Jenny McCarthy Fallacy 1

[lukesmailbox]

I have a form of autism and I find Jenny McCarthy claim that autism is cause by vaccinations and can be cure to be an insult to all people with autism. 

[Elhardt]

Ran across this vid be accident. I'm not understanding the criticism of Jenny McCarthy. There are many reports of kids who were just fine until they received some vaccination, then right afterward the kid is no longer the same, but appears autistic. Seems pretty clear that the vaccination could very well be the cause. Add to that, that autism is about 10 times more prevalent now than it was in the 1970s. Are we just supposed to ignore that and go on as if nothing is wrong?

[spectrumVerX]

@Elhardt You might consider more than one cause for this autism. We have more additives in our food and drink than ever before. We have synthesized foods, processed food substitutes...you don't even need real cocoa powder in a product to call it chocolate anymore. There have certainly been dangerous vaccines in the past, but the good done by the vaccine far outweighs the occasional bad. Autism, like ADHD, is also over-diagnosed.

[1948BigCy]

@spectrumVerX I totally agree...I teach autistic kids, worked at a Regional Center, and have relatives with autistic children...The increase may be artificial, i.e., underdiagnosed in the past, or over-diagnosed now...

On the other hand, you are going to have a really tough time proving a causal relationship between food additives and autism...this is a fascinating area for research, and hopefully the ultimate cause(S) of autism will be uncovered someday...

[1948BigCy]

@Elhardt You are making the same illogical fallacy that Jenny is making. There is probably no simple cause. Autism does not usually appear until 2 years of age...most are boys...why...girls are vaccinated at the same age...what other changes happened at two?...

I feel for the parents of autistic kids...but if spotted early enough, many can be helped...I have a second cousin like that, who graduated high school...

Don't listen to Jenny's nonsense...there is more danger in driving in a car...

[BigHashTouraj]

they should let you do taxes on youtube

[xXaudraXannXx]

@BigHashTouraj that was random... lmao

[pchtermino1]

The only two congressmen that voted down the swine flu vaccine were both doctors.

Our media played it up quite a bit. Autism started in the US in the 80's. Still think its normal? When you go to your doctor how many pharmaceutical posters are on the wall? The pharmaceutical lobbyists spend 1.9 million dollars a day in Washington. A day. A day. (google estimate)

[daGr8Satan]

I have been alive a short 32 years but I have older parents from the Great Depression & WW2 generation. My father & uncle almost died from polio as children. During those times it was not uncommon for families to lose a child to such a disease or for the kid you played stickball with to succumb to such a disease. If this starts to happen again you'll see all of these idiot parents lined up for miles to get their kids vaccinated. We take modern times for granted and have forgotten the past.

[dallasgoldbug]

she has a fucking autistic child you moron! Who is paying you? What government or corporate body is paying you to be an idiot? Go brush your teath and drink some more water, you flouride lovin' ass.

[watercolorz25]

jenny seemed genuine in the beginning but remember she is in show business and needs to make a living to pay her sons 4000 plus dollars monthly medical bills. so while she cant be the voice for all autistic persons she has helped get some info out there for approaches to try with kids. i also think its not just this vaccine craze but all types of toxins and preservatives in the environment and food that causes and or contributes to all forms of diseases and cancer etc and affect autism

[aspie101]

She is disgusting and seems to be using autism as a publicity ticket. She even said that she would rather have breast cancer rather than an autistic child. She is Hollywood trash like Paris Hilton. I have a video which explains clearly how wrong Jenny is. If you read the comments, you will see that there are people who clearly see her as a parental role-model even though she is a horrible person.

[dalemillssydney]

Good video: a few suggestions.

1. Correlation = causation is the logical fallacy cum hoc ergo propter hoc.

2. Cut the poor introduction. I can click away in a second, so get to the meat immediately.

3. Cut the background music at the beginning. It just makes it harder to hear the commentary.

Keep up the scepticism !

[TCUtoob]

Thanks Dale - your comments just might be crazy enough to work! Correlation = causation is cum hoc, but McCarthy is doing a post hoc (a type of correlation error) by saying the kids get autism after the vaccine shot. I probably wasn't clear enough in saying this in the commentary though... (and the name's not too important - so long as people can see her errors). Cheers, Theo

[TCUtoob]

@ gotmine9 What error in logic? Be more specific. I can be specific. You have made the "Burden of Proof" fallacy. Look it up at my website skepticsfieldguide net.

[TCUtoob]

Also, studies into vaccines and autism don't show links. Read wikipedia (as a start). I'm interested in truth, no matter what it is. I require quality evidence, not wishful thinking. Parents' instincts are a starting point for research, not the end point. Be open minded - go listen to my podcast on this.

[gotmine9]

your logic is as shoddy as what you are accusing her's of being. Prove that she is wrong. It is insulting to parents to say that their experiences are not valid. I know why she is out there, tell me why you are.

[helliott123]

not getting your child vaccinated is dangers to everyone. i hope your child is not vaccinated and dies from a preventable diease.

[Kabutopuppy]

@helliott123 i never had them until i was older my sister had them when she was little and my 3 brothers had them and ALL have mental problems...I don't.....hmm odd

[QuixoticM]

Actually he has the weight of scientific evidence behind him. Burden of proof is on the person making the extraordinary (goes against all autism research) theory.

[TCUtoob]

That sums it up nicely. When she does a science degree and the follows it up with a PhD on autism, then I might start thinking she it worthy of being interviewed about the causes of autism.

[lawyerly]

That anyone would take pseudo-scientific advice from a high school graduate is mind blowing. The woman doesn't know what she's talking about.