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If you rely on reliable public health authorities for pandemic-related advice, you're in the clear, logically speaking.

If you rely on unreliable public health authorities, you might feel OK about your choice, but you're not in the clear, logically.



How did you get informed enough to decide which public health authorities were the right ones to trust?


I don’t think any of them are reliable enough to cite, on their name alone, as the foundation for a logical argument where “because X said so” is treated as absolute ground truth. That’s the essence of the “appeal to authority” logical fallacy.

Are they trustworthy enough to modify behavior in ways that appear proportionate to the risk when they make an recommendation and show their reasoning and whatever data they have? Yes, of course, but that’s no longer based on their name/reputation alone and, because it’s only a temporary behavior change, it has a much lower standard of proof.


^ Now come on folks I’m waiting for the answer too




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