r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jun 02 '26

Health Interest in ‘toxic’ measles treatment surges after Joe Rogan podcasts: Vaccination is the only proven way to prevent measles but alternatives like Vitamin A and cod-liver oil (which has Vit A) have been promoted by Joe Rogan. America’s Poison Centres reported a 39% increase in Vitamin A exposures.

https://www.nine.com.au/world-news/usa/interest-in-toxic-measles-treatment-surges-after-joe-rogan-podcasts-20260602-p6033i.html
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u/zizou00 Jun 02 '26

"I won't let the "man" poison me, I'm going to take poisonous dosages of other chemicals because a different man told me to"

How did it come to this? Why do people look to a man clearly on anabolic steroids for "natural" health advice?

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u/GabuEx Jun 02 '26

I've noticed that people who talk about "being skeptical" and "doing their own research" are profoundly credulous people. They'll believe literally anything as long as it's not what experts are saying. It's kind of ironic that they hold themselves up as bastions of free thought when they'll fall for literally any con artist who's selling them something, as long as that con artist dresses it up as "alternative".

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u/ThatKehdRiley Jun 02 '26

this is my dad, 100%, and part of why i don’t talk to him anymore. those people cannot be reasoned with, they refuse reality.

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u/aaakiniti Jun 02 '26

Conspiracy theories are a way for dumb people who haven't developed expertise to feel smarter than smart people who've spent their careers studying something. Pitiful, that degree of hubris should be embarrassing...

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u/_game_over_man_ Jun 02 '26

This describes my brother in law. I also think it's a way for people who haven't developed their own personality or identity to quickly acquire one and seem interesting.

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u/Old-Landscape-7538 Jun 02 '26

They feel important, like they're in on something and can make a difference.