Where do you go when you don't trust official data sources?

Nurses COVID

Updated:   Published

where-can-find-unbiased-covid-information.jpg.5c616c01197c8ef07649954cf071d627.jpg

Been engaged in alot of discussion under the COVID heading. Got me thinking. I find myself not trusting published data. There's so much politicization of everything. The government agencies are simply not independent and they are the source of most information. They want compliance. Period. Why wouldn't they change the data to fit? They certainly could and they have before. They constantly put out demands and conflicting information over and over again. Masks are BS. They don't protect anything. they stop a cough. GREAT! But they push masks like they are vital to life. People are wearing their masks while jogging in the woods. seriously? What the foxtrot!!? 

I hear all colors of reports about anecdotal stories of people being hurt by the vaccines. Those stories don't even exist as far as official sources are concerned. Do I risk the vaccine hurting me or COVID hurting me? Neither is a good option. COVID is a crap shoot. but taking the vaccine is a conscious choice. People come out of COVID without a problem. people take the vaccine without a problem. Both sides are valid in my mind. but now they are forcing the vaccine by law. This isn't a clear situation. It's very muddy. vaccinated still get infected but the narrative is the vaccine is totally safe, effective, and mandatory and will save the world. How do we know the vaccine isn't driving mutation? If I can't trust the source, how the hell can I make an informed decision? The drug companies have a massive profit motive to avoid any bad press. did they really disclose all their data?

Every single positive case is counted as a case. Are vaccine injuries treated the same? How many people harmed by the vaccine are taken into account? There's no way to know. Positive case: Always assume regardless of symptoms. Vaccine injury claim: PROVE IT WITH AN AUTOPSY!! IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE VACCINE!! ITS PROBABLY SOMETHING ELSE!! HERE'S A REFERRAL NOW GET OUT OF MY OFFICE!! (Yes I'm being hyperbolic). Its a double standard and there's no way we can get a clear picture with a double standard like that. This whole thing is a mess. 

Does anyone else feel like they have found an unbiased source of information that someone who doesn't trust CDC, FDA, government bodies can turn to to make an informed decision? I'm tired of all the fighting and politicization. I just want unbiased information. If you are like me, what did you do to get a clear picture of this mess and come to a conclusion about vax vs avoid? I'm seriously frustrated. I don't want to add to the problem. But I also don't want to get vaccination injury which can be just as bad as anything I can get from (yes liberals, vaccine injury happens. deal with it). Sigh....tired. I hope this makes sense. Does anyone else feel like this? I hope I'm not the only one. 

Specializes in Adult Gerontology.
On 8/27/2021 at 2:58 AM, 10GaugeNeedles said:

where-can-find-unbiased-covid-information.jpg.5c616c01197c8ef07649954cf071d627.jpg

Been engaged in alot of discussion under the COVID heading. Got me thinking. I find myself not trusting published data. There's so much politicization of everything. The government agencies are simply not independent and they are the source of most information. They want compliance. Period. Why wouldn't they change the data to fit? They certainly could and they have before. They constantly put out demands and conflicting information over and over again. Masks are BS. They don't protect anything. they stop a cough. GREAT! But they push masks like they are vital to life. People are wearing their masks while jogging in the woods. seriously? What the foxtrot!!? 

I hear all colors of reports about anecdotal stories of people being hurt by the vaccines. Those stories don't even exist as far as official sources are concerned. Do I risk the vaccine hurting me or COVID hurting me? Neither is a good option. COVID is a crap shoot. but taking the vaccine is a conscious choice. People come out of COVID without a problem. people take the vaccine without a problem. Both sides are valid in my mind. but now they are forcing the vaccine by law. This isn't a clear situation. It's very muddy. vaccinated still get infected but the narrative is the vaccine is totally safe, effective, and mandatory and will save the world. How do we know the vaccine isn't driving mutation? If I can't trust the source, how the hell can I make an informed decision? The drug companies have a massive profit motive to avoid any bad press. did they really disclose all their data?

Every single positive case is counted as a case. Are vaccine injuries treated the same? How many people harmed by the vaccine are taken into account? There's no way to know. Positive case: Always assume regardless of symptoms. Vaccine injury claim: PROVE IT WITH AN AUTOPSY!! IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE VACCINE!! ITS PROBABLY SOMETHING ELSE!! HERE'S A REFERRAL NOW GET OUT OF MY OFFICE!! (Yes I'm being hyperbolic). Its a double standard and there's no way we can get a clear picture with a double standard like that. This whole thing is a mess. 

Does anyone else feel like they have found an unbiased source of information that someone who doesn't trust CDC, FDA, government bodies can turn to to make an informed decision? I'm tired of all the fighting and politicization. I just want unbiased information. If you are like me, what did you do to get a clear picture of this mess and come to a conclusion about vax vs avoid? I'm seriously frustrated. I don't want to add to the problem. But I also don't want to get vaccination injury which can be just as bad as anything I can get from (yes liberals, vaccine injury happens. deal with it). Sigh....tired. I hope this makes sense. Does anyone else feel like this? I hope I'm not the only one. 

So I think the one main thing I picked up in your post that explains a lot of why you have this generalized distrust of public reputable sources is your comment, “yes liberals vaccine injuries do happen”.  So if you truly want to understand your source of bewilderment you will need to do a very strong, objective assessment of your own biases related to every piece of information you receive. This one quote pretty much displays the lens through which you vet all incoming information. As a clinician that’s not a great approach to critical thinking. And FYI the anti-vaccine big pharma is trying to kill us all line of poorly supported “research” posited over the years by everyday lay people (who equate a Google search or reading their facebook feed as research) originated with wacky holly weird liberals so there is that. 

To answer your question where do you go when you don’t trust the main sources of reputable clinical information because your world view has become mired in paranoia secondary to a longstanding disinformation campaign carried out by the political faction you follow? To therapy, go to therapy to improve your boundaries and ability to discern information from manipulation.

Specializes in Stepdown . Telemetry.

Here are three people to search in you tube immediately. They are experts who are passionate about educating science.  I follow them religiously. 

Paul Offit - My #1: The guy other experts turn to for guidance. 

Vincent Racaniello - Colombia Virology professor and has podcast called This week in Virology (twiv). I have learned SOO much from his content!! 

Gregory Poland from Mayo - excellent weekly updates

If you are interested in learning and understanding the science, please check these guys out! 

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
On 9/9/2021 at 6:47 AM, Ohio NP said:

So I think the one main thing I picked up in your post that explains a lot of why you have this generalized distrust of public reputable sources is your comment, “yes liberals vaccine injuries do happen”.  So if you truly want to understand your source of bewilderment you will need to do a very strong, objective assessment of your own biases related to every piece of information you receive. This one quote pretty much displays the lens through which you vet all incoming information. As a clinician that’s not a great approach to critical thinking. And FYI the anti-vaccine big pharma is trying to kill us all line of poorly supported “research” posited over the years by everyday lay people (who equate a Google search or reading their facebook feed as research) originated with wacky holly weird liberals so there is that. 

To answer your question where do you go when you don’t trust the main sources of reputable clinical information because your world view has become mired in paranoia secondary to a longstanding disinformation campaign carried out by the political faction you follow? To therapy, go to therapy to improve your boundaries and ability to discern information from manipulation.

Took the words out of my mouth.

Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
On 9/8/2021 at 12:03 PM, toomuchbaloney said:

Yep

The messaging that encourages resistance to both echo in the same places and have the same accents. 

Hey now, y'all...

 But, yeah.

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