The Crazy Uncle by Barn Owl
Conspiracy theories in science are attractive to politicians who want to fool people into believing them. Those theories often contain wild accusations and simple solutions to complex problems. They also find enemies to blame or secret societies pulling the strings.
In a recent news conference, President Trump talked about Tylenol and vaccines causing autism. It’s a little like listening to your Uncle Bob spouting off at Thanksgiving dinner. You know, the uncle who drinks too much, lives in grandma’s basement and is on his computer all day – the same Uncle who said injecting bleach into your veins may protect you from COVID-19, and hydroxychloroquine was a cure for the pandemic – but was being kept from us.
No solution is as easy as the sound bite made by people with no scientific training. A single study out of context does not answer a question. Good science is slow to change with new data and is careful not to make broad statements. Good scientists look at all scientific work with suspicion until they are convinced. It’s often a long process.
Politicians and internet trolls will present a scientific study, as they have in this case, that shows a “correlation” between a rise in Acetaminophen use and a rise in autism. But because two things happen at the same time does not mean one caused the other. For example, if you hear that violent crime in cities goes up at the same time ice cream sales go up – does that mean ice cream causes violent crime? No – but both go up when it’s hot. Scientists have to carefully examine the faults in studies and think about what other factors may affect the results.
Another example: a pregnant woman interviewed for a study may remember using Tylenol because she remembers being very sick during her pregnancy. Or, if her baby was born with problems, she thought hard about what the cause might have been. Another woman might have taken Tylenol during an easier pregnancy, but doesn’t report it because she doesn’t remember taking it.
The President warns pregnant women not to use acetaminophen, the only medication available in pregnancy to control a fever. (Only later, does he remind you to always consult your doctor.) As with vaccines and autism, doubt has been cast, leaving mothers to fear that they are not doing the right thing or may be hurting their babies. The goal of this government is not to protect mothers and their children, but to cast doubt on the truth. This makes ordinary people suspicious of science, whether it’s about autism or climate change, and all the more open to the next conspiracy theory and the next enemy.
The crazy uncle is at the table, but we don’t have to listen.
[Published in local newspapers Oct 2025 by Ben Boardmen and friends; shared on this website with permission. Email info@clarkdemocrats.org for more info about how to support BARN OWL in your local paper.]
