Comments on: OMFG! I can’t believe this!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 17:19:13 +0000

This is the problem with the press. They want sound bites, and it’s something I’ve learned over and over and over (mostly the hard way) as a researcher, practitioner, and activist: YOU HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL HOW YOU WORD THINGS!

I totally agree with your sentiments – obviously the research is of critical importance *in Africa* but of little elsewhere (certainly in the US) – but I also agree with the first commenter.

The rage should be mainly directed at the (laziness of the) media, but also the WHO press release writers are not innocent. There are good ways to write these things and there are bad ways to write these things. Ditto for presentation: give me a video news release (with full-playback contracts) any day over another method.

Just my $0.02

By: Dr. Sparky

Dr. Sparky — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 05:35:55 +0000

As a doctor, I concur with everything the wonder Mister Moody has to say on this matter.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 07:07:35 +0000

We’re living in a world where some people actually think having sex with a virgin will cure their HIV status. Someone saying something like this, regardless of their credentuals and the manner in which they stated it, is just plain dangerous.

By: duane

duane — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 00:52:07 +0000

Andy, I agree with you about the article, and in fact, I alluded to that in my post, by saying that I hoped that this would be the only article that was written out of context in this manner. BUT, my main focus is that they are quoting a WHO official, and whether it be in or out of context, it is still something they said. Obviously, it should be taken in context, but, again, this article did not do that, as you also said. The problem, and the reason I got so pissed off, is that continually findings like this are blown out of proportion just like this. Exactly like this, in fact, and that is reprehensible and shouldn’t be allowed to be published or disseminated to the masses who will probably take it at face value (after all, why would the WHO lie to them?). Fact of the matter, is that for every one person like you and I that will go past the initial “hooray” statements and misrepresentations like this article, there are probably 10 more that will just agree with it, and implement it into their lives. That is what really scares me, and even though I know that this is just one article, this type of misrepresentation is not limited to this individual event.

joel, you could say that.

By: Joel

Joel — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 23:14:06 +0000

I sense that you may be a bit upset by this.

By: Andisheh Nouraee

Andisheh Nouraee — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 22:12:57 +0000

Two things:

1. I think it’d be more appropriate to focus your rage at the person who wrote the story, rather than the WHO official who was quoted. We have no idea what else the WHO may have said.

2. The medical journal article that inspired the Reuters article you linked to is available for free (if you register) right here:

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673607603237/fulltext

It’s evident just from skimming it that the writers of the medical report attempt try to put their findings about circumcision in a responsible context.