[Ipg-smz] New Google algorithms cost a site 99% of its traffic

[Tom Geller]

Andy Patrizio <andy at andypatrizio.com> wrote:

> https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/10/24/c-sections-autism.aspx
> 
> Sources? The Guardian, JAMA Psychiatry, Science Daily, Medical Daily, Newsweek, UC Davis Newsroom, etc/

Ah, you're looking at the quotes; I'm looking at the links. (The links in this article all go straight back to mercola.com <http://mercola.com/>).

So let's look at those quotes you list. 

1. The Guardian. The original quote: "[Odent] has interpreted epidemiological studies...". Doesn't lend credence to his theories -- only reports that he has them. The title of that article calls him a "doomsayer"; much of the article discredits him. The story here isn't that he's made a discovery, but rather a well-known figure is making bold (and questionable) claims.

2. JAMA Psychiatry. The quote he gives direct contradicts his theory -- because he cut out the sentence that followed it. The study actually concludes: "...the lack of association [between caesarians and autism] in analyses using sibling controls implies that *this association is not causal and therefore is due to unknown genetic or environmental factors*." [emphasis mine]

... I can go on, but it doesn't matter. You're a journalist: You should know about such tricks.

> you don't believe in alternative medicine

I believe in any medicine that's backed by evidence, no matter what you call it. This ain't it. As for belief, science doesn't care whether you believe*; it works regardless. That's the hallmark of science.

(* Aside from the science of belief/the placebo effect itself, which is fascinating.)

> [you] have no problem with Google hosing the guy

Nope, not at all. I cheer them! It's long overdue.

---
Tom Geller  *  Writer & Video/journalist  *  http://tomgeller.com
       Rotterdam, The Netherlands, +31 (0)6 87071468
            Oberlin, Ohio  *  +1-415-317-1805





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