After renewed fighting between Bad Science’s Ben Goldacre and make-believe scientist Gillian McKeith, the skeptical blogosphere has been taking a look at itself and wondering whether it’s being a bit too mean, and putting people off. My contribution at Lay Science says ‘no’: there is value in making fun of lame pseudoscientists.
In a piece of contrarianism worthy of Jack of Kent, it was suggested by a number of people (e.g. here) on twitter that the latest round of Gillian McKeith bashing would serve only to make a martyr of the awful old poo lady. Perhaps she would like that. She has always left me with the impression of somebody lonely, in a mid-life crisis, absolutely desperate for fame and attention (I don’t know; an impression only, of course, no objective insight into her character is implied).
Geek and nerd Joe D has in the past studied genetics, molecular and cell biology, worked in cancer research, and made contemptuous amounts of money from incompetently composed photographs. The views expressed on this weblog are not his own; rather, he stole them from you through mind invasion.
