Comments on: One alternative reality, please…! No, make that several.

By: Rank… in more ways than one « Dr Aust’s Spleen

Rank… in more ways than one « Dr Aust’s Spleen — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:17:44 +0000

[...] Why do people have to invent fanciful and frankly ludicrous explanations for stuff, when there are perfectly reasonable ones around that do not require you to conjure up a special personal reality? [...]

By: You couldn’t make it up « Dr Aust’s Spleen

You couldn’t make it up « Dr Aust’s Spleen — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:36:13 +0000

[...] The line “You couldn’t make it up” is a rather over-used one in the UK. Nonetheless, it often seem apposite when confronting enthusiasts for Alt.Reality. [...]

By: Shake it, baby, shake it « Dr Aust’s Spleen

Shake it, baby, shake it « Dr Aust’s Spleen — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:38:35 +0000

[...] you embrace parallel reality this can be your [...]

By: The twelve days of (alternative) Christmas « Dr Aust’s Spleen

The twelve days of (alternative) Christmas « Dr Aust’s Spleen — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:28:12 +0000

[...] sessions of homoeopathy (Or: “Five alternative realities” [...]

By: The Tragic Human Cost of Political Idiocy and AIDS Pseudoscience « Dr Aust’s Spleen

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:15:05 +0000

[...] One can only hope that political leaders elsewhere have proper scientific and medical advisers. And that they can keep their minds free of the soothing claptrap peddled by the fans of Alternative Reality. [...]

By: Dangerous delusions « A canna’ change the laws of physics

Dangerous delusions « A canna’ change the laws of physics — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:52:19 +0000

[...] a classic Alt.Reality diatribe. It cherry-picks mercilessly: ignoring evidence that doesn’t suit. Non sequiturs [...]

By: YorkTest, Hardman & Hart: there’s a difference between the BMJ and Nutrition and Food Science « Holford Watch: Patrick Holford, nutritionism and bad science

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 21:27:20 +0000

[...] publicity advantage. Maybe, just maybe, they are pining, not for the fjords, but Dr Aust’s Alt.Reality. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Which?, YorkTest and Cambridge Nutritional [...]

By: Making your own reality « A canna’ change the laws of physics

Making your own reality « A canna’ change the laws of physics — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:17:04 +0000

[...] Aust’s piece on Alt.Reality makes a good companion for this [...]

By: draust

draust — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:42:41 +0000

Though the British Chiropractic Association spokesman is quoted as saying:

"It wasn't a decision taken lightly... ....I know that a lot of thought went into this."

..I wonder if that means they are really thinking of going to court? Simon Singh has said he is prepared to fight them. I would also hope that the the Guardian, which published his piece about chiropractors, will stand with him (although, rather oddly, they were apparently not named in the libel writ). In most cases relating to Alt.Reality, this kind of writ tends to be a combined delaying tactic / warning shot to try and silence skeptics and detractors - "Legal Chill" - rather than a real intention to defend reputation by having the case actually tried. As an example, Andrew "MMR" Wakefield sueing the investigative journalist Brian Deer springs to mind. Personally I would love to see the issues underlying Alt.Reality therapies debated, with assorted scientists and doctors as expert witnesses and in the full view of the press, in the British High Court. Who knows, it could even go to the European Court of Human Rights. Bring it on, say I.

By: She-Liger

She-Liger — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:08:06 +0000

“…Still, from my limited experience, it is my impression that CAM people, if they fight amongst themselves, want to keep these infights out of the public eye…”
Yes, I agree with you in it. They love to mask themselves and to hide their inner dissensions. Moreover – there is a stark hierarchy in their community. Like in ancient (even – wild) societies.

However, let we back to our current day. Today new evidence arose that none of compromises with quacks is impossible. British chiropractic association sue Simon Singh for his critical article against them:
http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2008/08/chiropractors-try-to-silence-simon.html

The people in Quackometer’s blog asked whether does the original paper exist anywhere? Yes, it does! I have found cached copy in Internet and placed in my website. Look here:

http://svetlana14s.narod.ru/Simon_Singhs_silenced_paper.html