you need to know about Orac. (That, and the length of the preceding sentence.)

DISCLAIMER:: The various written meanderings here are the opinions of Orac and Orac alone, written on his own time. They should never be construed as representing the opinions of any other person or entity, especially Orac's cancer center, department of surgery, medical school, or university. Also note that Orac is nonpartisan; he is more than willing to criticize the statements of anyone, regardless of of political leanings, if that anyone advocates pseudoscience or quackery. Finally, medical commentary is not to be construed in any way as medical advice.

To contact Orac: [email protected]

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