Making Science Obsolete
https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k4152/rapid-responses https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k4152/rr-5
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A tale of two vaccines
BMJ 2018; 363 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k4152 (Published 04 October 2018)
Cite this as: BMJ 2018;363:k4152
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Making Science Obsolete
Rajagopal's suggestion that it's "incumbent on journals to indicate on the web pages when an article has
been rendered obsolete by new data" is novel and revolutionary.
There is then no need for meta-analysis and complicated statistics. "This paper is more recent than that; so
that one is now obsolete" is the simple logic that can be easily understood by the 'masses'. I wonder if he
thought this up himself or if this is now the stance of the WHO
The WHO recently published "Best practice guidance // How to respond to vocal vaccine deniers in public"
(1). It is suggested that speakers, condense their main message into a simple, easily understood "sound
bite†– that is, a less than 30 second message that captures your point in a riveting fashion.
This is old hat. In 1928 Edward Bernays used these techniques to promote the tobacco industry. In his book'
Propaganda' he describes the techniques of public communication for 'conscious and intelligent
manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses' (2).
It is sad that science is now reduced to spectacle.
Debate is replaced by one-way 'information, education and communication' (IEC) sessions.
The population is reduced to a binary: the rational scientific person and the anti-vaxxers.
References
1. http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/315761/Best-practice...
2. Bernays, Edward L. Propaganda. Port Washington, NY: Kennikat Press. [1928] 1972. ISBN 080461511X
Competing interests: No competing interests
08 October 2018
Jacob Puliyel
Pediatrician
St Stephens Hospital, Delhi
Department of Pediatrics, St Stephens Hospital, Tis Hazari, Delhi 110054