Oh yes, I definitely believe that xenoestrogens (BPA, a number
of common industrial additives, a number of foods have it) are a
problem. They're getting rid of it, thankfully. There's a lot
about the human body that we don't fully understand, and what's
good science one year that allows an industry to product a large
amount of products that gets used by an entire population,
twenty years later turns out to have possibly negative effects
that weren't visible the first time around.
I also think that the "Soy Miracle Protein" that was oversold in
the 90s is biting us in the butt today, as soy does encourage
estrogen growth in the body. Being a cheap product that we have
a LOT of and product natively, it's economically viable and
practical, from an a "How do we feed a nation food profitably?"
perspective.
But the super-health food of 20 years ago, is becoming today's
"uh, what were we THINKING!?!" today.
It's important to be aware, to watch, to read, to pay attention.
There *are* real problems that need to be solved and there are
groups worth joining that fight to hold Industry and Govt
agencies accountable.
My beef (so to speak) is with the hyperbole, the spooky-scary
way information is passed. I'll give an example of the Bad Side
of appeals to "What about the children?" fears:
Vaccination.
Even today, millions of parents don't give their kids
vaccinations because of highly spread falsehood by a scientist
who was paid to say so. There's no convincing people that
believe in it that they could *possibly* be wrong.
*That's* the danger I worry about. Hyperbole potentially leading
people too far in a particular direction.
Movies that show "The Truth" about something are VERY profitable
movies. These are not non-profit enterprises. The movie makers
want to make money, and _fear_ is a *great* way to get people's
attention, especially if you weave together a tale that ends
with:
EVERYTHING YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW, IS WRONG!
Scientists, unfortunately, to become notable, will often contact
media to announce the latest thing that the world needs to know
and the Media obliges: "Scientists say that..." some scary
prophecy about the future, and we need to act now, before it's
too late.
The formula.
I don't like the formula. It's the same formula of Arms of an
Angel with Sarah McLaughlin and the ASPCA. Save the Children
foundation, Michael Moore movies take a slightly different spin
but resulting in the same type of thing: producing lots of
Activists.
The formula is so effective that there's no way to really tell
what's right and wrong, true or false, because to even _suggest_
anything to the contrary, just playing devil's advocate, as I
like to do and and one becomes become, "One of _Them_".
"He who is not with us, is against us".
I'd rather take a reasoned approach. Some things are bad.
Studies need doing, peer reviews need to happen. Concerned
parents can make changes. The word can spread without the panic.
There's no need for heroes and villains, good guys and bad. Evil
Injustices to be Overcome, Governments and Industries
Overthrown.
Is organic food better? Perhaps. I don't know if it's regulated
or not, honestly - if certified organic really means anything,
or if it's just a nice label that sounds good.
There's fake Kosher products on the shelf too; people who are
Kosher have to make sure they're getting the right symbol; the
other one is a fake. [I forget which is which]
People have to watch. But I just don't like the panic. Things
that are on the surfaces of foods can be rinsed off with
vinegar. Many problem items vanish when you cook them. There's
lack of practical education out there that says, "This is what
happens when you eat/cook/such-and-such a thing" that _isn't_
then followed with, "AND THIS IS WHY IT HAS TO STOP - NOW!"
Something reasonable. It's hard to know truth from fiction and
it takes careful study. Scares about artificial sweeteners for
example: Claims that Sugar must be better because it's natural.
Well, getting fatter from excess carbs and the health effects
from that are *probably* worse than a slight risk of something
uncertain that _might_ possibly happen but has never happened
yet that we know of.
But people still turn down dieting with excuses like these.
That's why I'm ranting. Not at you. Not at [1]El Ch*. Not at
[2]Scott Flavelle - but at the media industry that almost forces
a lack of really thinking things through and asking,
"What if this thing I'm worried about, turns out to be all for
nothing?"
It's not a dangerous question. It's a sane question. A little
extra research. Find the opposing opinion. Find a perspective
that is different. Opposite. Try to understand if something is
missing.
The way information is packaged... I just... don't like it.
I'm opposed to appeals to emotions, to desperation, to excessive
drama.
I'm doing it myself, mind you. Again, not at you guys, but at a
world where "This is the Most AMAZING THING EVER!" when really,
is it? No, it's not.
Or "This will ruin the future!" Will it? Well maybe. But most
likely?
We'll manage.
I have nothing against making changes that one chooses to make.
I just get the creeps whenever I hear a singular opinion with no
opposition from a lot of people. Did all of these people get the
ideas from the same sources? The same movies? The same books? Or
from people who read the same books, saw the same movies and
wrote their own stuff off of it?
And there's no room for a different opinion. There's no room to
be wrong.
That's why I play devil's advocate like this. There's bullshit
wherever you turn in life. I play spot the bullshit anytime I
get too caught up in something because I don't like a few years
to go by and I look back and go, "Wow, I've been following a lie
for years now, haven't I? I got caught up in the drama and never
stopped to see the other point of view."
I don't know what the right answer is. But I know it's worth
researching and attempting to get a balance of opinions from
multiple points of view; not just reinforcement of the same
point of view; because it's only then that you can make
decisions with a clear head.
Arms of an Angel ASPCA commercial made $30 million appealing to
our pathos. That doesn't mean that it's not a good cause; of
course helping abused animals is a good cause. But I don't like
how it's done. I don't like things like guilt and fear used to
push ideas, even if they're good ones.
*sigh* that's all my rant is about. I suppose I'm just as bad,
except my emotion is frustration and my target is emotional
pleas that influence large amounts of people and cloud rational
thinking. But I believe you're right about the xenoestrogens -
I'm glad they're taking care of it.
References
Visible links
1.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007796295516
2.
https://www.facebook.com/scott.flavelle
