The Society of Homeopathic Whiners

From Orac I learned how The Society of Homeopaths responded to recent criticism about their censorship of blogger The Quackometer.

The Society instructed lawyers to write to the Internet Service Provider of Dr. Lewis' website because the content of his site was not merely critical but defamatory of The Society, with the effect that its reputation could have been lowered. Dr Lewis, in his article, stated as fact highly offensive comments about The Society and it is for that reason that The Society decided it had no option but to take action. The very crude abuse posted on various websites and e-mailed to The Society since our action suggests that these bloggers/authors are not people who are interested in a real debate on the basis of either science or the public good but who simply want to attack homeopathy, for the very sake of it.

Due to the unpleasantness and surprisingly vitriolic nature of the postings on the Quackometer website and others, The Society has taken a conscious decision not to respond to these bloggers.

Oh boo hoo. No – don’t respond with any actual arguments to refute what was written; don’t respond with any evidence that homoeopathy works (it doesn’t). Play martyr instead. That’s the ticket. And what about these “crude” and “vitriolic” emails they’ve received that they’re too important to respond to? Emails like the one from, ooh let me think, Andy Lewis, owner of the banned Quackometer. It’s here in full. A sample of the crude vitriol Andy sent them:

I hope you understand that my concerns are genuinely held and my motive is the wider highlighting of a problem that may well end in harm or even death to people unless action is taken. I am sorry you have felt it necessary to ask my web hosting provider to take down the page in question. If you could tell me urgently what the wording is that you feel is incorrect, defamatory or not fair comment I will examine it immediately and will ensure a friendly and swift resolution of this matter. In addition, if you wish to respond to my concerns on the site, I will be more than happy to prominently publish your thoughts in full on my web site.

Read the full thing. It’s all equally vitriolic and crude, and unworthy of a reply (apparently).

They’re right about one thing though – I do want to attack homeopathy. But not “for the very sake of it”. I attack homeopathy because it’s quackery that doesn’t work. And because telling people it will prevent or cure malaria is criminal. Or it should be.

One more thing. As an example of the Society’s tin ear and / or total lack of self-awareness, I wish to highlight their claim that the content of The Quackometer post was “defamatory of The Society, with the effect that its reputation could have been lowered”. Because, of course, their threat of legal action has completely obliterated the post (and thus its lowering of The Society’s reputation) from the Internet. Or not, as it turns out. To show the ludicrous nature of their continued banning, I give you just a few sites that repost the article in full and/or comment on it further. Feel free to replicate them on your blog.

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

The Society of Homeopaths, Homeopathy

You’ll let me know if I missed any.

Comments

[CiViX]

I posted the full article on Oct 14. I would be happy if you would also link to my blog:

http://blog.tjomlid.com/?p=308

[Kisha]

Interesting that legal action ought to include (in the link to the pre-action protocols):

* the words complained of and, if known, the date of publication; where possible, a copy or transcript of the words complained of should be enclosed;
* factual inaccuracies or unsupportable comment within the words complained of; the Claimant should give a sufficient explanation to enable the Defendant to appreciate why the words are inaccurate or unsupportable;

Unworthy of reply, eh? If they want to initiate legal action, by the above they *should* reply. He should put the page back up, and talk to his ISP about that. Let them take legal action - I don't think they could win. People can go to their site and verify everything he said...so therefore it must be accurate and supportable, yes?

[Tattooed & Atheist]

"Oh boo hoo. No – don’t respond with any actual arguments to refute what was written; don’t respond with any evidence that homoeopathy works (it doesn’t). Play martyr instead. That’s the ticket."

Typical of any group of true believers... They don't need facts, just the heavy club of censorship!

[Kulvinder Matharu]

I doubt that my own mini article was at all vitriolic. This is a link to my blog where I've also reproduced the original article:

http://www.metalvortex.com/blog/2007/10/14/15.html

[Corey]

They should somehow dilute their whining,then it'll be all the more powerful. ;)

[Moxiequz]

What cowards. Mr. Lewis is a better person than I am - I don't think I could've maintained his professional and polite tone in any correspondence I'd have sent to these quacks. Here's hoping justice prevails.