Very well put Wendy. Couldn't have said it better myself.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Tebay, Wendy M <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, November 15, 1998 9:17 PM
Subject: i smell another rat


>I must also beg to differ once again with some of these "snake-oil" attacks
>on people's characters.  Frankly, I do not include myself amongst any sort
>of list "police" groups, of any sort.  I am all for critical thinking and
>investigating all claims made here, but that  means ALL claims made.  I do
>sense an overwhelming bias against alternative treatments and sometimes
>docile, almost mindless acceptance of ideas and treatments either proposed
>or endorsed by standard western medical experts.  No one seems to go after
>any of  the traditional western MD's or pharmaceutical companies with the
>same zealousness reserved for those who ideas or proposed treatments are
>more on the fringe.  I have seen lists of drugs posted here many times,
>sometimes with info making it clear that there's a profit motive involved,
>sometimes not.  I do not think either side's motives are any more nor any
>less good/bad or selfish/unselfish.
>
>Has anyone stopped to consider that maybe some of these people got into the
>promotion of certain products for profit, only after having used them
>themselves, or having seen them used for others that they know.
Personally,
>I think combining the ability to make some money, ALONG WITH a product in
>which one believes completely, is a wonderful combination.  For instance,
>down the road, I've thought of also combining my environmental interests
>with a business.  That might include alternatives to traditional  pest
>control, alternative medicines, nutritional supplements, etc.  I would be
>VERY offended, to say the least, if perhaps I were able to cure myself of
PD
>via nutritional supplements and diet, and then had people attacking my
>character and motives later if I then decided to share this which had
worked
>for me with others for a profit.  If I found a vitamin/herb treatment
>program that worked for me, I'd love to just give it away, but since I'm
not
>Bill Gates, I could hardly afford to do that.  Thus self-interest comes
into
>play too out of necessity.  People should make their profit-making
>intentions clear, I agree.  To be consistent then, there should also be
alot
>more policing of the doctors, drug companies, and ALL OTHER groups who post
>here.
>
>I also take issue that when there are possible personal/corporate gains to
>be made on something alternative, that self-interest automatically also
>confers upon the product the label of snake-oil.  Every drug or treatment
>ever discussed here would fall into that category, if profit alone is the
>criteria.
>
>Again, as I said above, and on an earlier post, not only might this person
>truly believe in this product due to personal experience, but also, they
may
>have some very altruistic plans for those profits.  Any business that I
>undertake would be something that was in line with my personal
>interests/issues, and also the profits I received would not only support
me,
>but also help me to even further support those same issues.
>
>So, let's all maintain both critical and open minds.  They are not mutually
>exclusive.  There are also ways to challenge someone without attacking
their
>integrity and motives, especially prematurely.  Let's also make sure this
>critical analysis and investigation is applied equally all-around.  And
>finally, let's avoid reducing issues to cliches like "snake-oil", etc.
>
>Wendy Tebay