New York Times retracts core of podcast series ‘Caliphate’

Re:New York Times retracts core of podcast series ‘Caliphate’ by tertius on Saturday December 19, 2020 @02:12PM (#25480217)

I am appalled that he lied and owned up to it later.

But from his perspective (and it may have been not just his choice) what were the alternatives if his goal was to preserve frontline medical workers? (Regardless if this policy actually saved anyone).

I can see why it was done and at the same time feel lied to and that that is wrong.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:New York Times retracts core of podcast series ‘Caliphate’ by ehsankia on Saturday December 19, 2020 @03:09PM (#25480727)

I don't think he "lied", he just weighed the pros and cons and gave an advice, which may not have been the best. Later as the pros and cons changed, he updated his advice. Did he even claim that "masks don't help stop the virus"? That would've been a lie but I don't think he said anything like that.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:New York Times retracts core of podcast series ‘Caliphate’ by tertius on Saturday December 19, 2020 @03:13PM (#25480762)

https://www.thestreet.com/video/dr-fauci-masks-changing-dire...

Discussion: https://youtu.be/_2MmX2U2V3c

He did lie. He gave advice with ulterior motives.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:New York Times retracts core of podcast series ‘Caliphate’ by ehsankia on Saturday December 19, 2020 @03:21PM (#25480831)

You can call it "ulterior motives", I called it "weighing the pros and cons". While the host in your video claims "he lied to us", again he only said "you don't need to wear masks for now", he never claimed they don't work or that they wouldn't help, just that you don't need them yet.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:New York Times retracts core of podcast series ‘Caliphate’ by tertius on Saturday December 19, 2020 @03:28PM (#25480896)

His reason for recommending not wearing masks was "to save PPE capacity for frontline medical workers". Not any of reasons he gave at the time.

This is a definition of ulterior motive.

I'm not making a judgement whether he was right/wrong by giving that advice (which the WHO did as well for the same reasons). Just pointing out that he did lie.

I personally don't like being lied to by people that represent a lot of power (doesn't matter what they're motives are. Lying is used to deceive for ulterior motives). That is just an indicator that I can't trust public facing scientists because the truth is not a priority, rather only the outcome that they desire (whether personally or as a group.) But that's not new.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:New York Times retracts core of podcast series ‘Caliphate’ by pclmulqdq on Saturday December 19, 2020 @04:05PM (#25481192)

You should take a second to read the essay "On Bullshit." What he said there was bullshit, written to cause an outcome, not to tell the truth.

[ Parent | on HN ]