You know how qualified lawyers frequently say "not legal advice" when talking about hypothetical application of the law? Eg Matt Levine and his amusing "money stuff" column.
That.
I'm a doctor. Look at the credentials on my wall. I treat these patients. Believe me. I am saying this with the authority of all those credentials.
(But those credentials are total nonsense in making that decision, it turns out, and should provide zero weight to an argument that is literally life and death). Yeah, i have a problem with that. If their argument was solid and well supported, no need to point at the authority, right?
Yes we live in a world where an option has vastly more weight with the authority of a Hollywood actor. Great. The authority of a pretty person whose only skill is lying convincingly counts.
Your opinion. Well expressed and argued if a little sweary. I don't care about your credentials, nor you mine. No problem. Examine the argument. Address the evidence. Great.
These doctors did not have proper training the statistics they horrifically misrepresented. They also made it sound like they had substantial knowledge in the field of Epidemiology. They don't.
Both of these doctors are now going before the California Medical Board because they got the facts wrong and they were wrong to give this advice. They misrepresented their data and exaggerated - because their urgent care is having a low patient turnout and they want to end the lockdown.
> This idea that only narrow set of domain experts can speak up about something is blatantly insane.
Your couple of hours on Google is not equivalent to a medical degree. When we are talking about medicine, you do not get a seat at the table because you think you are smart.
A standard Medical School only includes 1 semester in Virology and 1 more semester in Microbiology. An Epidemiologist goes through 4 YEARS of detailed training in Statistics, Microbiology, and Biochem. This is before years of experience in the field.
Those are NOT equivalent bases of knowledge.
> You are not an epidemiologist either...
What the fuck do you know? My degrees are in Mathematics with a specialization in Statistics. So, yeah, I know A LOT more than they do in this area.
> If credibility is a function of imbued institutional authority...
Doctors have to demonstrate their skills by getting licensed for the areas of their practice. We have a licensure process for a reason - to demonstrate competence in a field. These guys are going to lose theirs.
End of story.
> epidemiologists are not statisticians
You don't know a single fact that you are talking about. You are the fucking problem - along with everyone else who thinks their Google search is as good as a medical degree.
>
> I am sorry to inform you that you do not have a PhD in
> online commenting and therefor are not a domain expert in
> online communication. For that reason your comment and
> opinions in the previous reply are invalid and should be
> de-platformed.
>
> Yours truly,
>
> Hypocrisy
Oooooooh. This comment is so deliciously stupid that I am going to quote it verbatim in case you delete it. I would hate deprive future readers of the ability to marvel in the grandeur of its laughable dimwitted glory.
What am I supposed to do now? I don´t have a PhD in quick rebuttals. Fuck!!! what DO I DO NOW?!
Err... what was it you think epidemiologists do?