Everyone who knows anything knows that scientists are a bunch of devil-worshiping wizards and sorcerors who make up stuff just to confound and confuse the rest of us.

/Oops, make that "everyone who doesn't know anything."

The war against science* will continue.

*does not include 'male enhancement' or hair regrowth or anything related to blowing up brown people

But a mother just KNOWS these things... She don't need no fancy learnin' degree.

Of course, few of the anti-vaccine zealots seem to know or care that the whole vaccine-autism link was based on a fraud (new window)

Be that as it may, why are we still using thimerosal when we don't have to?

le mew: Be that as it may, why are we still using thimerosal when we don't have to?

Maybe because there isn't anything proven to be wrong with it?

This is one of those conspiracy theories that can directly affect the non-followers in a negative way, fast.

Also, even if there was a correlation (which there isn't) the effects of not vaccinating a child are worse than Autism.

Talon: But a mother just KNOWS these things... She don't need no fancy learnin' degree.

Get in the sack!

the law should never ever decide matters of science. never.

SpinStopper: le mew: Be that as it may, why are we still using thimerosal when we don't have to?

Maybe because there isn't anything proven to be wrong with it?

I know, and I still always get my flu shot....but doesn't mercury, or something related to mercury, sound like a bad idea here?

WHY DOES THE US GOVERNMENT CONTINUE THIS COVER-UP TO HIDE FACTS WHICH JENNY MCCARTHY KNOWS TO BE TRUE!?!?!?!?!?

/Obama, is make me disappoint

greentea1985: The only place an American might encounter it is in the flu vaccine.

Exactly. Why do we even do that?

Kirk's_Toupee: the law should never ever decide matters of science. never.

lolwut are you saying that the courts shouldn't ask science for help in understanding a problem? Separation of science and state? What a strange thing to say...

Kirk's_Toupee: the law should never ever decide matters of science. never.

I agree. Leave that to the theologians ...

/sarcasm off

Jenny McCarthy was SO close to the truth.

Apparently, children's vaccines can make the *parents* retarded.

mr_a: Remember, it is all a giant conspiracy.

No. It's that the companies and people pushing vaccines for everything under the sun don't have the clue they think they have. There's a reason why vaccine companies are protected by the government.

Vaccines are not risk free. They are not risk free for several reasons. Some of those being with the very nature of vaccines themselves, the injection of virus material into the blood stream. Then there are issues with the manufacturing methods, contamination, etc and so forth. Then there are issues of the development of the immune system and the large numbers of vaccines kids get. Hg is only of the potential risks of vaccines and perhaps one of the lesser ones.

However, there is something interesting about government. On one hand a little bit of Hg requires guys in hazmat suits to clean up but on the other hand it's safe to inject into our bodies. Makes a person wonder. Kinda like flouride... it's a toxic waste so put it in the water for good teeth!

le mew: Be that as it may, why are we still using thimerosal when we don't have to?

Because autism cases rose as thimersol was phased out, so thimersol must actually be a protection against autism. I may have my kids just injected with thimersol all by itself just to protect them.

Britney Spear's Speculum: This is one of those conspiracy theories that can directly affect the non-followers in a negative way, fast.

How?

If a "non-follower" is vaccinated then what is the problem?

Unfortunately, there's no vaccine against stupid.

Thimerosal was phased out in the nineties, but our old pediatrician still had old stock with it until the mid-oughts.

Not that I ever worried about autism, I just figured that between drinking water contaminated by houseboat toilets and too many questionable fish sticks, I thought I should cut back on the mercury where we could. Better safe than sorry.

We got the vaccines done across town instead. I never understood these freaks who thought polio and measles were less dangerous than a trace amount of mercury, but then most people wouldn't have even worried about that trace amount.

Still this autism thing makes anyone worried about thimerosal look paranoid. If there's a chance of a problem, I say be cautious when possible, but not at the expense of your child's health.

KC Critic: Britney Spear's Speculum: This is one of those conspiracy theories that can directly affect the non-followers in a negative way, fast.

How?

If a "non-follower" is vaccinated then what is the problem?

Herd Immunity (new window)

However, there is something interesting about government. On one hand a little bit of Hg requires guys in hazmat suits to clean up but on the other hand it's safe to inject into our bodies. Makes a person wonder. Kinda like flouride... it's a toxic waste so put it in the water for good teeth!

Ok you hooked me, I'll bite. You are showing a profound, let me repeat PROFOUND, lack of understanding of Chemistry. This isn't terrible, most people don't know much, but then yous seem to make judgments based upon your chemical knowledge, and of course it ends up horribly twisted.

Simple example, ok? Sodium metal, in the elemental form, is highly reactive with water. Take a chunk of sodium metal, put it in some water, and it will sputter and spark and may even CATCH ON FIRE.

Chlorine gas, in elemental form, is a very dangerous and in fact poisonous green gas. IT WILL KILL YOU if inhaled for too long.

When elemental sodium and elemental chlorine come together in a 1:1 ratio under the proper conditions....table salt is born, regular old Sodium Chloride (NaCl). Two dangerous items that together....exist very calmly in your body, and on shelves in stores worldwide. So please, please don't attempt to reason that EVERY time you see an element, Mercury, Lead, Sodium or otherwise, that it always has the same things going on. It is very heavily dependent on the context.

/chemistry rant off

The court is entitled to their opinion, but I still say that Jenny McCarthy was hot.

Jon Snow: Subby, subby, subby. Denialism thrives on persecution.

There are still moon landing denialists. HIV-AIDS denialists. Tobacco-cancer denialists. Evolution denialists. Anthropogenic warming denialists. All relevant scientific fields of which had a decade or more of experience and evidence completely refuting their claims, yet those anti groups still exist.

Or so you would have me believe.

Captain Horatio Mindblower: The court is entitled to their opinion, but I still say that Jenny McCarthy was hot.

I wonder if the judges saw her briefs ...

Theseus: regular old Sodium Chloride (NaCl). Two dangerous items that together....exist very calmly in your body, and on shelves in stores worldwide.

Before someone mentions that too much salt is bad for you, let me add that without a certain amount you will DIE.

firefly212 bah, we both thought of exactly the same thing.

Nothing wrong with that. It's one of the most simple examples to illustrate the lesson, using items that everyone is familiar with. I just wish that there was a better method of really spreading the word to people than on internet forums.

Hmmmm... who should I believe...



A judge with many years of college, a degree from a law school and years of experience on the bench.



Or Jenny McCarthy, who has a high school diploma and a great rack.

Mayor Bee
There's absolutely no proof that you're not in on the conspiracy. In fact, your scientific mumbo jumbo gobbledegook pretty much cinches it. Well, mister science guy, since you're probably going to tell me to adjust my tin-foil hat, tell me why we use aluminum now, instead of tin. I would put forth that the government discovered that aluminum, while being abundant and as malleable as tin, had relatively weaker brainwave blocking properties, allowing them even easier access when they switched on their devices.

Very well done, had me grinning from the start. You're right, I AM part of the conspiracy. It's little known, but our organization sends coded messages back and forth using the Scientific Journals. This is the perfect medium because the subscription fees are so outrageous that none of the unknowing sheep can afford something like JACS or Immunology. You would have to go to something like a University Library....ha!

oldebayer: Everyone who knows anything knows that scientists are a bunch of devil-worshiping wizards and sorcerors who make up stuff just to confound and confuse the rest of us.

/Oops, make that "everyone who doesn't know anything."

"The deck is stacked against families in vaccine court. Government attorneys defend a government program, using government-funded science, before government judges," Rebecca Estepp, of the Coalition for Vaccine Safety said in a statement.

Do know what Rebecca Estepp, of the Coalition for Vaccine Safety? The only thing stacked against you is science.

Jenny has more than a high school diploma. She also studied nursing at Southern Illinois University. She also hooked up with Jenna Jameson. Beat that, judge.

Mock26

Along very similar lines, check out

http://controversy.wearscience.com/

Yes I proudly own the one with the "real" periodic table.

oldebayer: Theseus: regular old Sodium Chloride (NaCl). Two dangerous items that together....exist very calmly in your body, and on shelves in stores worldwide.

Before someone mentions that too much salt is bad for you, let me add that without a certain amount you will DIE.

The same is true of water, which (just like salt) you need to live.

Jesus Christ, another AOL News link? What deal with the devil hath Drew struck?

le mew: Be that as it may, why are we still using thimerosal when we don't have to?

You're an idiot.


Because it serves a purpose.

kronicfeld: Wow, the Court of Federal Claims. I wonder what will happen when they appeal this to the local bait shop.

The appeal goes to the Federal Circut.

/i ignore your snark.

le mew: Be that as it may, why are we still using thimerosal when we don't have to?

Because it's an excellent preservative that prevents endotoxin accumulation in multi-dose vials and there's no scientific proof that it is dangerous in the quantities it is used (minuscule).

Thimerosal is not used in any child vaccines (phased out since the late 90's) and only used in multi-dose adult vaccines vials. Even then, multi-dose is being phased out in favor of single dose syringes.