YouTube Channel

A few weeks ago, I ran across this YouTube channel and thought I'd share it.



It's not focused on Lyme, but maybe some of the topics will be transferable.

Post Edited (The Dude Abides) : 11/24/2024 4:48:39 PM (GMT-5)

Okay, I deleted it. I'll submit future links in advance for approval. Thanks.

Oh, okay. I guess I was doubly confused. I'd heard a comment about you "taking over the forum," but I thought it was a figure of speech and based on your reputation of being a prolific commenter in so many threads and conversations. Then, after your initial reply above, I thought maybe it was literal - that maybe you had been made acting administrator or whatever, since the "official" one abandoned us. So, I deleted the link. I'll just leave it deleted, though, based on your comments. Thanks for the follow up and explanation.

I am inactive at the moment but I have never felt that Garzie is trying to censor anyone or trying to take over anything. I even believe trying to treat lyme was a waste of time for me as I am a believer of directly adressing the immune system malfunction itself. This conflicts with some of Garzies beliefs and I have always felt fine with that and so was He because we are two polite people discussing Stuff.

Despite conflicting oppinions we have had I have never felt censored here. In fact this one of the most free Forums I have ever been in.

Maybe this can help stop some rumours.

Hello Rainy
That you for the feedback – yes, of course feedback is welcome

Yes, I agree I think the Dude was trying to help by posting what he thought might be helpful to others

Equally I think, that in our present attention economy– where we all exist inside our own information bubbles – and are bombarded with endless algorithmic driven health information made for the financial gain of the creators and platforms - there is also value in some old hands that have been at this a long time being able to say – “that looks like a red flag to me”.

We have seen recently – even the pro-Lyme sources – like advocate groups – overstate and misrepresent the efficacy of products on YouTube – as per the recent project Lyme video.

Video is after all such a powerfully convincing medium.

And anyone who has been sick with Lyme for years like you and I, will readily acknowledge the risk of going down rabbit holes, getting sucked in by theories that later turn out to be false or mostly false – or in our efforts to make sense of it all and find our way out of the suffering, or just becoming over invested in one particular treatment or approach. I am sure we have all been there. People lose months or years in these states. It’s one of the greatest risks in terms of failing to recover – or lost years of life in the process. And it this that I think we need balancing voices to speak out on - raise points of contention, speak out if they think they see a red flag etc

So, we do actually need people who do that - if we do not want to exist in an echo chamber of our own ideas.

Regarding your constructive criticism. It looks to me that you have somewhat misrepresented what I have said and done as something slightly different, and then critiqued that.

For example, you held that I immediately brushed off the Dudes contribution – when in fact I actually first stated that there might well be some value to the content, before pointing out that there are also red flags and then provided my rationale for that view so that people can see why I might think that and therefore be able to asses whether they agree or not - as well as the proviso that I haven’t watched the videos - so people can take that into consideration when they weigh any comments.

In addition – you mentioned “video” singular several times - but the Dude did not post about a single YouTube video - it was a post about a whole channel full of YouTube videos - and there was no indication of which one the Dude thought was especially useful – or meaningful – and few of us have the time to view an entire channel – so where to start with that? And how many should one watch before commenting?

on the YouTube channel page the Dude linked to there were an array of 20 or so thumbnails and titles, so I chose to comment on my overall impression from the array of titles - as even at that level it raised questions in my mind.
The channel linked to was a commercial site created for financial gain - so in my view they are fair game

In the end - comments were
-aimed squarely at the YouTube channel content - without any insult, actual or inferred, towards the poster
-reasoned and rational based on the subject matter
-professional and courteous - not of a personal nature aimed at the individual (unlike what followed)
-entirely in keeping with the rules of this and other forums in so far as I understand them

In fact, my general rule for posting anything online is to only post responses I would be equally happy to make if it were an in-person conversation – and this post meets that criterion.

Beyond this – if people become offended or upset – is that not just being upset at others for not agreeing with our world view ?
so unless we want an environment where any disagreement is taboo – everyone agrees and no one learns anything – then I do not think it’s in the general interest to suppress such posts.

instead, I suggest questioning is good – highlighting potential conflicts of interest, bad incentives or red flags is good –debate about the merits or demerits of any proffered treatment openly, rigorously but politely with people who hold different world views than ourselves is exactly what we need more of not less of.

I would also point out that when the shoe is on the other foot – where I have posted a video and another member has questioned the validity of the content – for example on the thread about the Igenex Immunoblot - I have responded with a rational adult discussion where I was happy to support my view with argument based on agreed facts, reasoning and perspective, and other posters were happy to do the same.

I consider this normal adult behaviour and exactly the kind of discourse we would want to preserve on the forum

In exactly this vein your feedback is also welcome and I thank you for it - though I think you likely misunderstand what my stance actually is.
I am happy to have that discussion – but it is perhaps a deeper discussion for another time – or offline if you would prefer.

Ref the Dude’s remarks - I suspect this is a storm in a teacup –
I have spent time with The Dude outside of the forum – and know him to be a kind, dignified and intelligent person
I suspect he was having a very bad day - or a series of very bad days - as many of us do from time to time – and that something got under his skin that he wouldn’t normally react to - and that when he is in more reflective mood he will likely see things differently

All the very best!

Just wanted to thank Brantheman for his balancing remarks.

Its appreciated.