Blog lurker day
Alright, I know I've been following the blog crowd a bit this week (for example, doing this academic blogger meme). Well, what the heck; sometimes I just feel like going with the flow. That time is coming to an end soon, but there's still one more thing going around the blogosphere that I became aware of. It interests me; so I'll do it. Yesterday, Creek Running North declared Lurker Day, and was joined in rapid succession by Feministe, Pharyngula, afarensis, Cosmic Variance, and Science and Politics. Of course, in order to be slightly contrarian or just "different" (or just because I'm lazy), I'll do it a day late.
The idea is that, every so often, a blogger gets curious about who's reading. In my case, I've always realized that it's a relatively small subset of my readers who comment regularly. This has to be the case, given that this blog's visit count has climbed to an average of around 1,000 visitors a day but only rarely do I attract more than 10 comments or so a day. (The exceptions, of course, are some of my posts about the mercury-autism controversy--or even ones that were not primarily about mercury and autism but were somehow perceived to be. These posts drew so many comments of a rather intense--vitriolic, actually--nature that it was almost scary. PZ Myers may be used to getting over 100 comments after many of his posts, but I sure ain't.)
In any case, today, I'm humbly asking those of you out there who read what I like to write down on a regular basis but have either never commented (or only very rarely commented) to take a moment to delurk and leave a comment to say hi. Tell me who you are and where you're visiting from. (No names necessary unless you want to tell, obviously.) Let me know what you like about Respectful Insolence or fire off some constructive criticism. What do you want to see? More medblogging like this? (I realize I've drifted somewhat away from that compared to the early days of the blog.) More science? More Hitler Zombie (who is always--pardon the term--lurking in the background himself)?
And, of course, spread the word.
The idea is that, every so often, a blogger gets curious about who's reading. In my case, I've always realized that it's a relatively small subset of my readers who comment regularly. This has to be the case, given that this blog's visit count has climbed to an average of around 1,000 visitors a day but only rarely do I attract more than 10 comments or so a day. (The exceptions, of course, are some of my posts about the mercury-autism controversy--or even ones that were not primarily about mercury and autism but were somehow perceived to be. These posts drew so many comments of a rather intense--vitriolic, actually--nature that it was almost scary. PZ Myers may be used to getting over 100 comments after many of his posts, but I sure ain't.)
In any case, today, I'm humbly asking those of you out there who read what I like to write down on a regular basis but have either never commented (or only very rarely commented) to take a moment to delurk and leave a comment to say hi. Tell me who you are and where you're visiting from. (No names necessary unless you want to tell, obviously.) Let me know what you like about Respectful Insolence or fire off some constructive criticism. What do you want to see? More medblogging like this? (I realize I've drifted somewhat away from that compared to the early days of the blog.) More science? More Hitler Zombie (who is always--pardon the term--lurking in the background himself)?
And, of course, spread the word.
I check your RSS feed a few times a day. Please write more stuff that annoys anti-vaccine idiots, and keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteYea-ah! Mo o' dat stuff man.
ReplyDeletePersonnally I just enjoy anything you care to share with us. Sure some things interest me more than others but I appreciate reading about subjects I rarely think about otherwise.
Keep up the good work.
Hello there Orac
ReplyDeleteI found my way here from Skeptico...I pop by every weekday, but I rarely have anything useful or insightful to add so I don't comment. I have my own blog - just for silly throwaway short fiction (you're on my list of links) - but I have a science background, and pseudoscience, quackery and the media's misrepresentation of science are bugbears of mine.
I find your articles on holocaust denial fascinating (I didn't realise people's views could be so extreme), and I love any articles on medicinal quackery. Plus I have encountered the Hitler zombie myself!
I'm from the UK, by the way.
occasional commenter & constant lurker , popping in from the UK (but a native of New Zealand). Most enjoy the medblogging, & the altie demolition derby .. and the personal stuff: but it's all good
ReplyDeleteI'm from Canada, and I've had you on my Bloglines for a few months. I don't know if I've ever commented here but I really enjoy the science vs wacko debates and this is definitely a good place to get some. The medblogging is really good too.
ReplyDeleteI check your page each day,an occasional comment,
ReplyDeleteCannuck
I am so glad that you exist and publish proof of your existence Orac.
ReplyDeleteI am one of billions of "silly" humans who want to do the right thing desperately but who have so many years of practice at internal-mind-effin' going on that Reality in my own life is often quite difficult to discern. The personal, emotional aspects of existence cloud my view of my life all too often.
Reading the observations of people who, like you & PZ & Ignat (@ Science News Daily), are able to observe and comment upon reality as it Is has been invaluable for me in practicing doing the same for myself.
I'm not giving up because the universe is as it is regardless of what I think of it, so I may as well be honest with myself about what is there. Suicide is the only justifiable alternative I've found to doing so.
Last choice of options that...
Thank you.
Sticking my head out of lurkdom seems fair - I enjoy your blog. I'm from Australia and entirely appreciate what you do to combat anti-Semitism.
ReplyDeleteOrac, I'm a regular reader who lives in Florida. I think I first found you by following a link from Kung Fu Monkey.
ReplyDeleteI find many of the topics you discuss very interesting. I enjoy your logical analyses of issues like creationism vs. evolution. That's probably the topic that sucked me in -- I have a friend who's constantly pushing intelligent design, and you've helped me shut him down several times.
I was vaguely aware of Holocaust denial, and I was also startled to learn that there are so many proponents of it (I always considered it one of those fringe nut things that a small handful of clearly delusional people adopt).
I was also very surprised by the vaccine debate -- again, I was vaguely aware of the fact that some people have "issues" with vaccines, but I certainly never considered not vaccinating my daughter.
Anyway, you provide a welcome voice of reason in a world full of increasingly strident nonsense. Thanks.
I'm a geologist with a keen interest in skeptical thought. I found you at Skeptico, and found Skeptico at Randi's site.
ReplyDeleteI think my favorite posts are the ones in which you discuss case histories (i.e. The Orange Man post).
-Sylvanite
Im a first year graduate student at the University of Texas @ Austin in the Cell and Molecular biology department. I want to try to study pre-biotic origins if I can get the funding for it someday. I enjoy your writing and am trying to get better at thinking skeptically and critically so this has become a fun place to lurk.
ReplyDeleteI am also interested in learning the best way to confront creationists/ID supporters in my life and am thinking of getting more involved in the overall battle against them in the persuit of better science education in the US.
Thanks for the hard work that you put into this Blog!
Greetings, Orac!
ReplyDeleteI'm a regular reader from Northern Virginia who found your blog through Autism Diva. (I'm also the father of an autistic son.) Since I have a background in a technical field and an interest in history, I enjoy reading your blog immensely. I've particularly been particularly interested in your posts on the autism-Hg issue and the evolution-creationism "debate". Keep up the good work...
Greeting from "Sin City" (No, not New Orleans the real "Sin City")
ReplyDeleteI submitted to the 16th Skeptics' Circle and I believe I have commented once on your blog. I have your blog listed in my aggregator and particularly enjoy any posts related to skepticism and exposing pseudoscientific quacks.
I can't remember from whence I started reading (might have been via Night Nurse Kelly.
ReplyDeleteI continued to read for a whole bunch of reasons including (a) I already know plenty about my field, so reading about oncology will almost certainly grant me new knowledge, (b) you are an advocate for critical thinking (skeptic is a bit too trendy) and (c) I like how your writing has spread from your original subject matter to include war, zombies and the war-on-zombies. ;-)
Hey Orac,
ReplyDeleteDe-lurking for you. I've been reading your blog for a long time and have always loved your triumphant skepticism, and I can only hope that more people will read your blog. My own blog's a little more musing and rambling, but it's all based on hard science. I loved your recent post about "altie's" as well as your recent musings on Einstein and how modifying theories based on evidence is paramount. In my own research into cardiopulmonary bypass circuits, I try to keep as open a mind as possible. Even DeBakey, as hard driving and persistent as he was, would never have gotten anywhere had he been a rigid thinker.
Thanks for your blog!
joel@c1d1t1.com
Joel, I checked your blog out, WTF are you guys trying to accomplish? Are you for real?
ReplyDeleteDelurking: medical editor (f, 40) in the UK - read for pieces on critical thinking (alt med, Holocaust denial, ID, ...). So much for the 'medical' part; the 'editor' part suggests that you condense your writing somewhat, And, sorry, but cut the Hitler Zombie.
ReplyDeleteBlake's 7: first series, or second series?
Good morning. I probably check on here a couple times a day and I never say anything. I don't think you've written about anything that I didn't find at least a little interesting. I particularly like information on alternative medicine, since there are a few members of my family that have gone a little altie and I worry about them.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
ReplyDeleteThis isn't my first comment, but I thought I'd chime in anyway. Content-wise, I don't think you need to change much (although EneMan is a bit creepy, he doesn't appear too often). Teaching people to think critically in any field is a good thing. I've got you linked from my blog, and one of my other blog buddies has added you as well.
Ciao, Lord Runolfr
Cool. I've been looking for an excuse to de-lurk.
ReplyDeleteI found a link to your blog a few months ago -- astonishingly, not in connection with the vaccine/mercury debate -- and followed it in part because I wanted to know if you were that Orac. And of course, you were, and you were writing interesting things about medicine and about stupid people; and why would I want to leave?
My interests are pretty general, but as a recent breast cancer patient who felt that the one saving grace of the disease was that at least it was interesting, I always find it particularly fascinating when you talk about your work. (And about medical issues in general, come to that.) Although I do always have to sit on my hands when you do it to keep from pestering you with weird and unavoidably ignorant questions about it.
I'll join the de-lurking party--I'm a geologist mom of two here in the great state of Utah (which is often in need of a little skepticism, especially about altmed). I found your blog during the RFK, Jr kerfuffle. I love your writing style, and enjoy just about all your posts, but especially the altmed and political ones.
ReplyDeleteHello Orac,
ReplyDeleteI first came to your blog a few weeks ago after googling for information about patients living in denial of large tumors (I had just experienced this in myself). I found your threads on this topic very interesting, and they helped me to better understand my own behavior as well as my doctors' reactions.
I added your blog to my newsreader because I enjoy your writing, and there is a quite a bit of overlap in our interests, e. g., I'm an evolutionary biologist, an incurable skeptic, and a passionate apple user.
Hello from Greece. I read you every day, together with Pharyngula and Skeptico. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon-- I'm an occasional commenter who discovered you through Kung Fu Monkey a few months ago. I'm an attorney in Cleveland, and I've thoroughly enjoyed your insights on alternative health care, the vaccine/autism controversy, and, of course, "intelligent design." Your writing is cogent, informative and entertaining (please don't get rid of EneMan!!). And I'm glad you've been fighting the good fight on the Holocaust "revisionism" front too, though it's a subject so exasperating to me that I can't exactly say I enjoy being reminded that revisionism's still out there.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, keep up the fine work!!!!
Hi Orac!
ReplyDeleteI'm a lurker from Sri Lanka. I thoroughly enjoy reading your blog -- most especially your medical posts and the ones about the Second World War.
I found your chelation links invaluable -- a close relative was being taken for a ride by his doctor. Did I change his mind? No. But at least I could warn him of the dangers.
Hullo! I'm Alpha Chen, currently attending Virginia Tech. I read via RSS, so I don't often comment, nor do I really have much to add.
ReplyDeleteLove all of your stuff, although admittedly, I sometimes zone out on the history. I wouldn't mind more medblogging, but it's great as it is, especially with the number of crazy people out there.
Hi, there! I'm a reader from Baltimore who really enjoys your writing on skepticism and various quackery. I also appreciate all of your rebuttals to the Holocaust revisionists.
ReplyDeleteAll of your arguments are calm and logical, and I wish I could put my points across so intelligently.
Anyway, all this just to say: I like reading your blog. Keep up the good work!
Hi Orac,
ReplyDeletede-lurking. I live in Canada (M, 28), have a degree in physics and love your posts taking on pseudo-science, and altie meds.
Keep up the great work!
Hi;
ReplyDeleteI'm a woman (mid-40's) in Wisconsin with a strong interest in skeptical topics (alt med, holocaust revisionism, anti-vaccination, creationism, etc.) I have been reading you regularly almost since you began, I think -- over a year ago. I'm not sure how I found you, it may have been a link from Pharyngula.
At any rate, I check your blog several times a day, and enjoy all of it. Since you asked: given your expertise, I suppose I'd like to see you post more on "alternative" medicine.You write with style, wit, and intelligence. I'll read whatever you write.
Over time, though, I think I've slowly started to develop a bit of a crush on Enneman. This is not good. He seems like a nice, friendly, well-traveled guy with a lot of hobbies and interests, good with kids, happy disposition -- but I have an uncomfortable suspicion that he might be a bit "kinky," so to speak.
Hello! I'm a family doctor in Canada, been reading your blog for a little while after stumbling upon it somehow. Always enjoy it, from the medical to the humourous. Especially like the altie-debunking
ReplyDeleteHi Orac,
ReplyDeleteI'm a blogger from Washington, DC. I read your blog regularly but rarely comment because many of the topics are out of my areas of expertise. I do, however, enjoy your writing - always clear and well-argued - even if I don't always agree with everything you write.
My favorite posts are the ones with take-downs of pseudo-science and alties, as well as other skeptical-type themes.
Hi, Orac! I am a full-time mom and student from Michigan who probably found you via Pharyngula. I aspire to work in the medical research field and I read your blog to get a feel for both. I also appreciate your informative stances on all psuedo-scientific medical disinformation out there on the net. I don't read the posts about the Holocaust deniers as much simply because I have known too many people who were touched by it to even entertain such nonsense.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work!
Occasional commenter.
ReplyDeleteI remember Orac from Usenet (as well as from Blakes 7), as I make a habit of browsing through the madder areas from time to time. I'm not sure how I found this blog, but it was probably from Peter Bowditch's site.
I'm a physicist and originally became interested in the skeptical side after reading an article in New Scientist which reported people who actually believed that there were dinosaur in America until the 19th century. These people were, of course, creationists, and I've never looked back after discovering their lunacy.
It's interesting that the creationists, holocaust deniers, animal rights extremists (e.g. PETA, although they are occasionally correct), anti-environmentalists and anti-vaccinationists all use the same tactics with their rubbish, although they all have different agendas.
I like Orac's posts about politics (I'm rather more left-wing, but strongly libertarian), creationism, history, rational thinking and anti-vacs. I don't "get" the Ene-Man thing and would be glad never to see mention of the Hitler Zombie ever again.
I'm a Brit living in Germany.
And that's that, since there's only one person allowed to ramble on unchecked, and that's Orac himself...
I read for your political and social opinons as just one more element in the mix I consume daily or weekly. 23 Skidoo and Tyler, Too!
ReplyDeletei found you via goggle when i was looking up some evolutionary biology stuff. right now im reading "the song of the dodo" by david quammen -- that's the sort of thing I really like, science distilled down far enough so that a layperson like myself can understand it.
ReplyDelete--- edt
Hi! Heath sciences student in Canada here.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how I first found this site. Via Pharyngula, maybe? I always enjoy a good anti-pseudoscience reading, in any form. I don't do nearly enough ranting against quackery, but it's nice to know that I can always come here if I need to back up an argument...
I'm a 2nd year PHD student in NYC who discovered you via ?....how did I get here? Anyway, I love the medblogging since it's out of my field (ed psych) and I love the way you analyze various social issues.
ReplyDeleteVancouver, WA here. Reading through bloglines.
ReplyDeleteOnly been reading a short time, like what you're doing, don't change a thing
Orac I read your blog everyday, and have you on my blogroll, but normally don't comment.
ReplyDeleteHey Orac!
ReplyDeleteI'm a high school physics teacher in Western Canada, and I found you through Anne's Anti-Quackery and Science blog.
You're a fascinating read, and on the side of the good science guys, so I try to check in every day.
A quick delurk. I'm Ryan From Williamsburg, VA I'm a motion picture professional and I came for the mercury stuff, but I'm staying for the rest of the outlook. I'm always up for some good evidence based anything and there's something about your tone that keeps me reading.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Great site, Orac. First found you off Pharyngula. I read most every day; I'm a science guy from the non-life side of things. Med and bio blogs are a great way to see what's being talked about out in the world of the living, and the skeptical, pro-data angle here is right up my alley. The history's interesting, too. Good writing all around.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea to expose your lurkers.
ReplyDeleteI'm another UK-based reader; I came to you originally through a link from the 'FierceHealthcare' newsletter to one of the infamous mercury-autism posts. I was hooked immediatly after reading the astonishing comments section and now check in most days; it helps to keep the boredom at bay in my daily grind.
BTW, I work in the clinical trials industry, although how I got here after a PhD in flies I'll never know...
Just got into science blogs, love them! I have a BS in biology and work in a biotech co. My true love is all things evolution,esp the history part. I am currently reading Janet Browne's biography of Darwin. I am on the second part "power of place". I highly recomend to everyone. The weirdest part is the fights Darwin gets into over evolution too similar to what we are going through now. We just have more science to back us up.
ReplyDeleteAnother de-lurker. First class site! There is little I could add to other comments other than my personal thanks for a web site of such caliber.
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm a science writer for a pediatric hospital and I love to read informed & intelligent science blogs--as yours is.
ReplyDeleteI found you through Photon in the Darkness and possibly through Autism Diva as well. I try to stay informed on the autism-thimerosal controversies but also other science issues (creationism, ID, etc.) Loved the Harry Potter letters in Nature--glad you picked up on them. Keep up the good work.
Greetings from a lurker on the Left Coast!
ReplyDeleteI stumbled across your blog (and medblogs, in general) about five months while doing online research after being diagnosed with severe anemia due to a bleeding ulcer that resulted from a hiatal hernia. I must admit that though my physical problem is well on its way to being resolved (I just had fundo surgery), it's now been replaced with a more insidious one, an addiction to medblogs! Despite extensive research, I have found no cure for this disease. Until I do, I will continue to cycle thru my growing list of medbloggers 4-5 times a day, hoping that one or two of them gives this junkie a fix, new editions to their blogs!
Why do I keep coming back to YOUR blog? Your voice of reason on the topic of evolution vs. creationism and so-called intelligent design. Keep up the good work!
I came here from your post about life as a Ph.D/M.D. That's my chosen career path, and you were the first person I've seen that's written about what it's like.
ReplyDeleteI'm a senior psych/neuroscience undergrad in Denver. I stop by about 3 times a week when I have time. I'm also a researcher (I work in a neuroscience lab running my own projects) and I love reading your science anti-psuedoscience posts. There's far too much crap out there!
Keep up the good work! We need more logic out there!
I lurk. Linked by Rogers. Came for the politics, stayed for the interesting.
ReplyDeletegreetings from a german lurker,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog via pharyngula and now read it regularly. I find allmost all of the topics you blog about fascinating. Also, through your blog I was introduced to the fascinating world of medblogs - something I found very interesting, even If I don't have any background in the field.
I've been reading for a week or two. PZ kept talking about you, and I have to do everything he tells me to do.
ReplyDeleteSo far I'm enjoying it. Nice combination of science, medicine, politics, and skepticism.
I'm an IT chick from various places (Texas, Minnesota, Ohio) who just moved to Connecticut.
Hi Orac, I am very new to the blogosphere. I'm a general pediatrician from Missouri. I like your political leaning and have enjoyed your commentary on the mercury/autism fanatics and on intelligent design. I now have a list of blogs that I follow every few days thanks to you. Keep up the excellent work that you do!
ReplyDeleteHi Orac, I am a female FP in upstate NY and an evil conservative. I enjoy your columns, particularly about the vaccine debate and of course, EneMan!
ReplyDeleteI probably found you through Pharyngula, though I can't be sure. I think I've posted comments here a time or two, though not for a while. I like all of it (even Eneman!), but I particularly enjoy watching you take down altmedy types, and your general medblogging. I also find the Holocaust revisionist pieces fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI've been lurking for the last month or so. I came by way of Autism Diva when I was confronted with a vocal mercury=autism parent on a message board I support. I added you to my RSS feed for the skepticism and to remind myself of the ways to examine evidence and arguments regardless the issue.
ReplyDeleteFor work, I support an online community made up of parents of children with reading and attention problems. I've worked with online communities for ten years from virtual worlds to message boards.
For fun, I am researching 16thC surgery and medicine (knowledge and techniques of the time plus the cultural aspects the surgeons role in society) and am getting more serious about my documentation. I'd like to be able to present what I have learned as I think there are many misconceptions about surgery of the period. Often it is portrayed as so brutal that the surgeons themselves had to be uncaring and likewise brutal or that people of the time views surgeons as torturers at worst or a necessary evil at best. The original writings I have read thus far indicate this may not be true.
Hi Orac. I'm sitting at my computer in Arizona, and I stumbled upon your site after reading Pat Sullivan's blog, where he provides a link to your site. Since then, I've become a fan of yours, checking in everyday to see what you're writing, and following the autism debate. I don't even have a child with autism, but I've been so intrigued by the autism-mercury dynamic! No matter what you say, there are two very rageful sides duking it out. Forget about autism! People quickly get lost in the knock-down fight! Have you noticed that? I've never seen so much sheer anger in a blog dialogue. Does this happen when you mention any other diseases? I'd love it if you could comment on that.
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm just your friendly neighborhood computer hacker. Found the blog via Skeptics Circle. Love the skepticism. keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteYT,
Dan Noland
http://nolandda.org/
I'm an RN in Oklahoma who happens to like surgeons. (Yeah, shoot me. I'm a masochist.) I'm a chronic pain sufferer s/p four laparotomies for complications of ulcerative colitis, and I read your RSS feed.
ReplyDeleteI lurk because I have the awful feeling that if I speak up, you're going to ask me to hand you something or send an intern to torment me.
*runs back to lurking safety*
Hi Orac !
ReplyDeleteI'm a currently Biology grad student at the University of Rochester, just arrived a month ago from Argentina.
I started reading your blog thanks to PZ Myers. So, I'm your faithful reader since the very first post.
I specially enjoy some of your medical stories, anti-creationism musings and harry potter speculations!
keep up the good work,
vicky.
I'm just a run of the mill hypochondriac who likes to read med blogs to learn what doctors really think about their patients and their illnesses.
ReplyDeleteOncology and surgery are really arcane areas for me (I'm in PR), and I find doctors' off-the-record thoughts about disease and treatment fascinating.
Really, I only read the scary stuff about cancer, tumors, cancer denial, survival rates, etc. on this blog and breeze through the rest.
Hi Orac,
ReplyDeleteI'm a pediatrician and mother in Reno, NV. I found your site during the RFK fiasco and it has been invaluable to me in cogently expressing the science behind the debate--especially to frightened parents. Thank you for always providing links to the relevant data so that we can also educate ourselves with the original citations!
Krista
Hi Orac,
ReplyDeleteI've posted a few times in the past. I'm a medical student from Utah. Stumbled across your journal months ago when you hosted Grand Rounds. Stayed for the skeptism debates on autism and intelligent design. I would like to see more medically related entries in the future. Thanks for the entertaining and educational read!
Hi Orac - I read you almost every day. I work for Big Pharma in the NJ/NY/Conn area (where else would big pharma be?) My job responsibility is Market research for Oncology drugs and services. So, while I find all the other stuff riveting, it is your insight into cancer treatment that I find most useful.
ReplyDeleteHi, Orac. I'm a lurker and surgical registrar from Australia. I think I found you via Mr Hassle's Long Underpants or maybe the old Cheerful Oncologist some time last year. Either way you've been listed on my blog and blogroll since its conception (or misconception, depending on your viewpoint). I particularly like EneMan and your medblogging.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI'm an MD/PhD student in Cincinnati in my final year. I found your blog when a friend (mudfud) linked to Grand Rounds, which you were hosting. I added your RSS feed to my livejournal, and read your posts on my friends page. I like your intelligent design and vaccine posts. Keep up the good work!
Hi Orac! I've only read your blog for a short time but it's one of the few I check each and every day. I enjoy your writing style and the topics you choose to address. Thanks for spending so much of your free time to help inform and entertain the rest of us!
ReplyDeleteA little late--I use Bloglines, and let posts pile up sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the scientific aspect of your posts.
I was away a few days, but you are the second page I checked on return. Terrific blog, and I love your anti-quackery activism. I am sure there are others still lurking, so consider this mass delurk of posts still only a fraction. I have been reading for a few months, and you are consistently interesting and useful.
ReplyDeleteHI,Orac. Wound up here clicking references from The Amazing Randi's site. First visit.
ReplyDeleteI am nobody in particular,just wondered if there might be intelligent life on the internet,happy to have found a few.
I'll be back. I have enjoyed some of your essays&responses
I'm an American becoming Canadian, living in Toronto, Ontario. I have an MA in pure math, but am currently working as a clerical temp. I read you almost every day, and like almost everything. I'm not sure where I found you, probably from Pharyngula, but I started reading you both around the same time, several months ago.
ReplyDeleteSnakelass
Definitely not a lurker, but there was something I wanted to comment on. Someone anonymous asked:
ReplyDelete"I've never seen so much sheer anger in a blog dialogue. Does this happen when you mention any other diseases?"
I haven't seen it here at Orac's place , but I have seen quite a lot of anger when someone's favorite alternaitve cancer cure has been debunked. However, with the autism debate, it's often peoples' children we are talking about, which makes the anger more prevalent.
De-lurking (so, so late) to say hi. I'm a law student on a leave of absence and working as a research assistant in the Psychiatry dept at the U. I've been following the most recent version of the ID debate and came across your blog, which I've really enjoyed reading. Thanks for taking the time to put your writing here!
ReplyDeleteI'm late too! A parent of a child with ASD, non-believer in the autism-mercury hypothesis and professional research scientist. I enjoy your blog and appreciate your sense of humor.
ReplyDeleteHi, Orac - been a lurker for some months. Have enough sci bkgd to have edited medical and science journals, and have continued to read SciAm, Science, etc. Like your informed skepticism, and willingness to take on the creationists, anti-vaccine idiots. Keep up the fight.
ReplyDeleteHi Orac,
ReplyDeleteI'm an occasional reader, work for the NHS in the UK. First came here through Kung Fu Monkey, and tend to check back around once a week.
Enjoy the stuff on ID and Holocaust denial, but I'm afraid that I too hate the Hitler Zombie features.
Keep up the good work,
Phil
Well, I'm a few days late, but I'm an experimental physicist who roams about lurkering on blogs in his free time. I 've even been known to occasionally de-lurk and post to them under the name TonyL every now and again. I found your blog shortly after the RFK JR. Salon autism scare piece, and have been visiting fairly regularly ever since.
ReplyDeleteGreets, Orac,
ReplyDeleteI've been stopping by your blog regularly for a few months now, having first clicked a link from Majikthise, I think. This was within a few days of seeing Robert Kennedy on Imus talking about the vaccination-autism "link," and I wanted to find some wise words on whether there was anything to it or not.
Here I found those wise words.
I'm wondering whether you have any "news of the weird" or peculiar cases from your experiences in medicine that might make interesting reading.
As for myself, I'm a 30+ accounting drone in NC interested in -- among other things -- integrity in the sciences and the fight against ID and the sort of foolishness that turns up on Penn & Teller's "Bullshit." Cheers,
-TTm
I'm delurking, after having spent time in the hospital for the first time in my adult life (I'm 47). I'm a history professor and linked recently for the Carnival. I think you're running a terrific site and will be a regular reader. I'm re-reading your articles on science and pseudoscience after encountering in a course last week far too many intelligent students who seem to have been raised with skepticism toward science, in both its aims and practices.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work.