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James Rintoul's avatar

Thanks for pointing out the hilarious absurdity of this guy posing as the "lone voice of reason" standing bravely, speaking truth to power, etc...There should be a term for this kind of cynical posturing. Inadvertent jester? Devious sellout? Oblivious tool?

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Madhava Setty, MD's avatar

I still don't know if he actually believes what he is saying. It's getting more and more ridiculous. I am actually worried about how deeply an intelligent person can completely be unaware of their distortions. In other words, I think he is suffering from delusions rather than a person who is trying to protect his interest and legacy through willful lies. We see examples of the latter all the time, but the former? It would be mind blowing.

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Ian Sampson's avatar

The degree of brainwashing is staggering. I see it in my inlaws both worked in healthcare...one is a retired obstetrician who believed 100 % that covid was a real thing a pandemic. He asked me in 2020 what I thought it was I said its a societal control mechanism , a test to see what and how people will react ...His response was "are you hearing voices"...he was 91 then. His other half actually said I;ll take what ever they give me , regarding vaccines.....One of their close friends , also a doctor, yelled at me when he saw me at Market Basket without a mask...he yelled with pointed finger and took a step back "youre unvaccinated , youre going to kill someone"....it was a awkward...I exist on the "outside" I always have, never finished college "school" , railed at the "normal" conventions of society. Had a girlfriend 30 years ago who went through HBS , I never got it....they actuall told the incoming class that they were different from others. Born to lead etc...then showed them the movie 12 Oclock High ..great movie for sure...but in the end these people are , especially the ivy leaguers...the herd of independant thinkers....I didnt say that someone else did whose name I cant recall..I think it is just too hard to accept for them, would crumble the foundation of their existence...That is certainly the case with my inlaws....I question everything and also know that I am likely under the grip of the war for our perceptions as well and unaware .....

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James Rintoul's avatar

That's why I was trying to name the syndrome--this particular flavor of delusion, The symptomology is becoming more and more prevalent in these latter days.

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Madhava Setty, MD's avatar

I believe we are seeing something new. It's the Galileo Complex.

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Joanna's avatar

Demonic possession ?

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Marice Nelson's avatar

I have forced myself to watch offit. I have been familiar with him for years and never cared for him. I have had doubts and questions about vaccines long before rfk jr became concerned with their safety. Although my children didn’t have severe reactions to their shots, I have always believed parents who said theirs did. I am sure that there are financial motives for the shot in every arm mentality but i think it is also underpinned by utilitarianism. If a few children are harmed universal vaccination is still worth the price. If it was a truly robust and honest system, it would require so many front men that exaggerate and dissemble. Most of the paradigm rests on injection which is an unnatural way for the body to encounter the diseases being vaccinated for excepting for tetanus. Given the immune system’s complexity and our limited knowledge of it, one would think there might be more reservations about the method of administration even discounting the ingredients. Doctors and scientists are prone to overestimating their understanding and many are loathe to admit error. The mRNA vaccines are a perfect example of this

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Dr. Emily Porter, PhD Psych's avatar

Quite odd that he bring up a persecuted heretic to compare to the pro vax position which has been dominant for decades and has enjoyed full institutional support. We've had 90+ percent coverage in the USA for many vaccines which indicates either people agreed or were forced to agree.

It's quite obvious the truth that will prevail is that vaccines can and do trigger autism and this is what people often see with their own eyes.

I believe he is sincere in his positions and just uneducated in the nuances and part of a cult.

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Madhava Setty, MD's avatar

That is my fear. I never would have imagined that someone of his stature could succumb so deeply to a deluded way of thinking. Imagine, sitting on advisory boards for the CDC and the FDA, being the goto authority on national TV, being cited far and wide and then, out of nowhere claim that you are the courageous, outspoken one who refuses to recant. It's mind blowing.

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Dr. Emily Porter, PhD Psych's avatar

I think you have to take into account a) the recent Stand up For Science protests (March 7th). b) All over liberal Facebook there is talk of "resistance", which i believe he alluded to at the end of his piece. In that context the scientists see themselves as the courageous few, a ragtag bunch up against a populist world of idiots backsliding into fascism. Up against the crumbling of cultured, sophisticated, democratic institutions.

This is the story they are using to make sense of the world, of the rise of Trump. Many liberals fully believe they are smarter and more evolved and that they represent the side of good and progress and the other side is stupid and evil and represents a great danger and a sign of things terribly going backwards towards an illiterate, ignorant dark ages.

Of course, many of us who were once part of that cult and got shook out of it at some point by things not adding up have a totally different story where the institutions have been corrupted and captured and manipulated and the rising populist distrust in them is something to be celebrated. Where the media has been dominated by one party and the underdog is just finally getting a chance to breathe. Where a great unveiling is now taking place. Awake vs. woke. Radical transparency. Power to the people. What has been surpressed is coming out.

We're excited overall science is being put back in it's righful place as something to compliment and explain spirituality rather than replace and scorn it. Excited that we're getting back to a grounding in reality rather than this pharmaceutical addicted transhumanist, post-modern, morally relativistic worldview that has been dominating culture.

We see current events as inevitable. The loss of respect and power by these institutions as justice served for poor behavior. Not a back sliding at all, but a God given correction from a self destructive path. Chaotic as it may be, that's how it works.

Drawing on one- on- one relationship patterns it is quite common for a covert narcissistic villian to see themselves as the victim. It's common to see these kind of reversals and jumping through hoops to maintain a self perception as innocent. Given the left is quite sophisticatedly versed in the language of victimhood and the close relationship between academia and the left it isn't surprising that there would be this reaction which Paul Offit is just a small part of.

You also have to take into account that part of that academic culture is to trust the institution. There is a sense that it is okay to be lazy and not take the time to critically evaluate every statement, every fact. There is a bandwagon effect of this is what expert people I trust agree with or are telling me so I don't need ro read and understand these things for myself. From your point of view he is the expert who bears enormous responsibility, but from his point of view he likely feels safely ensconced in a lineage or group. You're asking why if he's intelligent is he doing these things. That's why. He may have the capacity for intelligence but not be using it. He may be resting on his laurels.

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Mel's avatar

Well put, madam. I am reminded of comedian Jimmy Dore making fun of the “woke” crowd during Covid as they laughed at people for “doing their own research.” “Haha, what rubes!” they said. Jimmy quips, “That USED to be called READING.”

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Jo in veritatis inquisitione's avatar

Well said Emily!

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Anne's avatar

Thanks, Madhava. As always, I'm grateful for your courage to speak up and use your medical and scientific knowledge to articulate a different perspective than what most people are hearing. I shared my reaction, which isn't well thought out, but I hope might add to the conversation.

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Madhava Setty, MD's avatar

love that you jumped in to the discussion

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Doug Nierman's avatar

Offit sees himself as Galileo!🤣

Nice graphic.

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Jeff Schreiber's avatar

I’m surprised that Offit allows comments like yours to remain up. Maybe after all, he’s caught between a rock and a hard place - either he must face the truth that you and others put up in his face or just shut the door on any discussion which makes him look narrow minded and arrogant. But when he’s supporting a crumbling narrative that has holes as big as a crater, the only thing left is to throw mud which blows right back all over him. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes right now. Too many people can see what’s really going on.

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Andy's avatar

“And yet, he gets paid.”

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Madhava Setty, MD's avatar

Ha!

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Renita Herrmann's avatar

I think the tide has changed with blindly following the CDC, NIH, and the lies they propagated in the search for higher profits for less safety. Hopefully Trump will leave it to RFK, Jr. to straighten out the facts. Covid was the catalyst.

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Bryan Dair's avatar

Perfectly stated. I hope Offit and his ilk are exposed soon

as the frauds that they obviously are. I can not believe

that it is possible that they could be so indoctrinated with their

own dogmas in the face of such compelling evidence that they really believe

what they are saying publicly.

Much of the population has awakened to the fact that the 'anti-vaxxers'

were right all along. Hopefully RFK Jr. succeeds in his quest to take down

the behemoth Big Pharma. But until we can topple figures like Offit, a large number

of people will still believe that if we do not vaccinate our children, the country will be

overrun with epidemics of measles and polio.

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Red-Pilled ER Nurse's avatar

I would think Offit must have vertigo by now what with all the inversions of position, truth and common sense!

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Carolyn Singer's avatar

Brilliant response! Thank you. He needs to not be allowed to make up his own facts without being called out!

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Myra's avatar

Fully agree!

The Scientific community has brought this distrust on themselves by pushing too far, especially with the modmRNA/LPN products.

As you rightly say, let’s look into it and either find there is a problem or there isn’t.

This ‘head in the sand’ mentality is not good for anyone.

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Richard Moskowitz's avatar

Well done!

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John Sutton's avatar

I think he knows full well his position is untenable but he's in so deep there's is no way he can concede without great risk to the stability of his emotional being. Thinking back on a moderated exchange Offit had on CNN with Calley Means a couple of weeks ago, his facial expression was noticeably one of resignation if not defeat. He's responsible for harm to so many souls it must weigh heavily and I do hope someone he trusts can help him find his way out of the dark place he finds himself in. The pressure on him must be maintained.

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Madhava Setty, MD's avatar

I'm not sure John. If I were in his shoes I would welcome the search for more robust safety data and be willing to live with the results. If I were scared that my mistakes were to be exposed I would keep my mouth shut and retire. But becoming more vocal? He can't be that stupid. He must be utterly brainwashed.

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John Sutton's avatar

To me, Offit seems to lack the gift of self reflection and humility, and hubris prevents him from accepting that he’s just not going to win this in the end. He’s trapped, and my perception is that he is very uncomfortable in his own skin.

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Mel's avatar

I agree, however, he’s been the wingman for Pharma for so very long, he’s made a mint at it. I would imagine it would be very difficult to get used to NOT having all that extra cash they’ve made flow his way. Think of all the vacations, cars, boats, second or third homes, pricy booze, fancy schools, etc that he then would not be able to afford. It falls heavy on the man, squashing him like a bug. Pretty soon, he makes himself believe every word he utters. Alternatives are much too painful to contemplate.

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Dan's avatar

You keep talking about Kennedy's commitment to expose safety concerns. He has changed his tune on subjects already. He is being told to, I believe. Any comments about Kennedy's statements concerning the "deadly" measles outbreak in Texas? And I will say it one more time, no virus has ever been shown to be pathogenic or transmissible. We have no need for ANY vaccines. This is the real science we need people to understand.

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Bryan Dair's avatar

I think you misunderstand RFK Jr's positions.

If you read between the lines, he is not suggesting that

vaccines are the answer. He is suggesting alternatives.

He can not take Big Pharma head on, he is in the building and

he will slowly dismantle them piece by piece with their own information.

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Dan's avatar

I hope you are right, the media bags him no matter what he says. I was a big fan of RFKjr when he was a democrat / independent. Since he joined Trump and his billionaire technocrats, not so much.

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Leonie Wynne's avatar

All Viruses Are Man Made

Dr Otto Heinrich Warburg

Winner of the 1931

Nobel Prize in Physiology

Discovered the Cause of Cancer in 1923

"CANCER grows in Oxygen Deprived ACIDIC tissue

"DISEASES cannot survive in an ALKALINE BODY"

*Cancerous tissue is acidic, where healthy tissue is alkaline*

ALL VIRUSES HAVE PATENTS

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Dan's avatar

I must disagree. Toxic poisons are made by man. Virus patents are genomic sequence patents. Neither is evidence that viruses even exist.

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Joey Frijoles's avatar

too nice. offit is a super-gross person. A sniveling worm

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