That is shocking. I consider my self leftist, at times even on the far left. I have never understood why scientists who have questioned mask mandates or the closing of schools are considered "conservative." During the height of the pandemic, of course I wore a mask and got the vaccine, etc. (I'm in my mid 50s). However, right towards the end of the pandemic I was teaching at a private high school in Washington, DC. DC kept the mask mandate in place far longer than most other places in the US, so we all had to wear masks until I guess Alrill l of 2022. II have been a teacher for almost 30 years, and the 8th and 9th graders I taught that year, at an elite independent school in DC, were so seriously affected by effectively losing two years of school. They were way behind in reading and writing (I taught English), and also had real difficulty socializing. I am a dual American/Dutch citizen and I noticed that none of the schools in countries like the Netherlands or Sweden or Germany shut schools down as long as we did in the US. There simply wasn't much evidence, even a layperson can see that, that children were at great risk of dying from Covid. Also, the fixation on masks and isolating did not at all take into account the serious damage to kids' mental health and their education by shutting schools down for so long, when it really wasn't necessary. As soon as I could take of my mask, as a teacher , I did, and I have barely worn one since then. To be honest, I find it pathetic when I see friends of mine, who are not immune compromised, are vaccinated, who still insist on often wearing a mask. What is the point? It's sad that your views are perceived as conservative, and I dont' even completely understand why (they are perceived as such). What is "conservative" about scientific research that demonstrates that it was not necessary to shut down primary and high schools for over a year in some places? There was never evidence that there were significant numbers of children or adolescents becoming seriously ill or dying from Covid.
"It’s a lot harder to have principles and stick to them." In many cases, organizations (companies and others) have no principles. They are blown by the prevailing wind, forever signaling virtue to fellow elites. But one principle they do hold to very tightly is self-preservation. Those of us who value freedom must be willing to resign from organizations, take our business elsewhere, etc. to make the point that politics should be kept to the political sphere and the civic sphere must be expanded and protected.
You are an inspiration Dr. Prasad! Thank you for speaking up and trying to bring back trust in the medical community. I have been following your analysis on many topics for the last 3 years and am so glad you are writing for the Free Press. Seriously thank you for always speaking your mind and showing us all what critical thinking and integrity means. Unfortunately it sounds like this has come at a cost in your professional commitments, but please don’t let this setback demotivate you.
Dr. Vinay Prasad, I don't think the issue is that 200 people didn't want you to be the keynote speaker the issue is why did the other 15800 not speak up for you? Squeaky wheel gets the grease. Don't blame the institutions that listen to the squeaky wheel, that's what they're supposed to do.
I have no credentials in the law, but if you lost a speaking venue due to these Orwellian nightmares, can you sue for defamation and loss of income? I refer specifically to Alicia Lichvar and her condemnation without supporting evidence.
The losers who cannot win with words - by arguing their point - are winning because they are bullies and bigots. The people who cancelled your speech are cowards, just like the cowards running big tech and our government. Fear rules the day.
I want to hear the talk! Bari, why not hold a summit of free thought Aka “the cancelled conference”? The “all in summit “ was the most intellectually engaging events I have been too and I’ve been looking for more like it-Bright people talking. You could have all of the “cancelled” speeches (like those Ted won’t promote) and all of those disinvited from college campuses.
Exactly!! We are getting inundated! It's having the reverse effect on me though, as I see "guilt by association" and am not bothering w/ flu vax either!
The worm will turn on this diabolical subset of society over time. Notably these cowards hide behind anonymity as do many worthless X trolls. The vast majority of the country see the damage being done in such unfortunate circumstances and are watching closely. Eventually the cowed will realize that suborning criticism of this small rabble is counterproductive and the cowards and bullies will then slink back under their rocks as the mainstream decides enough is enough.
I've got to wonder what is wrong with the members of ACCP. When they got the notice that a speaker had been disinvited due to an online mob, why did they still choose to attend this "carefully curated" conference? Better yet, why didn't they resign? The only way to help people to develop a spine is to stop providing their support structure. Stop contributing, stop attending, and stop being a member of organizations that silence opinion, especially scientific opinion.
Cancel culture still has a footing in mainstream America. It hurts when a lecturer can't lecture because somebody does not want to hear him. In days that saw civility, people might skip that lecture. Today, if that lecture were to be made, there would be protests. Cancel culture is a practice that harms the truth. Somebody does not want to hear you, so they won't let other people hear you either. There is nothing democratic about that, is there?
It would be great to get a list of all attendees and, if they truly agree with free speech and the advancement of science, to kindly ask them to refrain from attending.
The real pandemic is cowardice.
David Aronoff is a disgrace.
That is shocking. I consider my self leftist, at times even on the far left. I have never understood why scientists who have questioned mask mandates or the closing of schools are considered "conservative." During the height of the pandemic, of course I wore a mask and got the vaccine, etc. (I'm in my mid 50s). However, right towards the end of the pandemic I was teaching at a private high school in Washington, DC. DC kept the mask mandate in place far longer than most other places in the US, so we all had to wear masks until I guess Alrill l of 2022. II have been a teacher for almost 30 years, and the 8th and 9th graders I taught that year, at an elite independent school in DC, were so seriously affected by effectively losing two years of school. They were way behind in reading and writing (I taught English), and also had real difficulty socializing. I am a dual American/Dutch citizen and I noticed that none of the schools in countries like the Netherlands or Sweden or Germany shut schools down as long as we did in the US. There simply wasn't much evidence, even a layperson can see that, that children were at great risk of dying from Covid. Also, the fixation on masks and isolating did not at all take into account the serious damage to kids' mental health and their education by shutting schools down for so long, when it really wasn't necessary. As soon as I could take of my mask, as a teacher , I did, and I have barely worn one since then. To be honest, I find it pathetic when I see friends of mine, who are not immune compromised, are vaccinated, who still insist on often wearing a mask. What is the point? It's sad that your views are perceived as conservative, and I dont' even completely understand why (they are perceived as such). What is "conservative" about scientific research that demonstrates that it was not necessary to shut down primary and high schools for over a year in some places? There was never evidence that there were significant numbers of children or adolescents becoming seriously ill or dying from Covid.
"It’s a lot harder to have principles and stick to them." In many cases, organizations (companies and others) have no principles. They are blown by the prevailing wind, forever signaling virtue to fellow elites. But one principle they do hold to very tightly is self-preservation. Those of us who value freedom must be willing to resign from organizations, take our business elsewhere, etc. to make the point that politics should be kept to the political sphere and the civic sphere must be expanded and protected.
I am a huge supporter of Dr. Prasad. His clarion call for debate and tolerance of dissenting opinions must be supported in the scientific communities.
You are an inspiration Dr. Prasad! Thank you for speaking up and trying to bring back trust in the medical community. I have been following your analysis on many topics for the last 3 years and am so glad you are writing for the Free Press. Seriously thank you for always speaking your mind and showing us all what critical thinking and integrity means. Unfortunately it sounds like this has come at a cost in your professional commitments, but please don’t let this setback demotivate you.
Dr. Vinay Prasad, I don't think the issue is that 200 people didn't want you to be the keynote speaker the issue is why did the other 15800 not speak up for you? Squeaky wheel gets the grease. Don't blame the institutions that listen to the squeaky wheel, that's what they're supposed to do.
I have no credentials in the law, but if you lost a speaking venue due to these Orwellian nightmares, can you sue for defamation and loss of income? I refer specifically to Alicia Lichvar and her condemnation without supporting evidence.
The losers who cannot win with words - by arguing their point - are winning because they are bullies and bigots. The people who cancelled your speech are cowards, just like the cowards running big tech and our government. Fear rules the day.
I want to hear the talk! Bari, why not hold a summit of free thought Aka “the cancelled conference”? The “all in summit “ was the most intellectually engaging events I have been too and I’ve been looking for more like it-Bright people talking. You could have all of the “cancelled” speeches (like those Ted won’t promote) and all of those disinvited from college campuses.
Exactly!! We are getting inundated! It's having the reverse effect on me though, as I see "guilt by association" and am not bothering w/ flu vax either!
The worm will turn on this diabolical subset of society over time. Notably these cowards hide behind anonymity as do many worthless X trolls. The vast majority of the country see the damage being done in such unfortunate circumstances and are watching closely. Eventually the cowed will realize that suborning criticism of this small rabble is counterproductive and the cowards and bullies will then slink back under their rocks as the mainstream decides enough is enough.
I've got to wonder what is wrong with the members of ACCP. When they got the notice that a speaker had been disinvited due to an online mob, why did they still choose to attend this "carefully curated" conference? Better yet, why didn't they resign? The only way to help people to develop a spine is to stop providing their support structure. Stop contributing, stop attending, and stop being a member of organizations that silence opinion, especially scientific opinion.
Big bad bullies with no penises is what they are. May they never have an erection again since they don't have any balls.
Cancel culture still has a footing in mainstream America. It hurts when a lecturer can't lecture because somebody does not want to hear him. In days that saw civility, people might skip that lecture. Today, if that lecture were to be made, there would be protests. Cancel culture is a practice that harms the truth. Somebody does not want to hear you, so they won't let other people hear you either. There is nothing democratic about that, is there?
It would be great to get a list of all attendees and, if they truly agree with free speech and the advancement of science, to kindly ask them to refrain from attending.