I’m not a veterinarian (though I play one on tv), but based on my experiences with animals much smaller than a horse, dewormers are meant to make the animal poop out the worm and gives the animal a mild case of diarrhea.
I’m not a doctor (though I play one on tv) and I think to myself, if I was already sick with Covid, why would I want to give myself medicine that is designed for an animal several times my size and gives that animal diarrhea. Why would I want to compound my misery with sitting on the toilet all day? I’d probably wind up in the hospital not just to be treated for Covid, but to be treated for intestinal rupture too.
Then again, I’m fully vaccinated, so I wouldn’t be that sick if I did catch Covid (please God, Fates, or whatever don’t make that happen), and if I was that sick, I wouldn’t be going to my cat’s veterinarian to treat me.
It's actually not uncommon for drug compounds to have activity against completely unrelated pathogens. For instance, some dyes and anticancer drugs have antimalarial properties. It's fairly intuitive to test all of the approved drugs out there for activity against a new virus.
But the Ivermectin story is just this bizarre creation of people's paranoia or preconceived beliefs against these vaccines. I think it's a general conspiracy driven belief that the vaccine is just some evil pharma creation and Ivermectin is this cure that Pharma is trying to keep from people so they have to get vaccines.
As for Dr Dan seemingly posting about new treatments - a lot - I don't really know what his motivation was.
Either way, all this stuff is seized on my anti-vaxxers so does more damage than good (whatever the good is in spreading studies that have been discredited).
My mom died at the beginning of January, and I’ve been cleaning out her house. I took all the toilet paper that she hoarded. I live with my boyfriend. From the beginning of January until now, we still haven’t used up all that tp.
I wish I had known about her stash a year ago. I would have sold it online and payed off some student loan bills.
Oh, bless. That toilet paper story. Sorry for your loss, and also pleased that the stockpiled toilet paper has found some new bottoms. She'd be happy, I am sure. What a rough year. x
What I find fascinating is that people are happy to take a drug that’s meant for a horse but won’t take a vaccine. For people interested in some of the science ( about all sorts of stuff) you should read up on Dr Rhonda Patrick. She has an amazing way of breaking down info so that even someone as brain dead as me in the scientific area can grasp it.
Where I grew up, there were regular ads for ivermectin on TV. AS A SHEEP DRENCH. Doctors should know better than to publicly "suggest" that people use potentially dangerous medicines off-label for emerging diseases. Most doctors do know better, of course, but social media gives a platform to the rogues. Thanks for countering that.
That is SUCH a New Zealand (I assume?) response haha - sheep drench!
And yeah, it's all SO annoying.
From the Salon piece:
"Ivermectin has become weaponized in a way to distract efforts from getting the unvaccinated vaccinated. This kind of misinformation costs lives — not only because humans should not be taking Ivermectin that is meant for animals, but also because there is no scientific evidence to suggest that it treats COVID-19."
Oooh I'm so happy about the podcast. Armchaired has been great for my panic attack listening, it really helps (bizarrely) but I'm running out, so more please! Will listen later on my next anxiety ridden dog walk. Thank you.
I am glad you are digging the A&D, Sarah. The Webworm pod might be a bit more boring (no Dax! No Monica!) but it feels like a fun thing to do with Webworm. Thanks for your constant enthusiasm it's actually really encouraging!
Newbie here, I really like podcasts, I listen to a lot during the day, I’m retired so it means I can carry on doing what I want to do around the house or crafts or whatever. Also streaming podcasts through my hearing aids is pretty great. Expensive ear buds but hey, multiple uses.
I was reading the email of this post on my phone while in bed this morning - I feel seen ;)
In the email you say "I'm going to use it (podcast) to compliment the written content".
I just imagined the podcast consisting of you saying "the writing on webworm is great, you should read it. It is by turns funny, tragic, informative, bleak and uplifting and always fascinating. Did I mention that the authorship is superb and you really should be reading it. Also it has flawless skin and impeccable taste in clothing".
You've changed compliment to complement in the web version, so the editing is good too.
Yes, this is quite funny. Little spellings and grammars slip through now and then - too much probably - ! Try to correct when I can, and certain kind readers like telling me of my errors :P
John - this is a very chaotic message and I am here for it.
Traction with Monica and Dax? Not quite sure what you mean - but, the show is going well, I hear from a lot of A&D listeners here and elsewhere, so that's nice!
I don't think I will mention Webworm too much as it might feel like an ad! I just hope the right people will find their way from that to this, if it's meant to be.
Relationship status is very private - but I am not married. That is all I'll say!
LA is really fun, and I am surrounded by some of the most un-shallow people I've ever met. I am very lucky!
Many thanks for being here, John - and signing up. Means heaps.
Well, I’m glad what you’re doing is sustainable. It’s great you’ve connected with high quality LA folks. Short version: my wife is from LA, and we knew some scoundrels. And some charming gems.
You have Dax & Monica, so your discernment in people is impeccable!
Ah, yes - it makes it go a little wider. Through A&D people usually find me on Instagram or Twitter or Facebook, and from there stumble onto Webworm sometimes which is nice :)
In regards to the A&D live show, were you three touring later or was this a one-show event for now? I can't recall if a multi-city tour was mentioned or if I just dreamed that.
I think your goal of using a podcast as a complementary medium is perfect. Extra outreach for important stuff is awesome. Personally I love longer form conversations but I'm aware of the extra resources something like that takes.
Regarding Dr Dan. The anti-vax crowd and the Q gang aren't dissimilar in their propensity to feel like they have access to special truth. With Q we have highly intelligent and highly educated individuals you would never suspect get sucked down the rabbit hole and really believe it. Doctors are no different and there doesn't need to be a profit motive (albeit sometimes there might be.) Doctor's generally aren't applying the scientific method in their everyday lives. They're still vulnerable to eco chambers and confirmation bias like everyone else, maybe less susceptable on average...but outliers will get through.
Where it's dangerous and why it's great that you've called out Dr Dan is that humans are often fucking terrible at assigning appropriate confidence levels or authority of knowledge. Our brains aren't built for probability in general so assigning authority to someone consistent with our bias is easier. Fancy title, a bit of jargon and we're set.
I like podcasts, usually if they're an interview/discussion between 2 or more people, otherwise I'm more of a reader. But some people prefer to listen, so do whatever you want and people can choose their preference 🙂. And, by the way, I don't think you "cancelled" Dr Dan. He promoted unproven Covid treatments knowing full well that people would interpret it to mean that they shouldn't get vaccinated even if he didn't say it outright.
Oh, perfect! Glad the listen worked. For essays like this I'd like to do lil' podcasts to accompany them. So you can read, or listen.
And yes - when I interview people for Webworm, I'd be keen to do an audio version of our conversation, too. Want to get good audio quality for their end, too - so I will try and figure that out.
Jo - thanks so much. Jez wrote a really beautiful piece, and I thought it would work well as just a story I read - and I think it worked! Hopefully it can reach a few more ears, and the message get through. I fear some people still brush the idea of Covid off as some kind of flu. Which is, yeah - very dumb!
I’m not a veterinarian (though I play one on tv), but based on my experiences with animals much smaller than a horse, dewormers are meant to make the animal poop out the worm and gives the animal a mild case of diarrhea.
I’m not a doctor (though I play one on tv) and I think to myself, if I was already sick with Covid, why would I want to give myself medicine that is designed for an animal several times my size and gives that animal diarrhea. Why would I want to compound my misery with sitting on the toilet all day? I’d probably wind up in the hospital not just to be treated for Covid, but to be treated for intestinal rupture too.
Then again, I’m fully vaccinated, so I wouldn’t be that sick if I did catch Covid (please God, Fates, or whatever don’t make that happen), and if I was that sick, I wouldn’t be going to my cat’s veterinarian to treat me.
It's actually not uncommon for drug compounds to have activity against completely unrelated pathogens. For instance, some dyes and anticancer drugs have antimalarial properties. It's fairly intuitive to test all of the approved drugs out there for activity against a new virus.
But the Ivermectin story is just this bizarre creation of people's paranoia or preconceived beliefs against these vaccines. I think it's a general conspiracy driven belief that the vaccine is just some evil pharma creation and Ivermectin is this cure that Pharma is trying to keep from people so they have to get vaccines.
I agree with all this.
As for Dr Dan seemingly posting about new treatments - a lot - I don't really know what his motivation was.
Either way, all this stuff is seized on my anti-vaxxers so does more damage than good (whatever the good is in spreading studies that have been discredited).
The diarrhea would finally justify all the extreme toilet paper hoarding!
Ha ha! 🙌
My mom died at the beginning of January, and I’ve been cleaning out her house. I took all the toilet paper that she hoarded. I live with my boyfriend. From the beginning of January until now, we still haven’t used up all that tp.
I wish I had known about her stash a year ago. I would have sold it online and payed off some student loan bills.
Oh, bless. That toilet paper story. Sorry for your loss, and also pleased that the stockpiled toilet paper has found some new bottoms. She'd be happy, I am sure. What a rough year. x
What I find fascinating is that people are happy to take a drug that’s meant for a horse but won’t take a vaccine. For people interested in some of the science ( about all sorts of stuff) you should read up on Dr Rhonda Patrick. She has an amazing way of breaking down info so that even someone as brain dead as me in the scientific area can grasp it.
Thanks for the Rhona Patrick tip. Will Google!
Where I grew up, there were regular ads for ivermectin on TV. AS A SHEEP DRENCH. Doctors should know better than to publicly "suggest" that people use potentially dangerous medicines off-label for emerging diseases. Most doctors do know better, of course, but social media gives a platform to the rogues. Thanks for countering that.
That is SUCH a New Zealand (I assume?) response haha - sheep drench!
And yeah, it's all SO annoying.
From the Salon piece:
"Ivermectin has become weaponized in a way to distract efforts from getting the unvaccinated vaccinated. This kind of misinformation costs lives — not only because humans should not be taking Ivermectin that is meant for animals, but also because there is no scientific evidence to suggest that it treats COVID-19."
Funny enough, I grew up in rural Australia. But same same. There's a right way to test new medicines on humans, and this is not it.
Excellent news on the podcast. Donut A++
Thanks! It may not be regular, but it's a thing and I look forward to recording more stuff when it seems to fit the topic / story!
Oooh I'm so happy about the podcast. Armchaired has been great for my panic attack listening, it really helps (bizarrely) but I'm running out, so more please! Will listen later on my next anxiety ridden dog walk. Thank you.
I am glad you are digging the A&D, Sarah. The Webworm pod might be a bit more boring (no Dax! No Monica!) but it feels like a fun thing to do with Webworm. Thanks for your constant enthusiasm it's actually really encouraging!
Newbie here, I really like podcasts, I listen to a lot during the day, I’m retired so it means I can carry on doing what I want to do around the house or crafts or whatever. Also streaming podcasts through my hearing aids is pretty great. Expensive ear buds but hey, multiple uses.
Yay! This is good to know. I will try and get into more of a schedule - I like recording them!
I was reading the email of this post on my phone while in bed this morning - I feel seen ;)
In the email you say "I'm going to use it (podcast) to compliment the written content".
I just imagined the podcast consisting of you saying "the writing on webworm is great, you should read it. It is by turns funny, tragic, informative, bleak and uplifting and always fascinating. Did I mention that the authorship is superb and you really should be reading it. Also it has flawless skin and impeccable taste in clothing".
You've changed compliment to complement in the web version, so the editing is good too.
Yes, this is quite funny. Little spellings and grammars slip through now and then - too much probably - ! Try to correct when I can, and certain kind readers like telling me of my errors :P
I love the pod cast idea! Looking forward to it.
Yay!
New podcast epi was brill! Thanks for doing it.
Are you getting more traction with Monica and Dax? Webworm should be heard in every third sentence you utter.
What’s your relationship status?
Far from home too!
LA can be fun, but people are mostly shallow af.
You’re a treat!
John
John - this is a very chaotic message and I am here for it.
Traction with Monica and Dax? Not quite sure what you mean - but, the show is going well, I hear from a lot of A&D listeners here and elsewhere, so that's nice!
I don't think I will mention Webworm too much as it might feel like an ad! I just hope the right people will find their way from that to this, if it's meant to be.
Relationship status is very private - but I am not married. That is all I'll say!
LA is really fun, and I am surrounded by some of the most un-shallow people I've ever met. I am very lucky!
Many thanks for being here, John - and signing up. Means heaps.
Well, I’m glad what you’re doing is sustainable. It’s great you’ve connected with high quality LA folks. Short version: my wife is from LA, and we knew some scoundrels. And some charming gems.
You have Dax & Monica, so your discernment in people is impeccable!
By traction, I mean wider audience outreach.
Also: way to keep a kindly presented, yet firmly held boundary! I love that. Privacy respected. ❤️
Ah, yes - it makes it go a little wider. Through A&D people usually find me on Instagram or Twitter or Facebook, and from there stumble onto Webworm sometimes which is nice :)
Neato! Happy for more audio entries.
In regards to the A&D live show, were you three touring later or was this a one-show event for now? I can't recall if a multi-city tour was mentioned or if I just dreamed that.
I think we're gonna see how we feel and what happens with the pandemic and our lives. We'd all certainly *like* to do more!
I love it! I don’t always have the time to sit and read but being able to listen is fantastic! Now I won’t be so far behind. Excellent job❤️
Seconding this!
Thanks you guys. I think some longer reads that are straight "stories" will work well in podcast form. I'll keep experimenting!
I think your goal of using a podcast as a complementary medium is perfect. Extra outreach for important stuff is awesome. Personally I love longer form conversations but I'm aware of the extra resources something like that takes.
Regarding Dr Dan. The anti-vax crowd and the Q gang aren't dissimilar in their propensity to feel like they have access to special truth. With Q we have highly intelligent and highly educated individuals you would never suspect get sucked down the rabbit hole and really believe it. Doctors are no different and there doesn't need to be a profit motive (albeit sometimes there might be.) Doctor's generally aren't applying the scientific method in their everyday lives. They're still vulnerable to eco chambers and confirmation bias like everyone else, maybe less susceptable on average...but outliers will get through.
Where it's dangerous and why it's great that you've called out Dr Dan is that humans are often fucking terrible at assigning appropriate confidence levels or authority of knowledge. Our brains aren't built for probability in general so assigning authority to someone consistent with our bias is easier. Fancy title, a bit of jargon and we're set.
I like podcasts, usually if they're an interview/discussion between 2 or more people, otherwise I'm more of a reader. But some people prefer to listen, so do whatever you want and people can choose their preference 🙂. And, by the way, I don't think you "cancelled" Dr Dan. He promoted unproven Covid treatments knowing full well that people would interpret it to mean that they shouldn't get vaccinated even if he didn't say it outright.
Oh, perfect! Glad the listen worked. For essays like this I'd like to do lil' podcasts to accompany them. So you can read, or listen.
And yes - when I interview people for Webworm, I'd be keen to do an audio version of our conversation, too. Want to get good audio quality for their end, too - so I will try and figure that out.
Jo - thanks so much. Jez wrote a really beautiful piece, and I thought it would work well as just a story I read - and I think it worked! Hopefully it can reach a few more ears, and the message get through. I fear some people still brush the idea of Covid off as some kind of flu. Which is, yeah - very dumb!