True story: I’m a ER nurse and I had a grandma come in who was BLUE. Not blue because she’s not breathing, like Smurf blue. Her eye, hair, skin, fingernails all blue. Why? Her family had been injecting her with colloidal silver thinking it would cure her COPD (a chronic lung disease).
Thank you so much for this, Michelle. I'm vegan, and a chemist, and I live on a hippie island in the PNW. This stuff touches drinking water in so many ways that I should write a post on it, but for now I'll talk about one thing - disinfection. I have a water system me that's on month eight of a state-mandated boil water advisory because of E. Coli contamination because they won't chlorinate. Insane!
If these anti-science people only knew how much science was going into their cars, phones, refrigerators, and sneakers etc etc etc…whatever would they do??
Thank you for all you do. This post reminded me of my aunt, who has 12 children and is fully down the essential oils pipeline. What even is thieves oil?
It goes hand in hand with their extreme catholicism. If If they're the best catholics to ever catholic, of course god has provided them with the way to never get sick, and it won't come from any of that satanic healthcare or whatever, it's from plants! You know, crushed hundreds of pounds of plants to extract just drops of oil! Like god intended!
I am a recovering catholic, sorry for the bitter tone. I appreciate all your recipes, even the ones I can't access because too many subscriptions atm. <3
Thank you for saying that, Michelle. And indeed, it's misleading at best, but can cost people their lives at worst. And worryingly, collectively, it is costing us our trust in science and each other. I was just reminded of Belle Gibson, the pathological liar who built an empire on claiming her food protocol cured her of cancer. I hope she (and all those like her peddling their pseudo medicine, deterring people from real medical treatment, and costing people their lives) goes to jail for manslaughter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCN2Uvyz72k
I couldn't agree more. There has to be consequences for willfully misleading people like this. Even the Master Cleanse guy went to jail for killing someone with his lemonade nonsense https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Burroughs
So much this! I have been vegan since the 1990s, have believed and/or promoted some embarrassing shit along the way, but it was short-lived, thankfully. Anyone thinking this is a new phenomenon has not seen the writing on the wall (and the blogs, the social media, even the books) for years and years.
Thanks for this to-the-point (as always) post. Tonight's task is to take a critical look at who I support and unfollow the people who don't echo my beliefs and values.
It’s an ongoing process but so necessary. We need to support rational thinkers who want to build a better future not grifters who want to line their pockets. So glad you liked the piece!
I absolutely agree and appreciate the hell out of this piece. This deceit stretches into pretty much every field and discipline. The constant stream of news, advertising, and information in general has left it all with little to no filter for bullshit. One would be hard pressed to convince me it’s doesn’t (or hasn’t) bled into broader society: politics, academia, advertising, and probably how we function interpersonally. Lies beget lies and have a tendency to grow in scale The trend of people with no credentials, limited backgrounds in their areas of “expertise”, and who’ve “done their research has degraded our integrity overall. We a have a fucking honesty problem. I’m currently on the fence about calling out someone on substack because they’re masquerading as a neuroscientist. She’s not; she’s a PhD in speech pathology. THEY AREN’T THE SAME THINGS. If they were, her degree would be in Neuroscience. What she spouts can be found in various health blogs and podcasts, but no one really cares to get generic “life hacks” from a speech pathologist. It isn’t that sexy or reveered. So she calls herself a neuroscientist, and I’ve watched her amass a 5 figure following in a matter of a weeks. But it’s based on a lie and that MATTERS. The hesitation is that Ithe patriarchy bell will sound, and I’ll be backed into a corner as another man trying to hold down women. It seems we only want the truth when it’s convenient. Anyways, thanks for this post.☺️
You are right. This deceit and obfuscation of the truth has bleed into every single aspect of our culture. Hell, Oxford's word of the year is "brain rot" for a reason.
Ughhh, I hate when people pretend to be experts in topics that they absolutely are not and make a killing from it. You could always dm me her handle and I'll happily say something. I hate to watch people being led astray for profit. It's just gross. Thanks so much for you comment!
Michelle, you're an icon. I began my vegan journey alongside your first book and have been a fan ever since. Thanks for all you do for the animals (and my tummy). <3
Thanks for this convo. Love your writing, insights, and of course *the recipes* .. you are the reason I’ve dipped my toe into the Substack pool. Appreciate you!
Oh man, this reminds me of when I worked at Wild Oats (which was later bought out by Whole Foods). I loved working there, but some people who shopped there had some... interesting health views. They were all such nice people who were at least trying to be healthier. I wore a button on my work apron that said "I love Carbs" as a silent protest against a certain anti-carb diet popular at the time. 😅
Yes! I remember Wild Oats. I also love working at hippie co-ops and generally love the people shopping there. It's so hard when you see them getting taken advantage of. Ughh, the anti-carb movement of the early 00's was such a stupid time. I would have giggled so hard at your button.
It’s always a relief when people you like and admire affirm their belief that science matters, grifters are not just full of shit, but also dangerous, and we are all responsible for calling it out when we see it. 👏 If I had to unfollow you and cancel my subscription it would break my heart, and instead, you keep driving home the reason I subscribe in the first place (the recipes are just a fringe benefit!)
I especially love your point about not lending any support/credence (through follows or likes) to grifters who occasionally say something that is grounded in facts/science (Red 40 is such a great example). It’s harder (but still necessary!) when someone’s content is solid and helpful for years and then they reveal their crazy and you have to make a choice (a certain no dig proponent comes to mind). 😕
Our collective ride in this country is about to get a whole lot bumpier. Thanks for being willing to take a stand when so many people are laying low to protect what’s theirs. And thanks to Patrick for being a genuinely wonderful human. This community is full of them and even when you’re quiet for weeks or months in the chat, they treat you like family. ❤️
Carrie! Your comments are always a delight. Yes, it's so hard when someone you've followed for years starts to show that they aren't committed to rational thought. We all have to decide where our line is and move along when people cross it. We might both dislike Red 40 but please don't tell me you can change your eye color with diet. BYYYEEEE
I’m a science communicator and you have no idea how thankful I am for this. I work in oncology comms and have seen some wild stuff, which is why when my late husband was diagnosed with stage iv cancer at 47 we didn’t announce it publicly. He was the healthiest, fittest person in the family and it was a shock to all and we didn’t need the nonsense from others
I'm so sorry for your loss and that the pain of the diagnosis was compounded by how stupid you knew everyone would be about it. These quacks really need to learn some shame. I'm glad we have someone like you out there helping to set people straight.
True story: I’m a ER nurse and I had a grandma come in who was BLUE. Not blue because she’s not breathing, like Smurf blue. Her eye, hair, skin, fingernails all blue. Why? Her family had been injecting her with colloidal silver thinking it would cure her COPD (a chronic lung disease).
Thank you so much for this, Michelle. I'm vegan, and a chemist, and I live on a hippie island in the PNW. This stuff touches drinking water in so many ways that I should write a post on it, but for now I'll talk about one thing - disinfection. I have a water system me that's on month eight of a state-mandated boil water advisory because of E. Coli contamination because they won't chlorinate. Insane!
If these anti-science people only knew how much science was going into their cars, phones, refrigerators, and sneakers etc etc etc…whatever would they do??
Thank you for all you do. This post reminded me of my aunt, who has 12 children and is fully down the essential oils pipeline. What even is thieves oil?
It goes hand in hand with their extreme catholicism. If If they're the best catholics to ever catholic, of course god has provided them with the way to never get sick, and it won't come from any of that satanic healthcare or whatever, it's from plants! You know, crushed hundreds of pounds of plants to extract just drops of oil! Like god intended!
I am a recovering catholic, sorry for the bitter tone. I appreciate all your recipes, even the ones I can't access because too many subscriptions atm. <3
Thank you for saying that, Michelle. And indeed, it's misleading at best, but can cost people their lives at worst. And worryingly, collectively, it is costing us our trust in science and each other. I was just reminded of Belle Gibson, the pathological liar who built an empire on claiming her food protocol cured her of cancer. I hope she (and all those like her peddling their pseudo medicine, deterring people from real medical treatment, and costing people their lives) goes to jail for manslaughter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCN2Uvyz72k
I couldn't agree more. There has to be consequences for willfully misleading people like this. Even the Master Cleanse guy went to jail for killing someone with his lemonade nonsense https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Burroughs
YES!!! This should be said more often and more loudly. Thank you.
So much this! I have been vegan since the 1990s, have believed and/or promoted some embarrassing shit along the way, but it was short-lived, thankfully. Anyone thinking this is a new phenomenon has not seen the writing on the wall (and the blogs, the social media, even the books) for years and years.
Yup!! It’s just getting worse.
Yeah dude!
🙌🙌🙌
This science teacher is grateful for your words! So tired of all the misinformation and the people blindly following it.
Right? It makes me crazy!
Thanks for this to-the-point (as always) post. Tonight's task is to take a critical look at who I support and unfollow the people who don't echo my beliefs and values.
It’s an ongoing process but so necessary. We need to support rational thinkers who want to build a better future not grifters who want to line their pockets. So glad you liked the piece!
🏆🏆🏆
I absolutely agree and appreciate the hell out of this piece. This deceit stretches into pretty much every field and discipline. The constant stream of news, advertising, and information in general has left it all with little to no filter for bullshit. One would be hard pressed to convince me it’s doesn’t (or hasn’t) bled into broader society: politics, academia, advertising, and probably how we function interpersonally. Lies beget lies and have a tendency to grow in scale The trend of people with no credentials, limited backgrounds in their areas of “expertise”, and who’ve “done their research has degraded our integrity overall. We a have a fucking honesty problem. I’m currently on the fence about calling out someone on substack because they’re masquerading as a neuroscientist. She’s not; she’s a PhD in speech pathology. THEY AREN’T THE SAME THINGS. If they were, her degree would be in Neuroscience. What she spouts can be found in various health blogs and podcasts, but no one really cares to get generic “life hacks” from a speech pathologist. It isn’t that sexy or reveered. So she calls herself a neuroscientist, and I’ve watched her amass a 5 figure following in a matter of a weeks. But it’s based on a lie and that MATTERS. The hesitation is that Ithe patriarchy bell will sound, and I’ll be backed into a corner as another man trying to hold down women. It seems we only want the truth when it’s convenient. Anyways, thanks for this post.☺️
You are right. This deceit and obfuscation of the truth has bleed into every single aspect of our culture. Hell, Oxford's word of the year is "brain rot" for a reason.
Ughhh, I hate when people pretend to be experts in topics that they absolutely are not and make a killing from it. You could always dm me her handle and I'll happily say something. I hate to watch people being led astray for profit. It's just gross. Thanks so much for you comment!
Michelle, you're an icon. I began my vegan journey alongside your first book and have been a fan ever since. Thanks for all you do for the animals (and my tummy). <3
You just made my day. Thank you so much Paulina!
Thanks for this convo. Love your writing, insights, and of course *the recipes* .. you are the reason I’ve dipped my toe into the Substack pool. Appreciate you!
That you so much Lou Ann. Very happy to have you!
Oh man, this reminds me of when I worked at Wild Oats (which was later bought out by Whole Foods). I loved working there, but some people who shopped there had some... interesting health views. They were all such nice people who were at least trying to be healthier. I wore a button on my work apron that said "I love Carbs" as a silent protest against a certain anti-carb diet popular at the time. 😅
Yes! I remember Wild Oats. I also love working at hippie co-ops and generally love the people shopping there. It's so hard when you see them getting taken advantage of. Ughh, the anti-carb movement of the early 00's was such a stupid time. I would have giggled so hard at your button.
It’s always a relief when people you like and admire affirm their belief that science matters, grifters are not just full of shit, but also dangerous, and we are all responsible for calling it out when we see it. 👏 If I had to unfollow you and cancel my subscription it would break my heart, and instead, you keep driving home the reason I subscribe in the first place (the recipes are just a fringe benefit!)
I especially love your point about not lending any support/credence (through follows or likes) to grifters who occasionally say something that is grounded in facts/science (Red 40 is such a great example). It’s harder (but still necessary!) when someone’s content is solid and helpful for years and then they reveal their crazy and you have to make a choice (a certain no dig proponent comes to mind). 😕
Our collective ride in this country is about to get a whole lot bumpier. Thanks for being willing to take a stand when so many people are laying low to protect what’s theirs. And thanks to Patrick for being a genuinely wonderful human. This community is full of them and even when you’re quiet for weeks or months in the chat, they treat you like family. ❤️
Carrie! Your comments are always a delight. Yes, it's so hard when someone you've followed for years starts to show that they aren't committed to rational thought. We all have to decide where our line is and move along when people cross it. We might both dislike Red 40 but please don't tell me you can change your eye color with diet. BYYYEEEE
I’m a science communicator and you have no idea how thankful I am for this. I work in oncology comms and have seen some wild stuff, which is why when my late husband was diagnosed with stage iv cancer at 47 we didn’t announce it publicly. He was the healthiest, fittest person in the family and it was a shock to all and we didn’t need the nonsense from others
I'm so sorry for your loss and that the pain of the diagnosis was compounded by how stupid you knew everyone would be about it. These quacks really need to learn some shame. I'm glad we have someone like you out there helping to set people straight.