Scientists on the gridiron

I love the imagery in this New York Times headline: “Scientists Fight a New Source of Vaccine Misinformation: Aaron Rodgers”. Here’s how it renders, for those who are not loyal subscribers:

From the article:

So when news broke that he tested positive for the coronavirus last week and was unvaccinated, Rodgers justified his decision to not get vaccinated by speaking out against the highly effective vaccines and spewing a stream of misinformation and junk science. Medical professionals were disheartened not just because it will make it harder for them to persuade adults to get vaccinated, but because they are also starting to vaccinate 5- to 11-year-olds.

“When you’re a celebrity, you are given a platform,” said Dr. Paul A. Offit, the director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “When you choose to do what Aaron Rodgers is doing, which is to use the platform to put out misinformation that could cause people to make bad decisions for themselves or their children, then you have done harm.”

Scientists in their lab coats are rushing from the 20-yard line trying to get to the touchdown zone in which 5-year-olds are meekly waiting for their injections with the emergency use authorization (i.e., not FDA-approved) vaccine that will protect them from a killer of 82-year-olds. The scientists are bravely knocking over linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties.

Separately, it is tough to find a reference for this, but I think that Richard Nixon said “You don’t want to be a candy-ass on the gridiron.”

6 thoughts on “Scientists on the gridiron

  1. It is interesting to see the NYT using the same tactics in language and content as a good old fashioned Pravda hit piece targeting a counterrevolutionary (the Pravda would probably have featured a second article written by a colleague forced to denounce Rodgers, but we’ll get there, too).

    • NYT has been a Bol’shevik propaganda outlet for quite a while now. In fact, even good ole’ Pravda never was that shameless. At least you could get some idea of what is really going on from Pravda by “rading between the lines”, or figuring out what was omitted. This doesn’t work if the “source” simoly makes up “facts”.

  2. Collection of athletes dropping on the field. Wonder when they are going to switch from you shouldn’t notice this. To this used to happen all the time, but now happens more, it is the new normal that is totally normal. Now go boost or we will call you a science denying anti vaxxer.
    https://www.bitchute.com/video/9vaJRytsTOE6/

  3. Heresy, directly from the CDC:

    https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7031e2.htm

    “In July 2021, following multiple large public events in a Barnstable County, Massachusetts, town, 469 COVID-19 cases were identified among Massachusetts residents who had traveled to the town during July 3–17; 346 (74%) occurred in fully vaccinated persons.

    I bet the solution is vaccinating 5-year olds and third and fourth booster shots for everyone else.

  4. > Rodgers … spewing a stream of misinformation and junk science.

    The verb may be neutral on its face, but it is never used with a positive connotation.

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