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Lockdown Debate Shut Down by Smearing of Sceptical Scientists on Social Media

by Toby Young
16 February 2022 3:10 PM

Stanford Professor of Medicine John Ioannidis has written a paper for BMJ Open Research exloring why the pro-lockdown message of the John Snow Memorandum became accepted as the consensus view among senior scientists while the ‘focused protection’ message of the Great Barrington Declaration was seen as the view of a fringe minority, even though the key signatories of the GMB and the key signatories of the JSM had a comparable number of citations in scientific journals. His conclusion: the authors of the JSM had more followers on social media and were uninhibited about using that reach to smear their opponents. Sarah Knapton, the Science Editor of the Telegraph, has more.

Anti-lockdown scientists were viewed as having ‘fringe’ ideas because those calling for draconian restrictions had more followers on social media, a study has shown.

Professor John Ioannidis of Stanford University, an expert in data science and the reliability of research, studied the expertise of authors who signed the Great Barrington Declaration (GBD) compared with signatories of the John Snow Memorandum.

The GBD called for vulnerable people to be shielded while allowing immunity to build up in the rest of the public to avoid huge costs to society, education and public health.

In contrast, the John Snow Memorandum (JSM) argued that such a policy of herd immunity was unethical.

Prof Ioannidis said he wanted to examine the “prevailing narrative” that the Great Barrington Declaration was a minority view among experts, and found that “Twitter firepower” had helped shape the conversation.

In an article published in BMJ Open Research, he found that both letters were authored by very influential experts, but that the John Snow Memorandum authors had a far greater reach on social media, which made it appear that their view had more support.

By November 2021, just four key signatories of the GBD had more than 50,000 Twitter followers, compared with 13 of the key authors of the JSM.

Prof Ioannidis concluded: “Both the Great Barrington Declaration and John Snow Memorandum include many stellar scientists, but JSM has far more powerful social media presence and this may have shaped the impression that it is the dominant narrative.

“GBD is clearly not a fringe minority report compared with JSM, as many social media and media allude.

“If knowledgeable scientists can have a strong social media presence, massively communicating accurate information to followers, the effect may be highly beneficial.

“Conversely, if scientists themselves are affected by the same problems (misinformation, animosity, loss of decorum and disinhibition, among others) when they communicate in social media, the consequences may be negative.”

Prof Ioannidis also said signatories of the JSM had contributed to the vilification of authors of the GBD through their tweets and op-eds.

Worth reading in full.

Tags: BMJ Open ResearchGreat Barrington DeclarationJohn IoannidisJohn Snow Memorandum

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115 Comments
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wokeman
wokeman
11 months ago

The only question, Zalensky’s thugs or Biden’s?

129
-7
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
11 months ago
Reply to  wokeman

It might be the EU.

https://www.globalresearch.ca/eu-nato-threatening-foreign-leaders-fico-fate/5858239

Posted earlier but very appropriate here.

Last edited 11 months ago by huxleypiggles
131
-3
GroundhogDayAgain
GroundhogDayAgain
11 months ago
Reply to  wokeman

Or something else? Palermo is no paradise. It may be simple opportunistic murder.

Perhaps I’m naive, but I don’t want to believe there are murder squads hunting down prominent dissenters.

32
-42
wokeman
wokeman
11 months ago
Reply to  GroundhogDayAgain

Possibly not. But then we are told mi6 employs state sponsored murderers through the bond novels. All signed off by uncle Sam and now they probably use Ukrainian operatives rather than British nationals. Of course the purpose of the Bond films is to convince ourselves when our government commits murder it’s for the greater good.

98
-5
JohnK
JohnK
11 months ago
Reply to  wokeman

And we certainly know that the Russian equivalent does, such as the murder of Skripal in Salisbury.

26
-62
For a fist full of roubles
For a fist full of roubles
11 months ago
Reply to  JohnK

There is no proof of that. The evidence is circumstantial.

75
-22
Ron Smith
Ron Smith
11 months ago
Reply to  wokeman

Remember three African leaders shuffled off their coil in 2020….And from what I have read, they were all against Lockdown countermeasures. The ex president of Tanzania mocked the PCR test when he sent off various items, like pieces of fruit to be tested for Covid.

145
-2
Heretic
Heretic
11 months ago
Reply to  Ron Smith

Yes, well done for remembering that! It was actually FIVE Ethnic African leaders against lockdowns and forced vaccinations for their people. A List of Honour:

— President Jovenel Moise of Haiti

— President John Magufuli of Tanzania

— President Hamed Bakayoko of Ivory Coast

— President Ambrose Dlamini of eSwatini

— President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi

They were all replaced by more compliant leaders who started mass covid vaccinations straightaway.

Just look what Haiti has become, so soon after their popular President Moise was assassinated.

Last edited 11 months ago by Heretic
158
-1
wokeman
wokeman
11 months ago
Reply to  Heretic

All just a coincidence….

51
0
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
11 months ago
Reply to  Ron Smith

That President was John Magafuli. All three of those Presidents were replaced by Davos compliant people. No question they were murdered.

117
-3
iconoclast
iconoclast
11 months ago
Reply to  wokeman

There is a legal basis for the legendary 00 Licence to Kill.

It is called Crown Immunity. But it has been affected by human rights laws – only however if anyone knows British state actors have been involved in extra-judicial killing – like the Death on the Rock case about IRA members shot dead by British forces in Gibraltar.

8
0
Hester
Hester
11 months ago
Reply to  GroundhogDayAgain

Palermo has its issues, but the Mafia’s key interests in regards to the EU is people trafficking, I don’t think there was much skin in the game to be made from Covid for them, unless of course they were heavily invested in Pfizer.

54
-1
Ron Smith
Ron Smith
11 months ago
Reply to  Hester

You mentioned two cartels in that comment:-]

50
0
Marcus Aurelius knew
Marcus Aurelius knew
11 months ago
Reply to  GroundhogDayAgain

I ain’t speculating on this one. We will probably never know. And out of respect to those loved ones who survive him.

Last edited 11 months ago by Marcus Aurelius knew
41
-1
Bella Donna
Bella Donna
11 months ago
Reply to  GroundhogDayAgain

Believe it!

20
-1
Ron Smith
Ron Smith
11 months ago
Reply to  GroundhogDayAgain

But why, if there was no theft. It has to be politically motivated. Has he campaigned against the religion of peace, that could be a motivation.

32
0
Hester
Hester
11 months ago
Reply to  wokeman

Or Vond der Layen’s little demons, I would put nothing past the tyrants running the EU

69
-1
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
11 months ago
Reply to  Hester

As per my earlier post.

29
-2
LionelMan
LionelMan
11 months ago
Reply to  wokeman

That’s looks like a standard method of assassination. A Jewish friend of mine that was in Israeli Intelligence was trained in that method.

Last edited 11 months ago by LionelMan
48
-2
wokeman
wokeman
11 months ago
Reply to  LionelMan

Yes I’ve discussed these techniques with an east European ex special forces guy.

Last edited 11 months ago by wokeman
31
0
Heretic
Heretic
11 months ago
Reply to  wokeman

Zelensky’s, I’d say.

21
-2
Marcus Aurelius knew
Marcus Aurelius knew
11 months ago

My heart goes out to his wife and daughter. We cannot imagine the pain…

RIP Angelo. We continue here for you, for your loved ones…

Last edited 11 months ago by Marcus Aurelius knew
116
0
ellie-em
ellie-em
11 months ago

Being vocal against the scamdemic narrative can be harmful to one’s health and well-being, it would seem.

Sincere condolences to Mr. Onorato’s family and friends. RIP.

110
0
LionelMan
LionelMan
11 months ago
Reply to  ellie-em

So they win and we and our families die?

Last edited 11 months ago by LionelMan
21
0
ellie-em
ellie-em
11 months ago
Reply to  LionelMan

Who has said they win?

17
0
LionelMan
LionelMan
11 months ago
Reply to  ellie-em

We better start encouraging people to act more like courageous Lions instead of cowering Sheep. Or they WILL win. And we WILL die (even the Saferoomers).

Last edited 11 months ago by LionelMan
44
0
ellie-em
ellie-em
11 months ago
Reply to  LionelMan

If a sardonic comment results in people being afraid to speak out and to go into safe rooms, then perhaps this site and some of the topics discussed isn’t the best place for them.

14
0
ellie-em
ellie-em
11 months ago
Reply to  ellie-em

My response above doesn’t seem to make much sense now. I was responding to LionelMan’s unedited post that said – regarding the purpose of my earlier comment about the scamdemic – if I had intended to cause people to go to saferooms, then I surely convinced some to just STFU and let it happen.
Either my page hadn’t refreshed to show the edit before I responded, or I was stuck in a time warp. Probably the latter.

6
-1
LionelMan
LionelMan
11 months ago

Rerun time ala Slovakia. We have to admit to ourselves, no matter how difficult, that TPTB will kill us if we stand in the way of their Genocide. Once we realize that, it will be easier to do what needs to be done to save ourselves in a just war. For those fearing that scenario remember we have billions on our side vs the infinitesimal few at the top brainwashing the rest.  Just watch the ending of OZ to see why we will win and what happens when the leaders of Genocide are the ones dying off with zip ties.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=I93WliFCCko

58
-5
Heretic
Heretic
11 months ago

Both the Slovakian Prime Minister Fico and the Italian MEP wife of this tragic murder victim Angelo Onorato opposed western military and financial aid to Ukraine.

Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak also proposed sending the 300,000 Ukrainian draft dodger “refugees” in the West back home to fight, instead of sending our own NATO troops.

Somebody doesn’t like these people interfering with the Globalist Meatgrinder in Ukraine. Zelensky?

63
-1
Monro
Monro
11 months ago

‘Italian MEP Francesca Donato on Monday made an appeal for people and the media to stop speculating about the mysterious death of her husband Angelo Onorato at the weekend…….

‘I ask everyone to refrain from speculating about my husband’s cause of death.’

‘Investigations are underway, let’s let the police work.’

https://www.ansa.it/english/news/general_news/2024/05/27/dont-speculate-about-my-husbands-death-mep-donato_cddc8aa2-f0df-401a-9dba-eda63885faf9.html#

Last edited 11 months ago by Monro
4
-28
Heretic
Heretic
11 months ago
Reply to  Monro

Correction: Globalists told Italian MEP Donato to issue that appeal.

54
-1
RTSC
RTSC
11 months ago

Mafia killing?

(Mafia these days has a very wide meaning – including EU, Biden and Zelensky).

18
0

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